Mine to Spell (Mine #2) by Janeal Falor

for me than to have to take me wherever I want to go with the constant threat of death hovering. I probably shouldn’t mention that I checked to see if Serena had sent a letter while I mailed one to her and Katherine.
    And I definitely won’t mention all the staring at the tournament building that’s been going on. Or how I had to hide with the Grand Chancellor came striding down the road with his son Nathaniel and entered the building. They probably were there to sign Nathaniel up for the tournament. Nathaniel may have helped my sister at the ball, but I still don't trust him. Especially not with his father around. Both men are deadly.
    “ Well,” he says, breaking my thoughts.
    “ Well.”
    He scratches his cheek. “I suppose I should be going.”
    Not yet! I need more information. Or maybe just enough information to give me a boost in confidence. Besides, it’s been so quiet here all week. I don’t want to be alone, even if it means inviting him to tarry.
    I clink my bracelets together. He seemed nice enough from the little interaction we’ve had. He seems to be a warlock more like Zade than father. “Why don’t you stay? You brought more food than I need. I could cook you dinner again.”
    “This is too much food?”
    I laugh. “I couldn’t possibly eat this all myself before it goes bad.”
    “Oh.” He looks sheepish a moment before joining in with my laughter. “I always did eat a lot.”
    Not that his trim frame shows it. “Then you’ll stay?”
    “Suppose it would only be fair, so I don’t make you waste food.” He grins at me, and something inside me melts like one of Waverly’s chocolates.
    My hands shake. I grab a bowl to distract myself from it and get to work. The strange feeling doesn’t leave; instead, it persists in trying to get me to think on his smile. It’s a very nice smile. Warm and personal. And in no way related to the information I need to find out from him. I need to focus on getting answers, not strange, melty, shaky-making feelings.
    “Did you turn your paperwork in for the tournament?” I ask.
    “ Sure did.”
    Good thing he didn’t do it when I was stalking the place. “Are there many others signed up yet?”
    “More than last year at this time. Interest is picking up. I think many people from other countries are more curious since a Chardonian woman gained her freedom. Serena is becoming famous.”
    I wonder what she’d think of that. “Were you there last year? Did you see Zade win?”
    His smile sobers into a line. “I did.”
    Was he sickened as I was by the whole turn of affairs? Not that it turned into a horrid event like we thought it would,. It was the best thing that could have happened. Yet, Serena being won first by Thomas and then Zade shouldn’t have had the chance to happen. “What do you think of our ways?”
    “What do you think of them?”
    That they are wrong. “I don’t know much about our ways. Women are kept in the dark as much as possible. I know little.”
    “Does that bother you? I can’t tell how you feel about it. You’re hard to read.”
    I slip him a smile. A real smile. That was the best compliment anyone has ever paid me. But then I let it fade. “Of course it bothers me. I can’t believe it doesn’t bother more women.” As much as this is a good topic of conversation, it’s breaking away from what I want to know. “So you signed up for the tournament last year as well?”
    “No. Last year I was just spectating. My mentor, Arthur, signed up, and I followed him around a lot.”
    “ Did he sign up a ways out from the tournament as you did?”
    “ No. It’s too busy right now. The wait is really long, both to get in the country and to sign up. Everyone wants to declare themselves while it’s early. There’s much to be won if you kill, someone, many like to show off the fact they think they’ll excel at it.” He looks at me out of the corner of his eye. “Is there a reason you’re so interested?”
    I falter.