Read White Heart of Justice for Free Online

the square. Somewhere nearer to the fire a pack of students were singing. I looked over at the bowl of sugar lilies that had been left for Lilith and remembered my tooth—and all the other sacrifices I’d made.
    If I became this year’s Laureate, would I really choose to work for the Jayneses?
    I sighed. The only thing I knew for sure was that I didn’t want to continue talking to Peter.
    â€œDefending Hyrkes from
rogare
demon attacks sounds like honorable work to me, Peter.” I turned around a second time, determined to walk away, but Peter’s rushed words stopped me.
    â€œHalja has magic that’s more powerful than waning or waxing,” he said to my back. “More powerful even than faith magic.”
    I frowned, but didn’t turn back toward him. His words made me uncomfortable.
    My tongue worried the hollow spot left in my gum by my missing tooth. The wind whistled in my ears as if my whole body was hollow, not just that one spot.
    Finally, I stopped worrying over the hollow spot. I gritted my remaining teeth, raised my hood, and walked away.

Chapter 3
    A fter leaving Peter it didn’t take long to find Rafe. He was coming out of Lord Lawless’ tent looking for me. His face brightened when he saw me—and then immediately fell.
    â€œWhy didn’t you come over to the fire when you first came up?” Rafe asked, taking me by the elbow and leading me over to an empty bench. His face held all of the concern that had been lacking in Peter’s. We sat facing one another and I lowered my hood so that Rafe could get a better look at the injuries I wanted him to heal. Gently, he took my chin in his hand and turned my face toward the fire. I gave him a smile, intentionally poking my tongue through the gap in my teeth. His eyes widened and then narrowed.
    â€œYou let Vicious knock your tooth out?”
    â€œLet him?” I said jerking my chin away from Rafe’s fingers. “Hardly,” I growled. And then in a lower voice I admitted, “He surprised me.” I looked up and met Rafe’s taupe-eyed gaze. So like his mother’s gaze earlier this evening—and yet so different. Rafe’s gaze was as warm as the bonfire we sat next to, whereas Valda’s had been as cold as the Gridiron. I told him I’d won the match and that I’d be racing for the Laurel Crown starting next Friday.
    â€œWhat do you think your target will be?”
    I shrugged. “Who knows? Something difficult to retrieve, that’s for sure. Know any good tracking spells?”
    â€œWhy?” he said, quirking his mouth. “Am I going to be your Guardian? Did Friedrich relent and agree that we could work together again?”
    I frowned. He hadn’t. Yet. Rafe’s questions made me realize my biggest priority for tomorrow would be to visit the office of the dean of Guardians and start groveling. Rafe was considering me carefully. He always did that. It used to make me uncomfortable. Now, I was used to it, although I did often wonder what he was wondering about. After a while he said:
    â€œYou know I can’t cast a spell that will actually grow your tooth back, right?”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œBut I can cast an illusion so that people won’t be able to tell.”
    â€œNo,” I said. “Leave it.”
    Rafe arched a brow at me. “Another intimidation tactic for your opponents? I’m not sure it makes you look tough, Noon.”
    â€œWhat does it make me look like?” I asked, remembering Peter’s comment that I looked terrifying. Rafe’s gaze dropped from my eyes to my swollen lips.
    â€œLike someone who’s going to have trouble chewing.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Get on with the healing, spellcaster.” I scooted closer. Rafe had told me that he didn’t necessarily have to touch me to heal me, but that it made it a whole lot easier.
    â€œClose your eyes,” he said.
    I gave him a puzzled