17
The next morning, the arena is as gorgeously laid out as it was on the day of the Heartstone Ceremony. The Elven Command has worked hard to erase every sign of the battle that occurred here four days ago. Their spellcasters have turned the space into a lush garden. I’m not sure who is responsible—or whether the Command understands the meaning—but gladiolus flowers adorn ever pillar, cascading across the walls, and drape from the second level.
Just like the Heartstone Ceremony, the Elven Command takes up most of the dais and the remaining five champions wait at the base of it. To my surprise, that morning the advisor from the House of Bounty approached Elise to pass on a message to me: that Pedr Bounty’s grandson apologized for his presence, but the spells forced him to be there. He offered an undertaking: that he would not raise his eyes beyond the floor and would leave as soon as the spells released him. I accepted.
Elwyn Elder moves to the center of the dais to hush the crowd. “I now ask the Storm Princess to step forward.”
I press my hands to my sides. I’ve opted for simplicity today: a gray suit like the ones I wore jogging, but my weapons belts are on display and accessible if I need them. I step from my entrance room onto the stage.
Sound assaults me as soon as I appear. I flinch. I whirl to the crowd, on my guard, as the uproar continues. And then I realize… they’re cheering. Calling my name.Our Princess!Our Princess!Petals rain down on me from the second level. I turn in a circle, stunned and beyond words. How and when did this happen?
The cheering goes on for so long that I have to raise my arms for quiet. Finally, the crowd settles down and I stand to the side, waiting for Elwyn Elder to continue.
He doesn’t look at me but his countenance is icy. He doesn’t like being upstaged. “The results of the compatibility test will now be announced.”
At the base of the dais, the champions wait in their black robes. True to his word, Gwynn Bounty doesn’t look up. Harmon Faith has fixed his focus on the wall behind me. In fact, all of them have found some point in the room to fixate on. Even Baelen stands perfectly still, not looking at me.
What’s happened since yesterday? Why aren’t any of them looking at me? A shiver suddenly runs to my toes.
Elwyn Elder smiles. “Three males were found to be compatible.”
Three? The room suddenly spins. Sebastian can’t be compatible so that means one of the monsters is. Or both of them. The thought makes me nauseous but I tell myself that I should be glad. It will be so much easier to kill one of them if they win.
“The following compatible males will approach the dais. The others will leave immediately.”
Elwyn pauses, dragging out his moment of power. “Jasper Grace.”
Jasper strides up the steps and positions himself to my right, eyes down. I can’t figure out his expression, but that’s nothing new. I tried not to read anything into it.
“Sebastian Splendor.”
What? No!
I take a step back. Sebastian climbs the steps, his hands balled into fists, but not at me. He’s the first of the champions to look up, throwing daggers at Elwyn Elder. He positions himself in front of me, blocking my view of the other champions on the arena floor.
I’m choking. I can’t breathe. How is this male compatible when his heart belongs to someone else? I shake my head at Sebastian.No.
He drops his gaze without responding.
“And the final compatible male…” Elwyn’s mouth pinches like this is the first distasteful thing he’s done today. “The final male is Baelen Rath.”
Baelen approaches the dais, still fixated on a point at the back of the room. He takes his place to my left. There’s enough distance for me to take stock of all three males. Jasper and Sebastian both cast imposing figures, but standing beside them Baelen is a Rath through and through. He’s the biggest. The strongest. The one with the most scars. But these three males have fought side by side. They’re friends. They’re loyal to each other. And…
I’m the only one who can yield.
In a final fight between two of these males, one will have to kill the other.
Now I understand why they’re so subdued. There are only a few more chances for elimination. They must each be assessing the odds, the possible outcomes. From their point of view, the only way all of them come out alive is ifImake it to the final fight and exercise my right to yield to my opponent.
Except that I already told Baelen I wouldn’t do that.
I never should have told him that. I grip my stomach, trying to calm my breathing, to halt my overwhelming panic. I can’t kill any of them. I don’t want them to die. I want to scream. Why did it have to be these three males?
I understand why Jasper is compatible with me. He’s from a minor House. He knows what it’s like to be poor, looked down on. He’s worked hard to get where he is, using his determination, courage, and persistence to be his House champion.
But how is Sebastian still a contender? There’s no way we’re compatible. His heart belongs to Jordan and my own bleeds for them. She stands off to the side, focused on me, avoiding looking at him as if she can shield herself from what’s going on around her.
Elwyn Elder instructs the three males to leave the dais. At some point, the eliminated males have already left and I don’t give them a second thought.
