We entered the great hall, and the mood from the meeting yesterday afternoon had drastically shifted. Whereas then it was mingling and laughter and pastries and wine, tonight was dark cloaks and murmurs. Beady eyes and competitive glances. Torches were scattered across the vast room, firelight crackling and casting eerie shadows along the dark stone floor.
All of the other challengers were here. My chest deflated at the sight, humiliation twisting in my gut. I was the last one.
Well,secondto last. But only because Nox let me go ahead of him. I clenched my jaw, feeling my neck and cheeks heat as heads of various lords, ladies, and guests of the capital turned their attention to me.
In the open streets of the central sector earlier today, I’d felt comfortable in my anonymity. Protected. Even the people who might have recognized me were simply curious, wanting to get their peek at the mysterious, last-minute replacement. Now…they knew who I was. And by the disappointed looks of pity, they knewwhatI was.
A failure. A joke, as Leo had called me.
Was this worse than the disdain, the snide remarks, the lingering looks of contempt from my own province? I wasn’t sure, but it filled me with equal parts shame and resentment.
My eyes scanned the crowd of dozens of guests for faces I recognized. Leaning on the far left wall was Arowyn, the Strider from Celestria with the long, almost white hair whose aloof, disinterested attitude the day before had been refreshing. Tonight,however, her icy blue eyes were narrowed on every conversation, fingers tapping at her thighs.
There was another woman near her that I’d never seen before. Her left arm was in a sling and she was the only one in the entire room smiling. A few finely dressed ladies from court stood around her, and when she whispered something to them, they all burst into quiet laughter. She tossed her auburn hair back, her tawny cheeks crinkling into a smile.
I had a guess who she might be. Callum’s words from earlier came back to me—“you should see what I did to the Lightbender.” Based on her injury, this must be Callista, the Emberfell challenger. Nox had said she was a crowd favorite, and I could see why. People flocked to her like bees to honey, vying for a sliver of her attention. Watching her with them, I had to admit I was a bit jealous of how naturally it came to her, how well she commanded the group of women. A genuine smile here, a well-timed laugh there, a confidence in the way she carried herself that inspired respect. She knew how to play the game. That kind of recognition and favor in the eyes of the powerful often held more weight than the magic that ran through one’s veins.
I spotted Alaric’s dark brown and gray hair in the back corner, talking quietly with a member of the Royal Guard. My jaw ticked as I took a step in his direction.
A hand clamped down on my shoulder. “Be smart, girl,” Horace whispered in my ear.
From several feet to the right, someonetsked. “She’s got a nasty temper, doesn’t she?”
At the sound of his voice, my blood ran cold, then strikingly hot. I glared at Callum, finding his black eyes just as full of vengeance as mine surely were. Gone were the days of cocky pretension, of snide remarks hidden behind sharp smirks.
Callum’s expression was clear. I was no longer a plaything for him to toy with on a string. I was his enemy. Athreat.
For some reason, that realization made satisfaction hum in my chest. I cocked my head and let a small smile play on my lips. Ididn’t want him to see how much he affected me. How easily he got under my skin. Despite Horace’s low growl of warning at my back, I sauntered over to Callum, straightening my spine and taking my time as I sized him up like a predator hunting their prey.
“Looking forward to the rankings, Feywood? I can’t wait to see you where you belong,” he sneered. “Always knew you’d look good beneath me.”
“Careful, Callum,” I hummed, drawing out his name. “Those are strong words for someone I had begging on their knees mere hours ago.”
His fingers came out to wrap around my wrist, digging into my skin. “You think you’re so clever with your little plants and potions.” His voice was low and menacing in my ear as his fingers tightened their hold. “But you’re nothing without them, are you, Feywood? That’s why people like you will never win. Will never be strong enough. Your magic isuseless.”
He pulled back and glanced behind my shoulder as heavy footsteps approached, but I kept my stare focused on Callum. He released me, dusting off his shoulder and adjusting his jacket.
“Keep your charms, because that’s all you have,” he hissed. “When it comes down to it, we all know your province is the weakest link. I wonder what will happen to your people when you fail.” With one last feral grin, he smoothly stepped aside and into the crowd, leaving me still as stone.
That same tide of humiliation and bitterness rose and swelled, but for a different reason. He was right, in a way—Alchemists were the only ones who needed an outside element to perform our given magic. All five of the other provinces could conjure their own power without aid. It was innatelypartof them. Being isolated in Feywood, I’d never had that fact wielded against me. Never understood what an advantage the others had, not being dependent on what resources lined their pockets or what herbs and potions were at their disposal. Never realized we were viewed asless thanbecause of it.
I swallowed hard and contained the doubts swirling within me, not letting it break my impassive features.
The deep toll of a bell echoed through the hall. Midnight. From the front came Lark’s voice, signifying the end of the trial and gathering us all to the center. A hand pressed into my back and guided me forward. Rotating my neck, I saw Nox at my side.
“Don’t listen to him,” he murmured as we followed everyone else. “He’s an elitist prick who had his balls handed to him and is trying to get a rise out of you. He’s wrong; you’re?—”
I arched away from his touch. “I don’t need you to tell me how strong I am, Nox,” I said coldly.
His hand fell to his side, and I didn’t miss the look of hurt that passed over his face before he smoothed it back out and smiled. “Just as well, then. Don’t want it going to your head.”
I turned my attention to the south end of the hall where the same podium from the briefing was stationed. As last time, Lark Everest took her place behind it, clearing her throat to silence the whisperings of the crowd. Motion made my eyes flicker to the wall behind her, and my heart stuttered.
Emperor Gayl was here.
His blue and white mismatched eyes sliced into mine across the hall. Tonight, he wore a midnight blue cloak, his long black and silver streaked hair gathered in a strip of leather at the nape of his neck. His gloved hands were steepled at his chest as he silently observed in the background.
I held his stare. He didn’t look angry, even though he knew I’d been spying on him. He lookedcurious. His head tilted to the side ever so slightly, his lips twitching as neither of us broke our gaze. I wouldn’t let myself cower. Wouldn’t allow myself to show the fear he so easily amassed from his people.
