Page 58 of Fallacies

At least she isn’t nervous.

“Careful, Chaos,” I grin down at her, “the path is rocky here.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“You’re flushed,” I volley back. “And…pliant?”

“I’m going to be the reason you have a black eye if you don’t cut it out.”

Smile spreading, I tug her closer. “You’re so pretty when you threaten me.”

Lucina’s lips twist in frustration, her attention darting ahead, and when she notices that we’re approaching the Yard, her hand tightens on the sleeve of my jacket. Our previous conversation has been forgotten.

“Lucina,” I probe, trying to keep her distracted. “Did you hear what I said?”

“Yes,” she answers robotically, her focus locked on the setup of initiation peeking through the trees.

“Eyes, please.”

It takes her a second, but she eventually looks up at me. There’s fear in her stare, and all I want is to take it away.

I know it’s intimidating: the platform, the dais in the middle, the chairs set out around it. She hasn’t even seen the audience yet, but what she can see is enough to slow her steps. I’ve never seen her this nervous before—not even for Albatross.

“Did you hear what I said?” I ask her again.

Lucina swallows, wide eyes bouncing between me and the crowd as we enter the Yard. “That…I’m pretty when I threaten you?”

“Mhm,” I hum. “And when you hide daggers in your boots.”

That pulls her attention completely, hazel eyes flaring up at me. Panicked that I noticed the odd lump on the side of her boot. It’s cute that she thought I’d miss it.

“Which I’ll let you keep,” I tell her, sliding a hand behind her back as we ascend the three stairs to the top of the dais. Stopping her in the center, I turn her to face me and not the crowd. “But only because you won’t need them.”

The nervous edge to her stare softens a fraction of an inch.

But when the murmur of the crowd ceases, the panic comes rushing back in. Lucina becomes all too aware of the audience, turning slowly to face them.

Everyone’s dressed nicely, the setting sun making their Sol skin glow more than it already does. Her Grace is here, sitting up front, flanked by Ceres and Laverna. Aunt May is seated behind them, and Raphael, the leader of the Mender coven, sits beside her. Pa is here too, sitting quietly in the back beside Sedona—head of Lakelets. And then there’s Aster, who looks back at Lucina as if she’s never seen her before.

Typically, when memories are stolen or altered, there’s a big fuzzy spot where they used to be. It’s similar to forgetting the words to a song when the melody is on the tip of the tongue, or trying to remember a name someone gave in passing. It’s right there. But then it isn’t.

The blatant look of confusion on Aster’s face is almost impossible not to laugh at.

I’ve got an arsenal of weapons at my disposal, but being able to wipe the memory of Lucina from people who don’t deserve it…that might be my new favorite.

Lucina is still taking in the audience as the last of the sun sets over the Yard, and Pax begins instructing everyone on the rules of being witness to initiation: No intervening, no talking, no assistance.

My attention falls to Lucina’s hands, flexing and fisting at her side, soft curls shifting over her shoulder as she moves her head on a swivel. I can understand how Albatross might have influenced her to be on high alert, but initiation isn’t the kind of danger she can run from or prepare for—she’ll just need to get through it.

Stepping to her side, I brush my fingers across her fidgeting hand, ceasing the movement instantly. Her wide-eyed gaze travels up to my own, her chest rising and falling a bit faster than it was a few minutes ago.

“You’re going to be fine, okay? I promise.”

Lucina nods, but it’s weak.

“Chaos, do you believe that you’re capable?”

She hesitates, staring back at me for a long moment before she reaches some sort of decision within herself and nods. “Yes.”