The entire next fight I was on edge, waiting to see who Zyacus would face for the final round. A Collweyan boy and Delhoon girl battled it out hard but in the end the girl won.
By this round, both of them had to be tired but they met in the center and a contest of the crowd began chanting the names “Zyacus” and “Ava”. Legacy and I shouted her name and since Kyan had to choose a side, he joined us; however, I couldn’t help but silently root for the prince. Watching him fight made my insides tingle, made me find him even more attractive than I did before, as much as I didn’t want it to.
Madison waved a hand for them to begin and then disappeared. The first move was from Ava and she threw a blast of energy, a red orb that exploded into Zyacus’s shield. The hit knocked him back fifteen feet and he crashed into the side of the arena wall.
Get up. Get up. Get up!
Too slowly he struggled to rise; she closed the distance between them, bringing her sword down on him. He blocked it, and they pushed against each other.
Come on, Zyacus, come on!
One hard shove and she stumbled back and he attacked. They clashed swords over and over and then he stomped his foot, vines grew out of the dirt and tangled around her legs.
He stole that from me!
Wildly swinging, she chopped at the thick vines but they grew faster than she could cut. Magic you fool! I couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t obliterating those vines to dust. Maybe the first magic blast depleted her power after already fighting in other matches.
With a few swings of his sword, he knocked her weapon out of her hand and with a blade point at her throat, it was over.
Glittering fireworks showered down and Zyacus’s name appeared above him in blue smoke.
As if he wasn’t arrogant enough.
Chapter 19
As the students cleared out of the stands and we waited in a line to ascend the steps to the upper level, Kyan and his friend started talking about an after-party. Legacy nudged my arm, “Ask him,” she whispered. “I want to go.”
I knew it was getting late since the tournament often went past our usual curfew. I shook my head. I also wasn’t about inviting myself to things. If he wanted us to go he’d ask. When we got up to the main level, I spotted Zyacus and Aric along with a gaggle of girls and his friends, Mateo, Skinny, and Unibrow.
“It’s been fun, Kyan,” I said. “Perhaps we’ll see you at the next tournament.” The unicorn cookie really did have me feeling happy, joyous, not caring that he hadn’t invited us or that Zyacus was glaring at me or possibly glaring at who I was with. I even smiled at the prince, beaming, and that dirty look of his faded.
“You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?” Kyan touched my arm lightly. I tried not to flinch, but was happy no images of death appeared.
I peeked over at Legacy who was nodding. “Sure, where is it?”
Upon her agreement, my father’s words popped into my head “follow the rules.” Disregarding curfew wasn’t following the rules but Legacy and I hadn’t stepped out of line once since we started here. One little party couldn’t hurt, could it?
“It’s outside, way in the back so the professors don’t see our bonfire and ruin our fun.”
∞∞∞
It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t nervous as we snuck out a side door and into the dark of night. I knew what could be lurking in the shadows; the red eyes of my vision appeared in my imagination among the trees. The cool dampness in the air gave me a chill and I rubbed my arms. The crickets and night bugs hummed and chirped, bringing me a slight sense of calm. Last time I’d been out here and thought something might be hunting me, there was absolute silence except for when that low growl of a beast rumbled.
“How many people go to this party?” I asked.
Kyan shrugged and ran a hand over his silvery-blond hair. “Last time there were about twenty-five of us, but I bet word will have spread and more will come tonight.”
I peeked over at Legacy who was in conversation with Brax, although her eyes searched the shadows as much as mine.
“If you’re worried there’s something scary out here in the dark, don’t. There’s nothing scarier than me.” And the way Kyan smiled made a shiver run down my spine.
“Why do you think I’m worried?” Even though my instincts told me I should be, I was still incredibly happy. Thanks unicorn cookie.
His eyes skimmed along the trees then back to me. “You keep checking the woods like something might pop out.”
“If you didn’t know, a boy died here not long ago. They say it’s safe but I’m always on my guard.”
His jaw muscles tensed. “I did know. And I’ll protect you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, even if this was a serious conversation. “I don’t need anyone to protect me.” I tapped my sword, my sharp sword not the practice one, and brought fire to my other hand, “That’s what these are for.”
“I’m sure you’re more than capable. I’m just saying, you’re not on your own out here.”
We followed the russet dirt path to the edge of the property, shaded by trees and high foliage. Kyan pushed aside tall grass and then gestured, “Ladies first.”
I heard voices and saw an orange glow before I stepped through. Legacy wrapped her hand around mine and we crunched over the grass. I counted seventeen people and more arrived through different parts of the woods. Kyan pulled a bottle of wine out of his much too small pocket. “Magic,” he winked. “Would you like some?”
“No, but thank you. The unicorn cookie was all I needed tonight.”
“Was it something special?”
I told him what the lady who sold them to us said and he chuckled. “No wonder I can’t stop smiling. I thought it was just a side effect of being around you.”
“Well, that too,” I added, and he laughed again.
“You’re different than I thought you’d be,” he said, then took a slug of wine.
“How so?”
He licked his lips. “Most princesses are, how do I put his without offending you—”
“Entitled, high and mighty, vain?”
Laughing he said, “Exactly.”
“I won’t lie, I might be a little vain.” I flipped my hair for emphasis.
“See, royals I met could never joke about this. Princess Brizee in the North would probably stomp her foot and send me to the dragon’s cave where I’d likely be torn to shreds. She’d never socialize with us commoners at a lowly party such as this.”
“Her loss.”
After being there for a while, I expected to see some students I knew but didn’t. It was sixth and seventh year students, mostly from Collweya, and Legacy and I were apparently special guests. The few girls sneering from across the fire made sure I knew we weren’t supposed to be there.
“If that red-headed wench glares at me one more time, she’s going to regret it,” Legacy said, sipping on her glass of white wine. “I’ll smash this over her head before I beat her face into the dirt.”
“Calm down there, killer,” I said, and took hold of her arm. I spun her around so her back was to those girls. “There. Now you can’t see her.”