“It was.” As if to make a point, she yawned. “I was worried. I stayed up. Luckily I caught Noelle…she was the one who told me not to stay awake any longer.”
Eira pushed ice onto her cheeks to fight a scarlet blush. “Just got sidetracked is all.”
Alyss hummed low.
“I said that’s all.” Eira shot her friend a pointed glance.
Alyss laughed softly. “I know, I know… But, for the record, I’m happy things are working out there. I’ve decided this pairing has my blessing.”
Eira rolled her eyes and fought a smile.
Alyss apparently knew her well enough to recognize her internal battle, because it drew a laugh from her. “Nothing to be ashamed of.”
“We shouldn’t talk about it,” Eira reminded her.
“No one can hear us.”
“Still.”
Alyss fortunately dropped the subject as they joined the other competitors in the gardens out in front of the manor. The Solaris contingent emerged amid a heated discussion between Harkor, the draconi prince, and Olivin, the man who had emerged as the leader of the elfin competitors.
“Say that again,” Harkor growled, stalking over to Olivin.
“Gladly. The draconi don’t stand a chance in the tournament. You’re all brash and brawn—not a single brain between you four.” Olivin folded his arms over his chest, looking smug.
“You couldn’t even survive an hour in the culling.” Steam billowed from between Harkor’s teeth.
“If you haven’t noticed, this is not the culling. Fortunately we don’t engage in such brutal practices on Meru.”
“Enough, both of you.” Cullen stepped forward. He was the mirror of his father in his tone and movements, enough that it had Eira sucking in air. “This tournament is about unity.”
Harkor roared with laughter. “This tournament is about domination and showing that the Draconi Kingdom is not to be trifled with.”
“You can’t reason with a man like him.” Olivin shook his head in a way that somehow managed to straddle the line of condescending and disappointed.
“Not a man, aprince,” Harkor corrected, whirling back on Olivin.
“Oh, forgive me, Your Highness.” Olivin bowed.
“Cullen is right. Enough, all of you.” A man emerged from the manor, leading the competitors from the Republic of Qwint. Eira recognized him from the dinner she’d gone to with Cullen. He was Alvstar, if she remembered correctly.
“I don’t answer to you.” Harkor folded his arms in a way that made his mighty chest and arms bulge. He was physically intimidating, Eira would give him that. But all she’d seen from the draconi prince so far was a lot of smoke and no real fire.
“Come back, Your Highness.” One of the other draconi finally stepped forward. She cut them all a glare. “They’re not worth your time.”
Harkor relented, returning to his group.
“Things are getting a bit tense, aren’t they?” Noelle laced her fingers and placed them behind her head. “So much for a friendly tournament.”
“I’m sure it’ll still manage to be friendly,” Alyss said hopefully.
Eira could feel the powder keg that was the dynamics of the competitors filling to the brim. The tournament would be a spark, and who knew what the subsequent explosion would unleash. But even though she could feel the tension in the air, she was oddly immune to it.
“It seems almost trivial to be fighting about it,” Eira said softly, so no one else but Alyss and Noelle would hear.
“Especially after last night,” Noelle agreed under her breath.
Alvstar approached Cullen, placing a hand on his back and talking softly. Cullen’s brow furrowed and he tilted his head. Eira tried not to stare as the two men spoke. After several minutes, Alvstar joined the other competitors from the Republic of Qwint and Cullen returned.
