“You?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
They both looked in opposite directions.
Was it always going to be this awkward? Eira shifted in her seat. She focused on slowly relaxing the muscles in her back, then in her legs. There was no need to feel like she was constantly about to fight or flee around him.
“Cullen—”
“Eira—”
They spoke at nearly the same time. Eira grinned. Cullen huffed laughter.
“You first,” she said.
“No. You.”
“I was just going to say our conversation yesterday…I…”
“You’ve made things clear to me, Eira.” The corners of his lips curled upward. “No matter how badly I might want to disregard everything. To hold you to me, even now, and kiss you until you’re breathless.” Her breaths shortened at the mere words. “I know my affections will be misplaced. So I will do all I can to—how did you put it?Ah—fall out of love with you.”
He’d turned her own words against her and dealt almost lethal damage with them. Eira forced herself to smile. Despite his bitterness about it—he was right, this was what she wanted. What she’d asked for and they both needed. She should be nothing other than happy.
“Good.”
Trumpets blasting nearly startled her out of her skin.
“What do you think that was?” Eira was on her feet.
“It sounded like it came from the coliseum.” He stood as well, much more nonchalantly. “They’re going to announce what the first individual tournament is today.”
“How do you know that?” Noelle asked from where she stood at the top of the stairs with a very bleary-eyed and mostly still disheveled Alyss.
“Howdon’tyou know that? They told us yesterday after the game ended.”
“I was more focused on celebrating my triumph.” Noelle grinned.
“Ourtriumph,” he corrected.
“Yes, yes, you all helped too.” Noelle seemed delightfully smug with just one victory under her belt.
“So does that mean we’re not actually competing?” Alyss yawned.
“Not today, I don’t think,” Cullen said.
“All right, back to bed then.” Alyss turned.
Noelle grabbed her by the back of the collar. “Nope, you have to come with the rest of us.”
Pounding on the front door followed another blare of horns. They practically had to drag Alyss out into the street to line up in the parade of champions. Luckily the procession wasn’t fast moving and she gained some awareness by the time they entered the arena.
Once more, the stands were packed and they erupted into cheers at the sight of the competitors. The attendants led them straight down the center of the arena, rather than taking them for a turn around for the spectators. The royals were all seated upon their thrones, lording over them.
“Good morning, competitors, and good morning, loyal subjects.” Lumeria’s voice was once more projected across the coliseum. “Today we begin the second day of our tournament. A day of celebration and sharing. It is only fitting that first weonce more give a warm congratulations to yesterday’s victors—the Solaris Empire.”
Sections of the crowd erupted with cheers. But others were deathly silent. Even though she must be nothing more than a speck to some of the distant spectators, Eira could feel their eyes on her and her alone.
