In the darkness, his eyes catch what little light remains, reflecting it with an unnerving focus that makes me wonder if he can see straight into my thoughts. "What did you do in there?" he demands, voice low and rough. Even from the brief touch, I feel a hint of the fire essence I pulled from him, dancing and twisting within me with the promise of power.

"In where?" I ask, hoping the innocent act might work.

His grip tightens slightly. "Don't. I saw what happened with Davrin. The stone moved."

Fear grips my heart. It claws up my throat like a living thing, threatening to choke me. If Raith noticed, who else might have? "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Bullshit." His eyes search mine, looking for lies. "You pulled energy from the stone. I felt it. Just like you pulled fire from me that first day. You need to be far more cautious. Anybody could’ve seen.”

The revelation hits me like a punch to the gut. He felt it? How? And why does he care if people see?

Before I can respond, his expression shifts, something like reluctant concern flashing across his features. "Malakai has friends among the third-years who help with the trial. They'll likely tell him where everybody enters the lake. That means he'll know where to find you."

I blink, thrown by the warning. "Why tell me this? How do you even know for that matter?"

He turns to leave, but I catch his wrist, the contact sending another surge of warmth into my body. "Why are you helping me?" I press.

His jaw tightens, eyes dropping to where my fingers circle his wrist. "Maybe I'm just saving you for later," he says finally, the words held together by tension and something unspoken. The electricity between us is practically visible, crackling in the air like static.

I don't believe him for a moment, but he pulls free and strides away before I can push him for more.

All I'm left with is the warm memory of where our skin touched. That, and the knowledge that Malakai is probably going to use the trial to hunt me down and kill me. Unfortunately for him, I'm starting to see I'm not nearly as defenseless as he thinks.

And if he wants to come after me when I'm literally surrounded by water? Well… I might actually have a chance to make him regret it. A dangerous smile forms on my face—for once, I don’t feel like prey waiting to be slaughtered. I might finally have teeth of my own.

10

"You look like shit," Mireen observes helpfully as we trudge down to Mirror Lake in the predawn chill. Over my shoulder, I see Confluence Academy's four elemental towers punching through a cloud of mist.