Lucky?

  Kai didn’t like the sound of that. Should he run? He could teleport away…as long as he wasn’t already trapped.

  Alira gripped the hilt of her sword - her face cold, ready to attack.

  He surveyed the body parts scattered around the courtyard. Most were concentrated in the area around the madman and the entrances.

  The tension in his limbs lessened. Then he noticed it.

  His spatial senses deepened.

  Thin lines of a material - fine enough to cut air - hung around each entrance and connected to every surface in the courtyard. Small paths carved through the deadly threads, funnelling unsuspecting targets.

  The whole thing was a devious trap.

  But Kai remained outside the trap - he could escape at any time. The naked bastard was even within his range.

  But…am I in the naked lunatic’s range? Is this trap larger than I thought? Can he move his threads past the entrances?

  As Kai had the thought, the threads before him moved…and collapsed.

  The unclothed figure spoke in a friendly tone. “Princess Alira, please come in. Bring your abomination with you.”

  Kai bristled at being called an abomination, but he couldn’t refute it.

  He was an undercover Demon…

  Alira, however, seemed to recognise the naked lunatic. A subtle smile touched her lips, but didn’t reach her eyes.

  “I’m no princess - only a Lady.”

  “Ah, Lady Alira, there’s not much time. Hurry - both of you!” As the naked lunatic finished speaking, many things happened at once.

  Kai felt a thread brush against his foot.

  He made his move before the thread could wrap around his ankle. Grabbing Alira’s shoulder, he teleported back the way they came.

  That was close.

  He wasn’t sure if he could bring Alira along as he teleported, but it had worked out perfectly.

  His stomach churned when he heard laughter.

  “It worked! That haughty spider was telling the truth.”

  Kai and Alira turned toward the sound. The smirking killer was there.

  Did he ride my teleportation by touching me with the thread?

  He hadn’t attacked them from behind while he had the chance…he was either stupid or friendly - maybe both?

  Alira levelled her sword at the bare-chested madman. Before anyone could act, an announcement entered their minds.

  [Target survived. A new target has been chosen.]

  Screams, laughter and metallic clanging continued to echo in the distance.

  The naked lunatic wasn’t the Target anymore, but Alira’s chilling blade showed no sign of relenting.

  “Why did you follow us?” She spoke with a chill in her voice that agitated even Kai’s frozen heart.

  The barely dressed madman sat cross-legged, making no sudden moves, smirk intact. “The noble spider told me to,” he said.

  “The noble spider?” Alira raised an eyebrow, but her blade remained steady.

  “Yeah, she told me to join the princess and the abomination. I didn’t know if I could trust her at first, but it all worked out! I recognised you as soon as I saw you, Pri—I mean, Lady Alira.” His smirk shifted into a bright smile. “I grew up in Wyrmrest Mountains.”

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  Alira’s blade dipped slightly, but she showed no sign of wavering.

  “Where did you live? What family are you from?”

  “Near the castle, my lady. I am Rusk, son of Rothar. My father crafted the armour you’re wearing.” The lunatic gestured toward Alira, puffing out his bare chest, pride filling him like a balloon.

  Alira nodded and lowered her frosty blade. “I know of your father; he’s a good man.” Her stern face remained chill. “But we’re in a trial. Your father’s reputation is useless here. Why should we trust you instead of killing you?”

  Alira’s shrewdness impressed Kai. Though he took a few steps back. He knew better than to provoke a fight with a naked man efficient in killing.

  Kai folded his arms and awaited the strange fellow’s response. His answer would decide whether Kai gained two bodyguards or lost one…

  Rusk’s smile didn’t falter. “Because I’m here to help you pass the trial.”

  “And why’s that?” asked Kai, his curiosity outweighing his prudence. People who offered help without asking for anything were the most suspicious.

  “The noble spider has already proved herself correct. She said to help you…she told me the princess and the fashionable abomination would guide me to unimaginable riches!”

  Kai grit his teeth. This bastard called him an abomination again! But…what was that other part?

  Did he say Kai was…fashionable? Kai glanced down at his suit again.

  Maybe this guy isn’t so bad?

  Kai was a Demon, after all. Rusk clearly had good instincts. But Kai couldn’t let his assumption go unchallenged, no matter how accurate.

  The suspicion could lead to Alira asking questions he couldn’t answer. Before he could respond, Alira asked the well-informed man a dangerous question.

