The Glass Queen (The Forest of Good and Evil #2) - Gena Showalter Page 0,51

another opponent from having a weapon at all. Who’s to say?” A dramatic pause. Then, “You! You’re to say. Come early and you can vote for the prize of your choice!”

Saxon said nothing, just leaped into the air and flew to the left of the field. He headed straight for... Eve, I realized, my nails cutting into the heel of my palm. She stood on the sidelines, as if waiting for him.

“Do you think they’re courting?” Noel asked, those purple eyes twinkling.

“Probably,” I muttered. And that was fine. I’d already decided they were the best fit. They could get married and have a million babies for all I cared, just as long as I never had to deal with the avian again.

He landed directly in front of her, and I told myself to look away, that a girl who didn’t care should act like it, and also spying was wrong or whatever. And it wasn’t like I couldn’t guess what they were going to do—hug and kiss and fawn all over each other. But, he seemed to bark an order at her and, well, I got hooked. Like the worst gossip, I had to know what happened next.

She poked a finger into his chest and shouted all angry-like into his face. Whatever she said, he didn’t take it well. He bowed up and fisted his hands.

“I change my mind,” I said. “They might be foes.” Which still didn’t tell me if she was Cinder or not.

He turned his head to glare up at me, and I reared back. Uh, what’d I do now? If Eve had told him a lie about me, I’d...what? What could I do?

Hate my weakness!

“Or maybe he just wants another body to murder,” I mumbled. Seriously. What did he have planned for me?

No way I would stick around to find out. Heart beating way too fast, I abandoned my companions without a proper goodbye and raced off the dais to push through the masses. For a moment I feared Saxon had given chase, his body heat and rainstorm scent enveloping me. Then I caught sight of him in the sky, flying above the crowd of people now filing out of the coliseum, his gaze darting to and fro, searching, searching.

Hoping to better blend in, I slowed to keep pace with the people around me. With their help, I could escape the market and return to the palace. I had no more chores in the tent, after all, so Saxon had no need of my services. I could camp out in the library and begin my research on phantoms.

Problem: as soon as I made it to the cobblestone path that led up the mountain, I ran out of cheese loaf fuel, my body giving out. My lungs burned and my limbs shook as I plopped onto a large rock and peered longingly at the path’s entryway. An archway dripping with hundreds of pink and white flowers.

Other spectators neared. I smiled and waved, doing my best to pretend I’d chosen to sit here. Those who passed me either ignored me, muttered something about the Glass Princess, or offered a greeting common in their kingdom, proving our guests had come from all over the land.

Fleur: May your roses forever bloom.

Sevón: May you always find gold.

Airaria: May your star always shine.

Azul: May the water wash you. Or, as a few of their teenagers had said with a leer, “May you always be wet.”

By the time the crowd tapered off, leaving me alone on the mountainside, I’d recovered enough to stand. I don’t know why, but I was unsurprised when Saxon chose that moment to pounce, landing a few feet away from me.

Expression disappointingly blank, he crossed his arms over his bare chest. Blood and...other things splattered him from head to toe. Sweet goodness! He had a nipple piercing. “You may show your joy now, Princess. Your avian has arrived.”

The words, delivered with such a dry tone, drew a snort from me, and my cheeks heated.

“Why did you run from me, Ashleigh?” His voice had become as blank as his expression.

“Why do you think, Saxy?” I replied, not even trying to mask my snippiness.

“I think you ignored my command to visit the market and prepare a meal, feared I would punish you with another task, and hoped to avoid me for the rest of eternity.” He arched a brow, suddenly so smug I longed to slap him. “But that cannot be right. Leonora never runs from anything.”

“I’m not Leonora!”

A muscle pulsed