Loveless/ a POWERLESS fanfiction story

Chapter 40: Brian

Lenny stands in the courtyard, his sharp gaze fixed on the remaining participants of the Trials. I notice the way his eyes linger, just for a second, on one particular figure. The Silver Savior. Ah, it all makes sense now—he's probably in love with that girl.

"Good afternoon, my ginger friend," I smirk, stepping casually to his side.

Lenny doesn't turn, his eyes still locked on the girl moving with a surprising grace for someone who's just survived the atrocity of the Trials.

"What do you want?" he snaps, clearly irritated by my presence.

"I wanted to ask about my audience with the head of the Resistance," I say, lowering my voice.

Lenny flinches slightly, and that tiny movement tells me more than he intended.

"We don't need your maps," he bites out, finally tearing his gaze away from the Savior.

My first reaction is surprise, but it doesn't take long for me to understand. They've decided to find another way to reach their goal. They probably think they can rely on their own strength.

"Well," I chuckle, shaking my head slightly, "my maps were rather good, if I say so myself. A strong hand, you know."

Lenny rolls his eyes, but there's a fleeting smirk at the corner of his mouth.

"You might want to double-check," his lip twitches upward. "Because I'm pretty sure you're missing one ace."

I raise an eyebrow in silent approval.

"You've learned to joke," I snort. "My lessons weren't wasted after all."

Lenny huffs, already turning to leave, but I lean slightly toward him and add quickly:

"Just make sure you're watching the situation closely, because it seems your girl is being courted by someone else. Or perhaps she's the one doing the courting—it depends on how you look at it."

Lenny spins around so quickly that I can almost feel his breath on my face.

"Don't talk about her," he growls.

I smile faintly but press on:

"Doesn't she have quite the talent for attracting royal attention? At the balls, she's escorted by the future king, and in the forest clearing, she waltzes with the future Enforcer"

His eyes blaze with something feral, but I continue, knowing I've hit the mark:

"So tell me, Lenny. Who is she with? You? The heir to the throne? His brother? Or..." I let my words hang, locking eyes with him, "all of them at once?"

His jaw tightens, and a muscle twitches near his temple. That's exactly the reaction I wanted.

"She's with no one," he grinds out through clenched teeth.

He speaks the truth. He believes it. It's the truth he's convinced himself of. The truth the girl has fed to the Resistance. That's their plan—to use Paedyn Gray. No doubt they want to come into the Bowl and take the royal family hostage during the final Trial.

I study him carefully for a moment, then my smile widens. Lenny flinches slightly at my abrupt shift in demeanor.

"Really?" I reply lightly. "Well, alright then. Just thought I'd mention it—you know how rumors spread."

I step back, ending the conversation with a casual shrug.

"Well, it's been a pleasure seeing you."

He remains frozen in place, staring after me in confusion as I turn and head toward Blair, who's training on the other side of the courtyard.

My power was never going to bring me silver or status. But I'd learned to wield it in another way. Now it worked for me, helping me uncover anything I wanted to know.. All I ever had to do... was ask the right questions.