Jasper and Baelen are both wooden as they take the steps, but Sebastian has located Jordan. One glance from him is all it takes. She presses the heel of her palm to her heart. Elise pulls her close but it’s too late. Tears slide down the cheeks of my fearless protector. Jordan turns away before anyone else sees and five ladies from my Storm Command step up to form a visual barrier around her to protect her.
Sebastian is stricken pale. He stops at the top of the steps, his fists clenched, shoulders drawn back. For a second I think he’s going to confront the Elven Command. His House forced him into this position, tearing him and Jordan apart. As he throws a look of anger at his grandfather, I finally see the hatred he’s kept hidden for so long.
He continues down the steps to take his place beside Baelen. That’s when it strikes me why Sebastian’s still here. His heart is broken in the same way that mine tore apart seven years ago. Neither of us can have what we want and our pain unites us. Our broken hearts link us. They make us mirror each other.
We are compatible in exactly the wrong way.
There are three males left. This is my last chance to use my power to veto one of them.
Elwyn clears his throat. “The next trial—”
“Stop!”
Elwyn stares at me in surprise.
I say, “I wish to exercise my right of veto.”
The crowd gasps. Elwyn glances at the Elven Command. He clearly wasn’t expecting me to do this, but I haven’t played by their rules all along, so I’m not about to start now. “The Princess has that right.”
My heart is pounding, banging against my chest. I don’t have a chance of calming down, but as long as I can get the words out, I’ll be okay. “First I want to acknowledge that the vetoing of a House comes with an obligation. The vetoed House can make a request of me.”
“That is correct,” Elwyn says, “But it must be something that the Princess is capable of fulfilling without harm to herself or her… reputation.”
Oh, the hypocrisy. They’d tried to hurt both me and my reputation during the battle in this arena. I smother my distaste for Elwyn as I step down from the dais, pausing at the base of the stairs.
Baelen meets my eyes for the first time. He’s somber and clearly sober. I regret now my anger at him the day before. At the time when I’d stormed into the barracks, he already knew the outcome of the test. I picture him sitting with his head in his hands as I’d burst into the room. Now I know that it wasn’t just because his head hurt.
Right now, I have to conceal my intentions. No House wants to be vetoed because of the dishonor that comes with it. There’s nobody left in Baelen’s House to try to stop me, so I head for him.
Confusion spreads across his face, followed by resignation. Maybe he thinks that I’m still angry at him. Maybe he guesses that I’m trying to save his life. Maybe he understands that I’m not coming for him at all.
Beside him, Sebastian’s expression becomes more and more blank and absent as he sees his chances of being with Jordan disappear with every step I take. Once I use my veto power, only two males will remain, which means there’s only one more chance for elimination before the final fight to the death.
Jasper, on the other hand, looks surprised. I know from our time on the mountain that he’s loyal to Baelen. He’s also observant. He wouldn’t expect me to willingly dishonor Baelen by knocking him out of the trials.
A quick glance behind me tells me that the Elven Command are gloating. They want nothing more than for Baelen to be out of the trials.
I focus on Baelen.I can do this.Three feet away from him, I close my eyes and drop to a knee, my head down. At the same time, I raise my voice, knowing that I have to speak more clearly than ever before.
“I veto…”
I have one more moment to consider my choice. I could still veto Baelen, push him away, and keep him safe from everything in my life. But I know what I have to do.
“I veto the House of Splendor.”
There’s a moment of silence as the meaning of my declaration sinks in. Then the arena bursts into commotion. Sebastian’s advisor appears behind him, shouting and shaking his fist. Every elf in the whole arena is speaking, some shouting—well, that’s mostly the Elven Command.
I keep my focus on Sebastian. Feeling returns to his face. His eyes widen, his legs buckle, but he remains upright. He sucks in a breath so deep, it’s like he hasn’t breathed for days. His shock slams into me. He can’t believe I chose him, that he’s free. Tears burn the back of my eyes at the agony he’s been bearing.
I shout above his advisor’s rage. “Sebastian of the House of Splendor. Name your price.”
His advisor screams, “Gold! Silver! Elevation to the highest House! A Splendor female admitted into her Storm Command.”
I wait for Sebastian to take a moment, to take it all in. Then, very deliberately, I point toward my Storm Command. They’ve pulled Jordan forward, tear-streaked and shocked. Sebastian has one chance to be with her.
I fill my voice with thunder so strong that the entire room quiets. Even the advisor shuts up.
“Sebastian of the House of Splendor. I am obligated to do one thing for you and one thing only. This is to compensate you for taking away your chance to share the power of the storm. Only you can name your price.” I glower at his advisor. “Consider your request wisely.”
