The door slams open, casting a strong breeze to both Tilly and I. Instantly, we reach out for one another, gripping our hands in a strong embrace as we make our way up and stand before Eekatia. The sounds of their cheers, the flags whipping in the night air, all make it real, one of us will be the future Queen. While the other will forever be nothing more than the daughter of a Deskyiara.
Our eyes meet, and we nod. Father stretches his hands out wide for us to make our way up to the onyx platform that has blue fire circling around it.
Our fingers stretch wide for us to stay together, but the pathway leads us separate and standing at a distance.
Flashes of bright red lightning ripple through the dark sky as dark clouds roll through, almost blocking out the bright light of the blood moon. But it’s too powerful to be hidden.
Silence rushes over the people. All eyes are on us as we wait patiently.
My fingers pick at my skin, nervous energy stemming from every edge of my body. I feel as if I could vomit in front of everyone. I would never be chosen then. Even though, I know, Tilly will be the one. She is the oldest. The strongest.
But as the moon darkens, casting a red glow on us all, my heart drops. My chin lifts, watching the fire rip from the moon and beam bright as the morning star.
The smell of burnt flesh floats in the wind, ash trickling like rain from the clouds and that’s when a blue fire blasts downward on… me.
Fire circles around me, my hair flailing widely by the strength of the firestorm that consumes me. My eyes widen as I watch my golden-white hair fade to a dark, midnight black. I suck in a deep breath, controlling my heart that wants to rip from my chest as I feel a painful scorching burn ripple through my left arm.
Red, raw markings of a map begin to form, marking from the top of my shoulder, down to my wrist. My brows knit together, catching sights of the pink tones fading back to my normal skin color within a split moment.
As the screams of those around me fade, the fire melts into me, fading away until nothing is left besides the dark sky and the people who watch.
My eyes jolt closed by the pain that shoots through me before opening, glancing towards my sister whose nostrils flare with pure rage.
“Our future Queen!”my father shouts, and the crowd sings in cheers.
MY EYES WIDEN, REMEMBERING THE look of my sister that night. I should have known she would betray me.
I shall end this bloodshed of the games, with bloodshed.
But today, I will focus on riding one of the four horses. Today, I shall show the Realms that I can and will bond to one of the four.
Inside me, deep within my heart, I feel I was sent back to bring peace back to the Realms. I must, since my love for Koen broke us all.
Up ahead, Florian sits casually on the broken log, his legs open while his elbows rest against them. He takes a bite into a crisp apple, the crunch echoing softly in the air. Nearby, I spot Lykia and Koen in a conversation, leaning against the rough stone wall. The sight of them together sends a sharp, twisting pain through my heart—an ache that feels like a knife slicing through it repeatedly.
I rip my eyes away and take a seat next to Florian, snatching the other apple out of his hand without daring to touch his skin. I smirk, taking a big bite as the juice trickles down my chin. His blonde hair sways in the wind as he shakes his head, a soft chuckle escaping his lips before he takes another bite.
“We need to talk,” he whispers, leaning in towards me, “and you are not going to like what I have to say.”
However, he does a swift double take, eyes widening as he catches the dried blood against my cheekbone and the bandageacross it. “What the hell happened to you? Who did this?” His voice drops to a deadly sneer.
My hand rubs against my knee, twirling the apple in my other hand. “Nothing happened.” I avoid his lingering gaze.
“That’s bullshit.”
My heart clenches like a fist, and my breath catches sharply in my throat. I hold it in. The pure rage in his voice jolts me to my core, a violent tone I never imagined could erupt from his lips.
I cannot tell him his own brother did this to me.
But as a dragon. With no control.
“I’m going to ask you again…” He leans closer, his hand pressing firmly against the wood. “Who did this to you?”
I snatch my gaze towards him, my nostrils flaring as I hold in the lie. “Nothing happened.”
He slams his hand against the log, catching the attention of Lykia and Koen. I avoid their intense glares, staring away to the open Pyre where I watch the others practice.
“I need to train, Florian.” I swallow, finally breathing.
