Kristin bit her lip and winced at my words. “s**t. I need to tell you something. Please don’t get mad. I was hoping it was a joke that would just blow over, but—"
“What?” I asked. I’d known her for a short time, but could read her easily, and I did not like the downcast eyes and pale face she was keeping averted.
“You’re so not going to like this.”
“What? Just spit it out.” Dread coiled to settle in my gut like the dust around me.
“Captain Marz, the Prillon?”
“Yes.” I knew him well enough. I’d had to turn him away from my door multiple times the last few weeks. He was all right. He tried. Brought me flowers, for heaven’s sake—I suspected Rachel or Kristin had suggested that one. But there was no spark there. I looked at him and felt… nothing. “What about him?”
“He issued a tournament
