“Kate—” The word came out as a rasp.
Kate was always full of humor. She had an ease that Stella had never mastered. But now she looked as wrecked as Stella felt. Her usually rosy cheeks were pale and her blue eyes were rimmed in red.
She yanked Stella into a hug and began to sob. “I thought you were going to die, you absolute menace. Why would you join this stupid contest?”
Kate’s family had thrown a big party the night the contestants were announced and Kate was expected to act as hostess, which was why she hadn’t had a chance to scold Stella yet. She probably hadn’t even known until the Games began that morning.
Stella pulled back, trying to master her emotions. Her fire magicpressed against her skin, anxious for release after she’d suppressed it the entire fight. That had always been her issue. The more hurt and angry she got, the more her magic wanted to be free. It was why she always had to be ready to expel it after training with her father. It was why Cecilia had bound her magic when she was little and dealt with her fits of rage at having it suppressed until she was old enough to learn to control it.
Stella stepped away from Kate and snapped her fingers. Fire roared above her palm. Kate didn’t even flinch. She’d been expecting it.
Stella began to pace. “I just didn’t see a better way to win Arden’s hand. They betrothed him to that princess and when Aunt Des didn’t bond us together, I didn’t have another option.”
“Of course you had another option!” Kate snapped. “Let him go. How can you be this blind? You think you know better than the actual goddess of love? I know he is charming. I have seen that magnetism up close. Stella, I am begging you, just this once—listen to me. You didn’t give me time to talk you out of this. You intentionally kept me in the dark.”
“Why would I do that?” Stella said, but she knew from the look on Kate’s face that she wasn’t buying the deflection.
Stella hadn’t told her because she didn’t want to hear what Kate would have to say about it.
Kate crossed her arms. “I have watched you pine after this prince and I’ve held my tongue.”
Stella scoffed. “Your tongue, but not the looks on your face.”
“Well, forgive me. It’s hard not to voice the fact that you’resettling.”
Stella looked away, letting her fire blaze higher. The flames sputtered and shrank. She wasn’t angry. She was just hurt.
“We have been friends since we were children, so I say this to you with love,” Kate said, smoothing her hand over her dress. “I know what it is to be blinded by affection. I have made my share of mistakes. But I have only ever risked my heart for affection. I have never risked my life. Arden is not worth your life. You have had acrush on him since we were children and he has never seen you for the gift that you are. Any man who would make you earn his affection instead of wanting to bask in your warmth is not worth risking your heart, let alone your life.”
Stella’s fire roared brighter and sweat beaded on her brow. She needed to calm down or she was going to light the ceiling on fire. “You wouldn’t understand because you haven’t felt it. It’s hard to explain. Arden justunderstandsme.”
“Then where is he?” Kate’s cheeks blazed with an angry flush. “He’s not here to see you. You were almost mauled by a mythical beast and he can’t even risk the ire of his parents to come check on you? I lied to my family and punched a guard in the face to get into the healing suite.”
Stella laughed in shock, noticing the bloody knuckles on Kate’s right hand for the first time. “I didn’t know you knew how to throw a punch,” Stella said.
Kate shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t. I’m pretty sure I broke something.”
Stella looked away. “Arden will see me later. He’s trying to avoid an inter-kingdom conflict. He is the heir to the Olney throne. He can’t simply come and go as he pleases.”
Kate swallowed and licked her lips. “There’s nothing to be done now. You’re in this stupid contest and you can’t get out unless you’re humiliated, maimed, or dead. But I’m sure it will all be worth it. Gods. We’re twenty-three, Stella. I understand the desire to find your person, but you have your whole life ahead of you and you’re in such a rush that you’re literally risking your life for someone who isn’t even worth the risk of breaking a fingernail.”
The words stung. Stella had always been the friend with the temper, and while Kate also had her fury, it had never been directed at Stella. Stella’s magic blazed hotter in answer.
“Always with the temper,” Kate said, but the anger in her gaze faded to pity. “He invited Grace Farlan to a private dinner tomorrow night. Has he ever invited you to something like that?”
“You’re lying.” Stella’s magic snuffed out all at once.
Kate shook her head, looking too weary for her age. “Wish that I was, Stell.”
Envy twisted in Stella’s chest. Stella had never needed to worry about being beautiful enough. She had goddess-blessed beauty and, as Kate relentlessly reminded her, Rainer McKay’s perfect smile. But she was the first to admit that Grace Farlan had regal beauty. She was steady, temperate, tall, and curvy, with blonde hair that was always stylishly coiffed.
Grace looked like a queen. Stella looked like a wild forest witch.
Stella had been friends with Grace for a long time. Not the way she was with Kate, whom she saw daily, but she’d grown up looking forward to the McKays’ month-long visits to Argaria every spring and to the Farlan sisters’ month-long visits to Olney every summer. She’d seen the way that Grace turned heads, but she’d never felt envious of the attention until now.
“As your friend, I need to tell you the hard truth that no one else will,” Kate said softly.
“Get out,” Stella snapped.
