He could’ve pushed her out of the ring then. It could’ve been over. But hechosenot to. He was toying with her and wanted Noelle to know it.
Unfortunately, Noelle rose to the bait. She tried to push him back with another wall of flame, thrusting both hands forward, but it didn’t do anything to him. Harkor tilted his head back and laughed. The crowd roared in response.
Eira jumped to her feet, cupping her hands around her mouth to try and scream loud enough that Noelle could hear. “They’re immune to fire!”
Noelle glanced over her shoulder and then back up at Harkor. Whatever expression she had on her face seemed to bring immense joy to the draconi prince. His smile widened even further and he gripped her hand before Noelle could react. Harkor lifted her up by her arm but Noelle wasn’t about to give in easily. She swung her body and brought both her knees into his chest, knocking the wind from him.
Free of Harkor, Noelle scrambled to the center of the ring. The draconi prince was already back on his feet, barreling toward her. Noelle dodged backward, and back again. He roared and lunged.
She sidestepped at the very last second and he nearly, so very nearly, charged straight out of the ring.
The draconi dug in his toes, pinwheeling his arms and spinning to face her. The game had ended. In one swift movement he tossed Noelle out of the ring as though she were nothing more than a rag doll.
“Sad showing on our part,” Cullen muttered.
Eira looked over to Alyss dusting herself off on the other side of the rope. She’d missed whatever magic Lavette had used to best her friend.
“We’ll just have to win, you and I,” Eira said.
Cullen pursed his lips and nodded. Alyss and Noelle returned, bruised and scuffed. But the worst injury for Noelle was her pride.
It was time for the next matchups. Ponn from the Draconi was put up against Luccarius from the Twilight Kingdom. Olivin faced off against Sorrah. And Cullen was against Ducot.
Ponn made quick work of Luccarius. Olivin danced circles around Sorrah with a light show that was breathtaking in its deadly precision. The longest match was easily Ducot and Cullen. But in the end, Ducot won out. No surprise to Eira given that he had far more practical combat experience.
“Since the competitors from Meru are short one champion, a single competitor from their team will have to compete twice in a final round,” Lumeria announced, answering what had been in the back of Eira’s mind all along. “Lord Cullen, your matchup.”
Cullen looked over at Meru and back to them. Eira stood—he didn’t even have to say her name to the attendant. He’d called her their ace, and she was certainly going to make every effort.
“And who will Eira be facing off against?” the attendant asked Cullen.
“Lord Olivin.”
What?Eira looked from Cullen to Olivin. From the moment their eyes met, Olivin knew. No attendants needed to summon him; he slowly stood as well.
“We can’t walk out of here without getting a single point.” Noelle smoothed her hair away from her face, tying it back in a cleaner knot. “Get him good.”
“He should be tired from his fight,” Cullen added.
“His was the shortest fight.” Eira faced Cullen even though the attendants were motioning her to the ring. “If you wanted to pick someone who was exhausted, why not Evanel? Tentur put up a good fight against him. They went longer than anyone.”
For a long second, Cullen didn’t say anything. Eira stood firm. She imposed upon him with her thoughts as much as her physical presence.Tell me, she radiated.
“Perhaps it’s a kindness to put you both against each other.”
Eira tried to dissect his words, his unbending stare. Did he think Olivin wouldn’t hurt her, because of the supposed fondness Cullen saw growing between them? So it was a kindness in that way? Or, did he think Olivin would go easy on her and cause Eira to go harsher on him in return?
Perhaps…she was giving him too much credit. “A kindness?”
“He’s your competition. He won’t look after you.”Not like I will, was unsaid. But she heard him last night. And she heard him now. Perfectly clear.
She huffed softly. She wasn’t the only one with ugly urges at present. How was it that they brought out the best and the worst in each other? “So that’s it.” She shook her head and murmured as she left, “You’re a fool, Cullen.”
“Wait.” Cullen stood quickly, looking between the attendant. “I changed my mind.”
“It’s already been announced.”
“It’s fine.” Eira left it at that, approaching the ring and leaving Cullen behind. Her focus now was on Olivin. He stepped over the rope and kept walking so she did the same. They met in the middle.
