How Does It Feel?

Callie uses the strips of dress to throw off the sonar of the winged creatures, just as luna moths evade bats. One of the creatures lands next to Callie and gives chase. She stabs the vulnerable spot between its wing and body as hard as she can. The second creature quickly descends, and Callie stabs it, too. She is returned to the court and demands that Mendax announce her first victory.

Callie is again sent to Mendax’s room, where her wounds are treated by Fae servants. She resists their attentions—she is tired and her nerves are frazzled—so Mendax sends them away and tries to bandage her. When she resists him, he reminds her that he could use his powers to coerce her mind. She reluctantly agrees to his helping her; she lost much blood during her trial, and she is weaker than usual. Mendax vows that no harm will come to her outside of the trials.

As Callie relaxes, she asks Mendax about his father, the former king. Mendax admits that he killed him. When Callie lashes out at him for his murderous tendencies, he pulls her close to him, in a way that is both threatening and magnetic. He leaves her to rest, in his bed, before the next trial.