That was what he thought.
Aimilia would not let him win.
She lifted her chin, and her voice echoed across the amphitheater. “I refuse. I will accept no champion.”
Nikias’ eyes widened, and his face lost all color. Hushed murmurs ripped through the crowd, but Aimilia refused to look at them. She refused to look over at Queen Clelia. She just watched as Nikias shot to his feet, closing the distance between them. He reached for her arm, fingers wrapping around her skin. “Aimilia, don’t do this. You’re not thinking clearly. You cannot win this fight with your arm injured like that. You’re going to lose. You’re going to gethurt.”
Aimilia jerked back, wincing as she jostled her arm. She spat out, “Then I lose on my terms, not yours. Did you really think I was going to fall for it?”
Cyprian cleared his throat. “I believe my niece has given her answer. There is no taking it back now.”
Prisca nodded. She said, “Your Highness, you must back away. The challenge must commence.”
Nikias didn’t move until Prisca grabbed his arm and tugged on it. Nikias stumbled away, his eyes never leaving her. Aimilia just looked across at Cyprian. She took a deep breath.
Aimilia stepped into the rune. It glowed brighter and expanded. Walls came up, marking the arena in which they would fight.
Aimilia straightened her shoulders. It didn’t matter how painful or humiliating this was going to be. Aimilia would loseon her own terms. She would be sent into exile before she ever let herself be trapped into having Nikias’ name on her wrist.
Chapter 64
NIKIAS
Nikias had said he couldn’t watch, but he’d been wrong.
He couldn’t look away.
Aimilia stepped into the rune as Nikias was shoved into a seat. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his mother and Commander Prisca. His mother’s grip was tight and bruising, while Prisca’s was firm. The rune glowed and expanded as his mother hissed in his ear, “What were you thinking?”
Aimilia shifted her leg, grounding her stance. What good was it going to do?
She almost cried out every time her arm moved. She couldn’t cast.
Nikias whispered, “This isn’t right. We can’t let this happen.”
Prisca said, “I’m not going to like watching this any more than you, Your Highness, but we can’t interfere. Commander Aimilia chose to accept, and that is the end of it.”
Nikias jerked his arms, but he didn’t knock loose either of their grips. “This is absolutely barbaric. This is going to be a slaughter. Her arm isbroken. She can’t fight back.”
Prisca said, “Then let’s hope Cyprian is merciful.”
Given the look in the older man’s eye, Nikias wouldn’t count on it.
Cyprian watched Aimilia for a second before he shifted into his stance. “As soon as you yield, I’ll stop.”
Aimilia’s jaw clenched. Her only response was a tight nod.
He didn’t understand. Why hadn’t she just let him do this? He could easily have beaten Cyprian for her.
Was it about her pride?
Everyone knew that she was a skilled mage; winning had proven that. This wasn’t a fair fight. She wasn’t so naive and foolish as to think she had a chance of winning this, was she?
Cyprian’s hands moved and vitae lit up the air. Aimilia’s hands moved as well, or rather, one hand did. Her other stayed pressed under her stomach, fingers dancing as much as they could without disrupting her arm.
There was still a soft grunt. Aimilia breathed heavily through her nose.
Nikias was going to throw up. Her shield went up, just in time to block the bolt of vitae Cyprian sent at her.
