here for the next year.
Providing I lived that long, of course.
âWhere are we with the Draconis?â Claudia said. âHave you heard anything new?â
Everyone was always interested in gossip about the other Families, especially the Draconis, since they were our main rivals. But Claudia had even more reason than others to be concerned about them. A few weeks ago, Iâd used my soulsight on Victor Draconi, and Iâd realized that he was plotting against Claudia and all the other Families.
Something big.
Something dangerous.
Something deadly.
âNothing out of the ordinary,â I said. âWe ran into Blake and Deah today, but all they were interested in was crowing about how Deahâs going to win the tournament again this year; especially since there was another girl there, Katia Volkov.â
Claudia nodded. âThatâs to be expected this time of year. I doubt that even Victor would try something before the tournament, since itâs such a big draw and moneymaker for everyone in town, mortals and magicks alike. Heâll wait until afterward to put his plan into motion, whatever it is.â
She rubbed her forehead as though it was aching. I didnât have to use my soulsight to see the tension pinching her face. Whatever Victor was up to, it worried Claudia more than anything else. And she had good reason. Iâd seen into the black, rotten depths of Victor Draconi, and the only thing that beat in his dark heart was cold, cruel calculationâand his icy desire to destroy Claudia and all the other Families.
âMaybe weâll get lucky and Victor will let something slip during the tournament,â she said. âAt the very least, I can see who he meets with and talks to. That might tell us something about what heâs planning.â
âYeah. About the tournament.â
She arched her eyebrows.
âWhy did you pick me to compete? I thought we had an agreement. I would be your eyes and ears and find out everything I could about the Draconis. Kind of hard to be a spy when youâre the center of attention.â
âBecause I think you can win it.â
I snorted. âBullshit. Devon has just as good a chance to win as I do. So does Vance, for that matter. So whatâs the real reason?â
Claudia paused a moment, considering her answer. âBecause your mother was the only person that Victor was ever truly afraid of.â
Her soft words punched me in the gut, but I didnât let any of my hurt and heartache show. âHe certainly didnât seem to be afraid when he cut her to pieces.â
Claudia stared at me, her green eyes blazing with conviction. âVictor was always afraid of Serenaâof her sight magic, of her fighting skills, and especially of her ways of communicating with the monsters.â
âAnd what does all that have to do with picking me for the tournament?â
âI want him to know thereâs someone else he should be afraid of.â
My mouth dropped open in surprise, but Claudia kept staring at me, the conviction in her gaze burning even brighter and hotter than before.
I didnât know how to respond, so I turned toward the doors, desperate to leave and trying to hide my shock, sorrow, and all the other emotions surging through me.
âGood luck,â Claudia called out in a soft voice.
I didnât know if she was talking about the tournament or my turbulent feelings. Probably both. But I didnât trust myself to speak, so I nodded, strode over, pulled open one of the doors, and left the library as fast as I could.
CHAPTER SEVEN
âI tâs too early for this,â I grumbled. â Way too early.â
It was seven oâclock the next morning, and I was lying in bed, the covers pulled up to my chin, watching Oscar zip around the room putting clothes into a black duffel bag sitting on the couch. The pixie had been up for an hour already, rustling around in my closet,