Scanning it, I saw my name at the end of a long line of dots, right under Blake’s name.
“Blake is playing Aryus?” I asked. “Did he even really audition?”
“Professor Elara talked him into it!” she said. “Can you believe this! And I’ll be doing the costumes! I can’t wait; this is going to be so fun! I have to tell Roslyn!”
She flounced from the room, and I sat up in bed.
Nervous excitement made my fingers tingle, at least until I remembered what was going on today—my Aurkai training session with Melanie.
And right after the play announcement?
I groaned inwardly. She was going to be so unpleasant.
After I was geared up, I headed to the outdoor training grounds where I was to meet her. Apparently, she only saw awakened students—she couldn’t be bothered with Initiates. I shouldn’t be surprised. Truthfully, I’d forgotten about it until Roslyn asked me if I was okay doing it. She’d tried to talk me out of it but there was something eating at me to know what training with her would be like. Blake wasn’t happy about it and insisted on coming to ensure Melanie didn’t take it too far. I didn’t love the idea of him being there but it was comforting to know he wouldn’t let her kill me.
I thrust my weight backward, cutting through the air, and landed in a crouched position with my sword cast to my side.
The outdoor training grounds were deserted as usual but the chill of winter had not yet passed. I breathed in quick succession to catch my breath after a routine training session to warm up. Finally, my heart calmed, and my everi flowed within me and extended into the blade like it was an extension of my own body.
“Starting without me?”
I turned and saw Blake approaching me, his sword sheathed at his back and his black and red armor in pristine condition.
“Are you sure you want to go through with this session?” he asked. “I can still make it go away.”
I shook my head. “No, I don’t want any special treatment. I can handle it.”
He gave me a look that made it clear he disagreed with me but didn’t argue. I eyed him with amusement, realizing now that he couldn’t have looked more like a prince if he tried. It wasn’thard to believe, at least not any harder than believing there was a rift to another world of mages and monarchies.
When he approached me, his smirk softened.
“I spoke with Roslyn,” he said quietly.
I broke our connection. So, he knew. I was wondering if he’d bring it up. It wasn’t as if we were planning to get married and questioning him about something that Melanie, of all people, said didn’t feel right. It was clearly a tactic to instigate something, though I wasn’t sure what. Still, it did bother me that he hadn’t told me himself. I had to hear something rather important fromher.
“I’m sorry, Anna,” he said, his fingers gently pulling my chin.
I shifted uncomfortably. “Look, I get it. I hate how ignorant I am of your world. Your life there seems completely different from your life here with me.”
Blake’s expression darkened for a moment. “My life is different in the Realm but I greatly prefer this one. That is why I find it easy to not share such irrelevant things as titles—they do not matter here, nor do they define me.”
I took in his features, from the shape of his lips to the gentle curve of his cheekbone.
“It’s funny,” I said, “because I already thought of you as a prince. It doesn’t feel like anything’s different. Without knowing your world or your home, I can’t possibly fathom what you’re the prince of. You’remyprince.”
Blake smiled and pulled me to his chest. “Is that so?”
Warmth flooded my cheeks, but I nodded against his chest anyway. His muscled arms held me close, but when he released me, the loss of his nearness left me void of warmth.
“Then I’m free to destroy any man that attempts to smile in your direction?” he asked, a grin across his lips.
I blushed further, my joy at the acknowledgement of us accompanied by fear.
What if I weren’t selected as Roslyn had suggested? What if I were never allowed to enter the Realm? Would Blake return without me?
“What is it?” he murmured.
I glanced up, guilt bleeding through my façade. “I guess I realized that if you are the prince, you’ll certainly be expected to return somewhere I cannot follow.”
