As he walks, he sees me. I mouth out, “You're dead.”And instead of a shrug or a sarcastic move back, he grins, his white teeth biting against his bottom lip as he looks away. His head shakes as if my threat isn’t a damn threat.But it is.Just wait till we get back in the dormitory. He arrives on the gravel and makes his way to the back of the row.
“Thank you all for being here for this year's battle games!” The woman applauds, the crowd cheering and roaring, most shouting the name of the hopeful victorian. “The written way of the last Deskyiara King to keep the Realms at peace! We shall one day become a land where no curse shall haunt us anymore!”
“By this time of the next blue moon, one Realm will have a champion and their Realm will be gifted the Light Stone, breaking the champion’s Realm’s curse for a year!” she hollers in the shell before raising it up to the sky. Suddenly, a deafening rush of wind rips through the air, a powerful whoosh that makes the trees that tower behind the arena sway and leaves rustle violently. Remembrance of the time Florian and I were chased flashes before me, and I panic. I duck, feeling the rush of wind ripple across my skin and grab at my chest as the man to the right looks at me with a pathetic look.
“I’m fine,” I hiss at him, standing up again.
“The gift of our Light Stone protects the people of Azure, we honor the gift from our Gods by the bloodshed of our games! Only those brave enough join the games and fight for what they believe in! That one day, we shall take down the Wailing Queen and destroy the curses for good!”
I deeply exhale and look to the sky. My eyes widen, taking a step back as a white horse with feather-like wings soars in the sky. A woman, gowned in a pearly-white dress, rides, yankingthe golden reins in her hands before diving near us and then back up to the blue sky. The men start to part, creating a pathway in the middle. I pause, glancing nervously from left to right, my mind racing as I try to determine which direction to take. An arm tugs me, a man with ash-brown twisted hair, braided up top and shaved on the sides, pulls me to the right. A scar is slashed across his face, turning my insides into knots imagining how he got it. His firm grip tightens as he pulls me into his body, and a scent of the salty sea radiates off of him.
“Get it together,woman.” He hovers over me, scuffing before releasing me and heading into formation.
I grab my wrist after he lets go, grinding my teeth to not say a word. Red, raw finger marks burn against the beating sun. My body might break but the rage inside me for revenge on Koen,won’t.
The woman and the horse dive down, straight for the pathway we have created. The horse’s hooves hit against the gravel, creating clouds of red dust, and we cover our eyes as some rocks fly our way. She elegantly steers the majestic horse, galloping across until she reaches the middle. She dismounts, dusting her dress and fixing her golden, twisted crown before grabbing the reins to stand in front of the Queen.
My body flinches as a wooden door slams against the metal walls of the arena to the right of us, and everyone’s attention turns toward it.. Then, Florian walks out. The crowd cheers as he throws his hand up to wave back, his smile radiating off of him but when he sees me, in the front row directly in the middle, he does a double take and his smile fades. His brows narrow in as he picks up speed, walking swiftly right up to…shit.Me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” He grabs my shoulder, scanning my face as if I have been hurt. “Are you okay?Who did this?”
I grab his hand, removing it after seeing the announcer’s furious glare. “Your mother… as well as Koen.” I clear my throat. “You also just made a huge mistake, because now all the men know we know each other. I already have their attention… now I really have it.”
My eyes narrow into slits, my skin burning as heat flushes up my neck.
“I’ll fix this,” he growls. “I’ll get you out. Has anyone hurt you?”
My eyes soften, and I shake my head no but his gaze drops to my arm where the material has been ripped by a blade. His eyes darken as he meets mine. My heart melts, my body relaxing now that I know he wasn’t a part of this. He didn’t help throw me in here. His jaw ticks, and I know he is pissed. But the woman behind him might have him beat.
“Florian?” she speaks, her voice tinged with irritation towards him. “What are you doing?”
He pulls away from me. “Don’t die.”
His boots dig into the gravel as he turns on his heels and reaches his arm out towards her to cup her back as they walk. They arrive in front of the Queen, bowing towards her before standing tall. As I watch them, the corner of my eyes burn.Could he really get me out of this?
“To the Realm of Eekatia, after the battle games we will not only have the celebration of the chosen eight who will be selected to fight the one who cursed us all but we shall have a celebration of Prince Florian of the Ice Nation and my daughter, Skie. They shall be married by the next blue moon!” The Queen holds her hands out for the crowd to cheer.
The chosen eight?
My hands tighten together behind my back, feeling the eyes of some of the men on me, and I glance upward to catch my breath. Once my chin falls back down, Florian glances over his shoulderat me, his expression unreadable. My heart beats against my chest; a nauseous feeling rushes over me as I know, the men around me are seeing this.
Koen is seeing this.And all I want to do is run out of this pit and hide under my bunk bed to never be seen again. Skie, however, is quick to catch his lingering gaze. She nudges him sharply in the ribs with her elbow, but he remains unfazed, as if he didn't feel her at all. His gaze lingers on me, filled with a silent message I can't quite unravel.
But I need him to stop.
Skie’s eyes widen, rage coursing through her as her lip rises before her icy hair flies in the wind and she turns away from me.
The Queenhates me. Her daughterhates me. Her son… as of now, isa companion. What the hell have I done?
WE WALK IN LINE THROUGH the tunnel, making our way back to the dormitory. With each stop, Dryden’s hot breath tickles at my skin, a sign he is too close. He shouldn’t be this close. I let out silent, shaking breaths and keep my eyes locked on the person's head in front of me.
“So, the Prince of the Ice Nation, huh?” I begin to feel a sharp point dig into my back.Shit.
“Just a friend,” I grunt, my eyes never blinking as I force myself to focus on the door that is only a few steps away. If I make it in, I can find Theon and Kaine. His voice drops to a deep growl. “A friend doesn’t look at someone the way he looks at you.”
My throat tightens, I can’t believe Florian did this. He should have known better, and to do it in front of Skie… absolutely maddening.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” I swallow, taking another step.
