I open the box to find one of the Treon dishes: a vibrant salad filled with fresh fruits and colorful vegetables, topped with flaky white fish that live at the base of most of our waterfalls. The vinaigrette is already mixed in, and when I take my first bite, I moan in delight. I’ve missed fresh food like this; the heavy, rich dishes from the other kingdoms can’t compare.
Anders snorts, ruining my moment of indulgence, and pulls two wrappers from his pocket. “I didn’t know which one you wanted,” he says, holding them out for me to choose from. One is a mint and chocolate stick, the other is a pack of chocolate and sea salt-covered berries. I grin and snatch the chocolate-covered berries, ripping them open and popping one in my mouth. He watches, and a small, amused smile spreads across his face.
Clearing his throat, he asks, “So what are you doing for break?”
I hold up my finger, savoring another bite of my lunch, then lick my lips clean after swallowing. I guess he’s not going to bring up last night, which is great. I don’t need to talk about it. Those words can just go in the same box as all the other confusing things he’s said to me, alongside the box of emotions that’s at risk of overflowing. “We are headed to the capital on Kyrr for the ceremony and then to Kliax for diving. My mother is obsessed with the Moonrays and hasn’t stopped talking about them for the past year. What about you?”
He swallows thickly, and I watch as his throat bobs. He takes a sip of the water packed in our lunch boxes, pausing as if weighing his words. “I’ll probably hang around the palace. Maybe FinSurf if I can get away.” There’s something somber in his tone. It’s strange—his casual demeanor contrasts sharply with the heaviness in his voice. I remember him mentioning Cole isn’t returning to school, but I didn’t think they were that close.
“You could crash our vacation if you want,” I tease softly, trying to lighten the mood as I take another bite of my lunch. Anders offers mea tight smile, his gaze drifting before he changes the subject. I can’t help but feel there’s a story there he’s not ready to share.
The sun warms my skin as I lean back and listen to Anders talk about the languages he’s learning in class. It honestly sounds interesting. I’d love to know one of the ancient languages one day. You must apply to take the Dead Languages class, and only a select few seniors are chosen each year.
“How’s the Powers Class with Professor Becca?” I ask, savoring the last of the chocolate-covered berries.
“Interesting,” he replies. He stretches his arms and leans back on his palms, basking in the sunlight. “But honestly, I think the whole thing is a joke. We don’t even know what powers we’ll be gifted with. Take your father, for example; there hasn’t been another ward builder like him in a century. Studying the most basic types of powers seems pointless.”
I nod, my gaze drifting to a branch floating by. I want to ask him about his father’s power since it’s classified, but I know I shouldn’t. I know that my father can build wards without the use of technology, and my mother can grow and nurture plants. His mother’s power has something to do with emotions, but I’m unsure of the details.
Around the seven kingdoms, the royals wield an array of abilities. King Alexi from Ateria can create illusions, and Queen Sava is an ice wielder. In Thirik, King Urik and Queen Mara harness the element of air, which is helpful during the big storms that hit their ranches. King Hunter from Oris can detect lies, while his wife, Queen Isobel, can amplify magic.
King Garrek from Kadora wields fire, which is fitting given that he rules over volcanic planets. His wife, Queen Nalana, can redirect water, and Queen Meganna from Mori can detect water from miles away. King Osiris can sense storms before they hit, which can be deadly out in the middle of the desert.
Anders notices my silence and nudges me gently. “Talk. What’s going on up there?” He gestures towards my head with an inquisitive expression. I hesitate, nibbling on my bottom lip while I contemplate just asking.
“Will you hate me if I ask what your father’s power is?” I hesitantly look up at him, expecting to find annoyance, but instead, he snorts.
“First off, I can’t hate you,” he chuckles. “And secondly, no, I can’t tell you. But who knows, maybe one day you’ll find out.”
Thought so.
Changing subjects, I say, “I found something. I think we need to go to Ista. The temple, to be exact. They buried the old one, but what if we can get in?”
He sits thoughtfully for a moment before nodding. “We go before break. I can get us a pass. Day after tomorrow.”
I nearly jump out of my skin when my Prism alerts me to a message from Tate.
“Shit,” I gasp, jumping to my feet, bag in hand. Anders glances at his watch and mutters a curse, quickly standing at my side.
“You can blame being late on me,” he offers. I stare at him for a moment trying to figure out if he’s joking or not. I can never tell. When the dimple appears, I roll my eyes playfully and start the trek back up the slope, my trash from lunch in hand.
Once we’re both at the top, he challenges me. “Race you back to Taeolyn?”
I’m the runner, not him, so I don’t hesitate to break into a sprint, giggling when I leave him behind. I glance back as I cross the threshold into the Executive Yard, slowing only for a moment, but he’s right there, nearly knocking me over. His arms wrap around me, preventing me from colliding with the stones, pulling me back firmly against his chest. Our laughs fill the quiet, bouncing off the three dorm buildings.
“Sorry about that,” he chuckles, his breath warm against my ear. My body tingles everywhere we are connected. I can’t help but giggle as I step out of his arms, cheeks warming.
“Thanks.” I regain my balance and head up the steps to Taeolyn. I’m going to be late. Anders walks me to the door of my History class, peeking inside with a satisfied grin when he realizes we made it just intime. With a quick wave, he heads off to his own class, leaving me feeling high from our lunch date.
I’m still thinking about his arms around me when I drop into my seat and find Kellan waiting for me. “Hey, RaeRae,” he says with a grin. “Great news.” I look up to see him approaching, completely distracted by my thoughts. “I get to go to Kliax with you. Your mother asked mine if you could take me along.”
“Really?” I squeal, standing up and nearly knocking over my desk.
“Really.” He hugs me tighter and then sets me back on my feet. “See you later,” he says before disappearing from the classroom.
Professor Darci clears her throat as she approaches the door, and I quickly drop into my seat beside Aada and Tate. I pull my tablet out of my bag, only to realize it belongs to Anders. His background is a photo of him and Trysten after a game. They’re both shirtless, covered in mud, and sporting huge grins on their faces.
I wish I could see him smile like that. What would it take? Sure, Anders has smiled at me, but it’s never been genuine—not like this one.