  “Why do you call this man an abomination?”

  Kai tensed. Rusk’s answer could lead to dire consequences.

  Rusk seemed unbothered by the question. “Because he has no mark. Only Marked, monsters and weak abominations appear in the First Trial, right? Didn’t you tame him?”

  “Makes sense. I…made the same assumption when we met.” Her head shook slowly. “He’s actually a Marked with a most unfortunate curse…”

  Kai scoffed. These two inconsiderate bastards were discussing him like he wasn’t here! “Hey! Did your parents teach you to go around revealing people’s secrets? You think that’s gonna make me trust you?”

  Alira bit her lip as she lowered her gaze. “I-I’m sorry, I thought—“

  Kai raised a hand. “It’s okay - this time. It was gonna come out sooner or later, right? Not like I can hide it.”

  Kai addressed Rusk. “My curse makes me Markless, okay? I’m a Marked just like you.”

  Rusk shook his head. “No, no. You’re not like me. The noble spider says I am blessed by the great lady. But the great lady has plans for you.” He gestured at Kai while nodding. “That’s why I will follow.”

  “Who is this spider you keep talking about? Who is the great lady?” Kai asked.

  Rusk raised his eyebrows. “You don’t know the noble spider? I was sure…no way! Didn’t she help you create that suit? To be so dapper and fashionable without her guidance…” Rusk’s eyes filled with reverence. “Please tell me your name, sir!”

  Kai was both annoyed and pleased. He had never received much praise, so Rusk’s compliments were more than welcome. But the sly bastard hadn’t answered either of Kai’s questions. “My name is Kai. Now, please answer my questions.”

  Rusk nodded vigorously, speaking with excitement. “Blessed Kai, of course I will answer, please forgive me! The noble spider is the Thread God; she’s also the god of fashion, of course.” His chin rose a few inches. “The great lady is - the great lady. She peers into fate and is always right.”

  Alira almost dropped her sword. Her eyes opened wide, and she couldn’t hide her shock…and excitement? “You met a god?”

  Rusk closed his eyes, nodding with a smug smirk. He seemed to be praying or recalling a precious memory. “Yes, her guidance is priceless. Don’t you two have Guardians, too?”

  “I have a Guardian,” Alira said, shaking her head. “But she’s not a god. Guardians serve the gods. Gods don’t guide humans!”

  Rusk chuckled. “That’s because you are a noble, my lady.”

  Alira wrinkled her nose. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  “You nobles get Gifts from popular Gods. They don’t have time to guide humans. The lesser-known gods have to put in the groundwork. Who else will spread their influence and amazing teachings?”

  “A-amazing teachings?” Alira’s boundless greed for knowledge was leaking out for all to see.

  Rusk nodded with excitement. “Of course! Thread God is gracious and generous with her knowledge. Her fashion advice is second to none!”

  Alira lost some enthusiasm, but not all. “Hm, I suppose that’s useful to some.”

  “Speaking of fashion…” Kai had an important question. “Why are you naked?”

  Rusk’s smile dimmed, and he shifted his gaze to the concrete wall. He cleared his throat before responding. “I’m not naked - can’t you see my underwear? I’m not an animal.”

  Kai covered his face with a hand. Is this guy serious?

  “I’m…partially dressed because of my Gift.”

  That sounds more like a curse!

  “How so?” Alira asked.

  “I can control threads, so I have to use my clothes to use my Gift. It’s a shame we couldn’t bring those bodies with us…” He grimaced. “For their clothes, I mean! I can’t use my Gift now…unless I abandon my dignity.”

  It made sense.

  Most Marked controlled things with their Gifts. It was rare to find a Marked who could create something out of nothing. That was reserved for the Darkbound.

  But hadn’t he abandoned his dignity already?

  Kai sighed. Rusk was a useless bodyguard unless they found clothes for him. Dead weight for now, but his Gift was perfect for setting lethal traps.

  Kai turned to Alira. “Two unarmed members make a poor team. Still not worth making me a weapon?”

  Alira looked at Kai as though he had two heads. “It’s still a waste of essence. You wouldn’t be able to hold it anyway - you’d freeze your hand off. And who said I’m letting this man join the team?”

  “Ah, what a shame.” Kai squatted down, placed a hand on Rusk’s naked shoulder and a finger on Alira’s boot.

  They disappeared.

  Three arrows struck the spot they’d just been standing in.

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