Oceanborn by Amalie Howard

Author:Amalie Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

14

Sleight of Hand

The sharp scent of ammonia wafts into my nostrils, making me sit up and gag. I swipe at the smelling salts in front of my nose and wince at the pain shooting across my cheekbones.

“Be still for a minute,” an indistinct voice says. Dark shadows flicker in front of my eyelids. My eyes flutter open and squint shut against the glare of the sun as Speio’s worried face comes into view. My eyes flick to Jenna, kneeling at his side.

“Riss? What happened?” Speio whispers in my ear as images come flashing back—Cara’s furious face and her stick swinging toward my head—neither enough to knock me out on my worst day. And yet she did. And what was that strange gutting sensation in the pit of my stomach? It was as if someone was taking the measure of me, of what I am.

Jenna frowns, leaning in. “Kate said she saw Cara clobber you in the face. That true?”

“I...don’t know.”

Truth is, I have no idea what happened. Even seeing that stick coming toward my face would have given me enough time to either dodge or deflect the strike, but I didn’t. I was too distracted by the unexpected intrusion. My gaze flicks to the bleachers, but there’s no one there now. The sensation was so utterly foreign that I can’t even imagine what it might have been. Maybe it’s something related to Lo, and what’s happening with him. Although I can’t imagine that it would be—I know Lo. My body can identify him in a breath. Maybe Soren or Echlios would have more of an idea.

Wincing at the dwindling sting on the bridge of my nose, I take a deep breath. Cara’s strike was a lucky one. I didn’t think she had it in her, but everyone has a breaking point. I’d obviously pushed her to hers. I look for her in the crowd of faces hovering above me. She looks as surprised as I do, but the emotion disappears from her face as soon as we make eye contact. A flush winds up her neck. She knows that if I say anything, she’ll be suspended.

“It was an accident. I went down when she went up.”

Jenna frowns. “That’s not what Kate said.”

I squeeze her hand. “Kate was wrong. I’m fine,” I say, and push myself somewhat dazedly to my feet, grabbing Speio’s arm. “Coach, just going to sit out the rest of the half.”

Coach Fenton nods. “Payton, you’re up,” he shouts to a junior sitting on the bench. “Come on, the rest of you, back on the field. We have a game to finish.”

Hobbling over to the bench with Speio, I watch the start of the game halfheartedly, my mind racing while Speio goes to get me some water. Within minutes, I see Echlios at the edge of the field, his brow furrowed. Nova and Nell are with him. They would all have felt that I was in some kind of jeopardy.

“Where’s Lo? Is he safe?” I ask once Echlios reaches my side.

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