‘You’re lying,’ I said calmly, pressing the tip of my sword just below the artery that ran along her neck. Vivianna swallowed carefully, panic filling her body.
‘He… he doesn’t want war with you.’ I pressed the tip of my sword harder before she continued, ‘Acheron wants to eliminate Morgad. He doesn’t believe King Sebastian will stop with our lands, regardless of the peace his father Tiberias has with him.’ The flame simmered calmly beneath my skin. It was true, yet I couldn’t fully believe it.
‘How do you expect me to believe that arrogant prick is a potential ally? And if he is, then why did you wait so long to tell me? You’re only confessing anything to me now because I have forced your hand.’
‘We all have a role to play in times of conflict—he plays it well, just as you do. I had feared telling you for this very reason. You are unforgiving, and the moment you feel distrust, you throw people away. I didn’t want to be thrown away. I was hoping to come to you with a solid plan, not empty words about hopes and dreams,’ she explained.
‘So, you’ve been strategising on your own with someone outside our council about major moves that would impact us all. Without any input from the fucking ruler of our lands. His arrogance is rubbing off on you. You have truly lost your fucking mind,’ I sneered, throwing my sword onto the bed and slamming my fist on the armoire beside me. Opening the drawer, I pulled out a single gold coin that had the Academy’s coat of arms engraved upon it: six intersecting rings to represent that all students from across the realms were stronger when united. The other side of the coin showed six separate rings that never touched, let alone intersected.
I threw the coin at her feet, then stormed out of the room. A challenge.
The stables were quiet,as there was not another person around. Vixen was licking a salt rock while I brushed her coat. The stable hands had already done it, and she looked immaculate. It soothed me, but I needed to keep my hands busy before I broke something or someone. Just as I began to relax, Acheron walked through the stable doors. He wore deep green riding gear that contrasted with his reddish hair and black knee-high boots.
‘Get out. I have no patience for you,’ I spat. Acheron didn’t balk, but his usual arrogant demeanour was gone.
‘She didn’t betray you. She never would. We never spoke about you; we only spoke about the world we wanted to see one day. The world we wanted to see our children grow up in,’ he said as the blue flame roared within me.
‘You’re lying. Perhaps there’s one thing she didn’t tell you. The same gift that gave me these blue eyes upon my ascension also granted me the ability to decipher the truth. I know when you are lying, so do not play this game with me right now. I have just challenged your little darling to a duel, and I would be more than happy to challenge you today, too,’ I said. Pure shock took over his face; I was not sure if it was about my revelation regarding my gifts or the fact that I was to fight his lover in the arena today.
‘No, she never told me. She spoke of you only with reverence. She never told me anything about your battle strategies or plans. We drew that line long ago, content to live in our own blissful bubble during the rare moments we could steal to be with one another. The only time we ever crossed that line was when I asked her if you would ever be open to an alliance with me. She told me yes, if it benefited her people. I can be your ally, Skylar. I don’t do this for her; I do it for my people as well. Please believe that there was nothing malicious or ulterior in my courting her. It just happened,’ he said as the flame calmed within me.
‘Do you love her?’ I asked. A gentle yet genuine smile crossedhis face. One I had never seen on him before in all the years I had known him. It was answer enough.
‘Yes, I do. Please go easy on her in the duel. I still remember how you left her after the last one during our time here, and I don’t think I can take it again,’ he breathed, true vulnerability flowing off him. This was not the Prince Acheron I had ever known. I suppose no one born and bred to rule is ever wholly themselves in front of their enemies and allies alike, but perhaps he was with her. I liked this version of him much better.
‘She definitely hasn’t told you much about me if you think that is a genuine request you can ask of me. No matter whether there was ill intent or not, she was my Master of War, and she lied to me, deceived me for years, and betrayed my trust. A trust I did not easily bestow upon her in the first place. If it were not for these wards, if we were back in my lands, this duel would be to the death.’ He paled at my response but nodded in understanding; it was a kindness that I had set the duel here and now. He had undoubtedly heard the stories of my brutality, but they were never a reality that would affect him.
‘What do you mean she ‘was’ your Master of War?’ he asked.
I scoffed at the concern he had for her and the audacity to question me on my council. ‘If she was your advisor, would you be able to fully trust her again, oath or no oath? She will leave here with her life but nothing else.’
