To Sway a Demon Heart by Madeleine Eliot

Author:Madeleine Eliot [Eliot, Madeleine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-10-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

The second trial, the Trial of Shadow, would blessedly require neither of us to expend our magic. Instead, the remaining contestants would be tasked with meeting each other in battle and encouraged to use their shadow magic to defeat their foes. There would be no external magical interference, and the last contestants standing after one hour would proceed to the final trial.

It was going to be a bloodbath.

Tyr and I spent much of the next day questioning all the staff, trying to ascertain who might have had access to the food or drink of the male who had been poisoned. It felt familiar to be working with him again, despite the grim circumstances of our partnership, and the day passed quickly if unhelpfully. None of the staff knew or had seen anything, and by the time the second trial was upon us, Tyr was in a foul mood.

“I refuse to be blamed for this,” he raged as we walked out to the graveyard where the next trial would be held. Buttery sunlight had broken through the overcast, and this trial was scheduled to take place at sunset when the shadows would be at their longest. “If the nobles in Shadow try to accuse my staff of meddling in their tournament—”

“No one will accuse you of that,” I said patiently, struggling to keep up with his long stride. I was not a short female, but Tyr was exceptionally tall. He slowed for me, letting me finally catch up. “I’ll vouch for you if it comes to that.”

“Why?” Tyr asked, whirling on me so fast that I stumbled, and he shot out an arm to catch me. “Why are you so damned kind to me Brigid? Why won’t you leave me to my fate?”

“Is this a serious question?” I asked, looking up at him in surprise. His face was intense and strained, and he certainly looked serious.

“I rejected you,” he reminded me, lowering his voice. “I know I hurt you. Why are you determined to still be kind?”

I swallowed, uncertain how to answer in a way that wouldn’t make me seem weak or foolish. I sighed, accepting that maybe I was both. “Because you still deserve kindness,” I said, looking into his green eyes. “You hurting me doesn’t mean I have the right to hurt you back. That’s not who I am.”

Tyr looked at me disbelieving. “Do you not hear how good you are?” he asked, taking my hands in his. The move made the Pull strain in my chest, and I had to wrestle it back into submission. “Do you not see how little I deserve your kindness?”

“Whether you deserve it or not, Tyr,” I said, gently removing my hands from his, “you still have it. My kindness is not conditional with you.”

Tyr looked at me with that pained expression again, opening his mouth as if to reply. He closed it again, the words unspoken, and the tiny bubble of hope in my chest deflated.

“My lord and lady,” came a deep voice from the path below us.

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