Barbara smiled, eyes on the custard prize as she led Harley back to the tables. "Couldn't leave Eva to do all the work on her own forever, could I?" Mentors weren't meant to really like or dislike people, once it came down to the Arena, but they were just that: people. People who spent enough time around each other formed opinions for the better and worse.

With Tributes who didn't stay dead, and Games that never ended, for the people who were held responsible for how well or poorly those Tributes did, liking and not liking them took on a different dimension.

She reached out, plucking one yellow custard off the table and offering it over to Harley. "I think this one's corn pudding." Savory rather than sweet.