Leila flopped down onto her back, staring up at the ceiling. “I’ve never loved a man. Not romantically, at least.” She folded her hands on her stomach. “It’s not as though there are many options in the fortress. Plenty of beautiful young women and dirty old men, but suitable bachelors? Those are a rare breed. Just guards, maybe the occasional page, but nothing more.”
“And what of these guards? They never caught your attention?”
“It wouldn’t matter if they did. No man looks my way. Not like that, at least.”
Tobias let out an unapologetic laugh, and Leila’s head perked up. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re lying to me.” He raised an eyebrow. “Have you not seen yourself?”
Leila rested her head. “Yes, well, I’ve been told I can be intimidating.”
Lying down beside her, Tobias joined her in her ceiling gazing. “Intimidating? Well, I suppose I can see it. You’re confident, intelligent, not to mention very beautiful. It’s a formidable combination. It’s certainly easier on the ego to pursue a lesser woman.”
“If that’s true, why are you here?”
“I don’t care about my ego, and I don’t want a lesser woman.”
“Does that mean I don’t intimidate you?”
“Well, now that I’m thinking about it, I suppose you do,” Tobias said. “But that’s a good thing, yes? The best pursuits in life are challenging. That’s how you know they’re worth it.”
Leila’s fingertips suddenly swept over his skin, drawing soft swirls down his forearm to his palm. She entwined her fingers with his, then released, continuing her invisible painting, tiny circles that made the hairs on his arm stand straight.
“You give me chills,” Tobias whispered.
She turned toward him, bringing her lips to his ear. “Good.”
Kiss her. He leaned in only for Leila to sit upright, wearing a grin that he met with his own.
“So tell me,” she said. “What are your plans for the future?”
“What future? I’m stuck in this tournament. Most likely to die.”
Leila scowled. “Stop it.”
“It’s true.” He propped himself up. “My future has been determined for me. Even before this tournament, my fate was sealed. I was to labor each day until the end of time so my mother and sister would be taken care of.” A pang lurched in his gut, and his eyes drifted to his calloused hands. “My life has become a series of…necessary sacrifices. Just one after the next. I don’t resent it…but it would be nice to keep something for myself. Something that couldn’t be taken away. To have—”
“One good thing.” Leila’s gaze became distant. “That would be wonderful.”
“Sounds like you know what I’m talking about.”
“I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
A hush fell over the space—a comfortable silence, as Leila’s presence alone was its own solace.
“So, is that how you see your future?” She played with the ends of her hair. “Just a succession of bad things?”
“Naturally. I’ll either die here or marry Cosima, which isn’t exactly a superior outcome. To marry Someone I don’t care for, Someone I’ve barely spoken to.”
“You could be speaking to Her right now.”
“But I’d rather be speaking to you.”
Sighing, Leila stared down at her hands. “I’m sorry.” She leaned against his shoulder. “For making assumptions about you. I do that a lot. I really shouldn’t, but I’m so used to disappointment.”
“Leila, it’s long been forgotten.”
“I’m feeling guilty.”
“Well, that’s unfortunate, because I’m feeling incredible—here, with you.”
Leila glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, biting her lip in a way that left him weak. She plucked his bandaged hand from his lap. “I still can’t believe it. You broke your fingers for me. You’re either extremely romantic or a madman.”
“Perhaps both?”
“Something we can agree on.”
He held her hand with what little of his was functional and rested his head against hers, immersing himself in the flowery scent of her hair. Kiss her. Just as he nuzzled closer, she swiveled away, and the flush of her cheeks and idle fiddling of her hands revealed her truth.
She’s nervous.
“So, what about your future?” he asked. “What are your plans once all the bloodshed has ended?”
She frowned. “Would you believe me if I told you that this tournament has made a real mess of my future as well?”
“That doesn’t surprise me. In fact, I’m starting to think that’s the true purpose of this tournament—to destroy the lives of everyone associated with it. Except for Cosima. She seems to be enjoying Herself.”
Leila crossed her arms. “Well, I hate this tournament and everything that comes with it. I hate the Sovereign, I hate the labyrinth, I