Andrei pinched the bridge of his nose and dragged me up beside him. “As Andrei and Alessia came first in the challenge, they will get first choice of their partners.”
I almost spat out my lungs.
That’s right. The first two days of challenges were done in pairs. It was called the Unity Games for a reason. We were meant to work together to help each other reach the finish line.
“Andrei,” Jacqueline said. “Since you were technically the contestant, you’re allowed first pick.”
He turned to me. “Don’t you dare do it,” I said as low as I could. The crowd chuckled like they all heard me anyway. I was glad they were finding this amusing.
Andrei smiled at Kai behind my back.
“I don’t want to be on his team,” I told Jacqueline.
Andrei clutched at his heart like he was hurt. “Then I guess we’re at a stalemate,” he said.
Jacqueline frowned. “He’s first. If he chooses you, refusing isn’t an option.”
Wasn’t that just the story of my life?
Andrei leaned down and spoke into my ear. “Let’s make a deal,” he said. “If I win, I’ll give you that stupid ring. If you win, I want the favour from the Council.”
“Why would I want to do that?” I said.
“What do you think are the chances of you being able to win?” he said. “That was just a preliminary round and you got real lucky. The last day is going to be an all-out show of brute strength. Take a look at Captain Nephilim. In what dimension do you think you’re going to be able to take him on?”
I made the mistake of actually looking up as he spoke to me. Kai stood ramrod straight. Though he made a show of not reacting, I could see dark flecks in his eyes. There was no alternative universe in which I would be able to out-muscle either Kai or Max. I had my doubts about Andrei being able to either.
“You think you can beat him?” I asked.
“Not a chance. That’s why I’m not above cheating. Do you want to win, squirt? Or do you want to be the nice guy?”
He knew he had me.
It felt like I was signing my life away. “Okay,” I said. “I’ll be Andrei’s partner.”
The crowd started to laugh. They really thought this was one big joke. As I stood there staring out at all those faces, something cold settled over me. They were here to watch me fail. In their minds, I was just entertainment. Without my powers, I wouldn’t be a match for any of the supernaturals.
Fine. If they wanted a show, I would give them something to watch.
After Andrei and me, Chanelle had been the next to complete the task. Nobody was surprised when she picked Kai. Bradley went next and it was a surprise when he picked Max. I’d never really seen them hanging out at school. It was a purely strategic move. One by one the numbers were whittled down.
Drake and Barbara.
The two pairs of mages picked each other.
The necromancers did the same.
The last pair was the remaining Pantheon Fae and the female vampire.
“Empty all of your pockets,” Headmistress Carmichael ordered. Two Nephilim guards began to pat us down. I hadn’t expected a shakedown today.
Mine were already empty except for some leftover tomato seeds. Yes, these were the same jeans I’d worn to plant seeds with Nanna. Andrei scowled. So did the guard. Andrei handed an assortment of talismans and a tiny package like a teabag that had some small wafers in them.
“Take off your shoes,” the guard added.
“What is this?” Andrei huffed.
“I think they don’t trust you,” I muttered.
I could hear people in the crowd laughing. The guards were right. From inside the sole of his shoe, Andrei pulled out an armguard made of very thin leather with silver needles in it. How he managed to walk with it in there was beyond me. Where there was a will, there was a way. Andrei was proving to have an iron will.
Everybody besides Kai and Max had something stashed in their clothes. Both of their nostrils flared. Captain Nephilim and Captain Shifter.
When they were finally done with the shakedown, all of our belongings were placed on a small table on the stage. Guards then proceeded onto the stage and laid other weapons onto the table. Two swords, a mace, a bow and arrow, a pack of three vials, at least one of them being ambrosia. They added a small hunting knife to the mix. The last guard set down a pair of bracelets much like the ones that Jacqueline wore. When she was done, the guard turned to Andrei and the other vampire. “Your light amulets, please.”
I balked. “How are they supposed to move around in daylight?”
She shrugged. “They’re technically aids.”
I gawped at Andrei, but he was surprisingly compliant. On the way back, he kept under the awning on the stage. He was already squinting.
“You may choose one thing on this table to take with you,” the guard said. She nodded at Andrei. I let out a sagging breath. Thank goodness. If the order had been reversed, one of the other teams could have taken the light amulets and we would be screwed.
Bloody Andrei walked up to the table like it was a buffet. He sauntered around it as though he was actually contemplating what he was going to pick up. I stepped up to him.
“What the hell are you doing?” I snapped. I picked up the light amulet and shoved it into his hand. His eyes were actually running. I could see him blinking them clear as the light amulet pressed against his skin. But he wouldn’t hold on to it.
“Give me a second to think, woman!” he said.
I almost kicked him in the balls.
It was the most agonising three minutes I’d had in a long time. I was sure he was doing this just to yank my chain. My jaw hit the floor at the same time the audience grumbled when he picked up