He rushed towards me, gripping my arms desperately. ‘Please, she doesn't deserve this! She has always wanted to fight for you, beside you. You can’t make her abandon her people; she would rather die. Please, Skylar, please,’ he begged. This mighty man who trembled before me in the name of love was, in fact, begging me. He looked into my eyes and kneeled, still clasping my hands. My mouth gaped open at what had just happened and what I was seeing. Royalty, especially from another realm, never knelt to another royal under any circumstances. It was akin to saying you would follow them and not your own bloodline.
‘Please, anything. I will do anything to protect her. She can’tlose everything because of me; I will never forgive myself,’ he begged once more. He meant it, and I believed him in that moment; I truly did, and so did the flame.
‘Say the blood oath.’ His eyes widened at my request. A royal binding themselves to another via a blood oath never happened. ‘If you claim to love her the way you say you do, then you would have no trouble forfeiting your life should I die, seeing as that will be the day your love dies too.’ He contemplated this for a moment before slowly nodding. He stood pulling a blade from his boot and sliced his palm open. I unlatched the blade on my vambrace and sliced open my palm. We clasped each other’s hands as he spoke the oath.
‘On this day and every day hereafter, I, Prince Acheron Khalil of Cazina, will protect Queen Skylar Azdaja of Maureia. Should I fail in this, I will accept the blood binding, forfeiting my life to the next world.’ With that, another tattoo of a red ring joined my little finger, nestled beside the one that marked my blood binding with Vivianna.
‘I still do not fully trust you or Vivianna, but this is enough for now. Know that I will call upon you shortly to test how far you are willing to go for this love and loyalty you have sworn.’ He only smiled in response, relieved that I had accepted the blood binding and given them another chance.
‘I will go as far as I need to,’ Acheron said with certainty. Something inside me stirred with an emotion I had never felt before.Jealousy.
Twelve
The duelling arena was bigger than I remembered. The seats surrounding the arena rose five levels. The location where the duel would take place was made of compacted clay and dirt. They had decorated the wall in each realm’s colours and coat of arms. Voldina was a deep green, housing an owl with red eyes. Cazina had a grey background with a wolf baring its teeth. Nevereta was blue, with a mermaid emerging from the crashing waves, as she descended from exactly that, even though they had all been killed off long ago, just like the dragons. Suncela was gold with a phoenix, though a cactus would be more fitting for their barren desert lands. Morgad had their viscous snake wrapped around a sword of gold and black. A mark of their cold indifference to those around them. Some still had reptilian eyes, but it had been so diluted—even in the royal bloodlines—that it was rare to come across.
Taking in my surroundings, the whispers of the crowd filtered through. It was rare that two opponents stood on opposing sides of the arena both being from the same side. I could hear the crowd of royals and nobles murmuring as to what had brought this on. Prince Acheron subtly sat on the side closest to Vivianna’s position. Visarous stood beside her. I stoodalone. It was not the image I had ever intended to project to my allies and enemies, but it needed to be done. They would see that even if I had no one by my side I would prevail. I had strength enough for a whole army in my bones.
This duel would allow one weapon each. I chose my sword. Visarous handed Vivianna her sword to match mine, but there would be no shields. I watched the two of them as I paced along the edge of the arena. Stretching my neck and my shoulders in preparation for what was to come. Since ascending the throne, Vivianna had been on the field more times than I, as my Master of War, but I hoped I was still faster and stronger.
The duel would be starting soon, and to my surprise, Visarous left Viv’s side and came to stand before me. ‘I wish you well, my Queen,’ he said, bowing to me.
‘This is a surprise. I assumed that after last night and your display by your sister’s side just now, you would be wishing for my demise.’ Pain flashed across his face.
‘She is my sister. I will always worry about her as a brother should. But you, you are so much more than that. Why do you think I was jealous when I saw you dancing with Demir last night?’ He was angry even picturing me with my arms wrapped around Demir’s neck again, bodies close.
‘Jealousy is for children. Besides, you have no claim over me. You should know better than most the appearances I must keep in public settings such as this. Do you truly think I enjoyed even laying a single finger on him?’ I said as thoughts of that comfortable warmth the flame had enveloped me in when we danced flittered through my mind. But that was a truth I would even deny to myself.
