Inception

The doors to her bedroom banged open, and Celina was on her feet in an instant, a candlestick in hand. But Chaol took no notice of her as he stormed in, his jaw clenched. She groaned and slumped back onto her bed. “Don’t you ever sleep?” she grumbled, pulling the covers over herself. “Weren’t you celebrating into the wee hours of the morning?” He put a hand on his sword as he ripped back the blankets and dragged her out of bed by the elbow. “Where were you last night?” She pushed away the fear that tightened her throat. There was no way he could know about the passages. She smiled at him. “Here, of course. Didn’t you visit to give me this?” She yanked her elbow out of his grasp and waved her fingers in front of him, displaying the amethyst ring. “That was for a few minutes. What about the rest of the night?” She refused to step back as he studied her face, then her hands, then the rest of her. As he did so, she returned the favour. His black tunic was unbuttoned at the top, and slightly wrinkledâ€"and his short hair needed a combing. Whatever this was, he was in a rush. “What’s all the fuss about? Don’t we have a Test this morning?” She picked at her nails as she waited for an answer. “It’s been cancelled. A Champion was found dead this morning. Xavierâ€"the thief from Melisande.” She flicked her eyes to him, then back to her nails. “And I suppose you think I did it?” “I’m hoping you didn’t, as the body was half-eaten.” “Eaten!” She crinkled her nose. She sat cross-legged on the bed, propping herself on her hands. “How gruesome. Perhaps Cain did it; he’s beastly enough to do such a thing.” Her stomach felt tightâ€"another Champion murdered. Did it have to do with whatever evil Elena had mentioned? The Eye Eater and the other two Champions’ killings hadn’t been just a fluke, or a drunken brawl, as the investigation had determined. No, this was a pattern. Chaol sighed through his nose. “I’m glad you find humour in a man’s murder.” She made herself grin at him. “Cain is the most likely candidate. You’re from Anielleâ€"you should know more than anyone how they are in the White Fang Mountains.” He ran a hand through his short hair. “You should mind who you accuse. While Cain is a brute, he’s Duke Perrington’s Champion.” “And I’m the Crown Prince’s Champion!” She flipped her hair over a shoulder. “I should think that means I can accuse whomever I please.” “Just tell me plainly: where were you last night?” She straightened, staring into his golden-brown eyes. “As my guards can attest, I was here the entire night. Though if the king wants me questioned, I can always tell him that you can vouch for me, too.” Chaol glanced at her ring, and she hid her smile as a faint line of colour crept into his cheeks. He said, “I’m sure you’ll be even more pleased to hear that you and I won’t be having a lesson today.” She grinned at that, and sighed dramatically as she slid back under the blankets and nestled into her pillows. “Immensely pleased.” She pulled the blankets up to her chin and batted her eyelashes at him. “Now get out. I’m going to celebrate by sleeping for another five hours.” A lie, but he bought it. She closed her eyes before she could see the glare he gave her, and smiled to herself when she heard him stalk out of the room. It was only when she heard him slam the doors to her room that she sat up. The Champion had been eaten? Last night in her dreamâ€"no, it hadn’t been a dream. It had been real. And there had been those screeching creatures . . .