Tears flowed down my face as he dropped into his wolf form.
“No, you don’t understand,” I told him. “Val toldme you wouldn’t be strong enough to wield her. I had to keep her, or we would both lose her.”
‘Lies,’Kaelric said.‘She was just a mother trying to protect her son. You never even gave me a chance. Who are you to say I’m not strong enough?’He tipped his head back and howled into the sky, causing chills to rush forward on my arms.
‘You think you’re my mate? A mate would never do this. I’ll never forgive you for this.’They were his last words before he darted off, away from the arena and towards the train.
I felt like I’d been kicked in the chest, my heart bleeding freely inside my ribcage as I watched him run off. After everything that just happened, I didn’t feel like a champion. I felt empty inside.
‘Please, forget what he said,’Valkaryn begged.‘He will understand in time. Go to Fenmyr. Help my people.’
What aboutmypeople? The ones I just left weak and magicless because I chose what I thought was love over them.
If Kaelric wasn’t going to be grateful for the sacrifices I made for him, then I wasn’t helping with anything. I had my own problems to worry about. Like the survival of my entire displaced community.
‘You tricked me,’Idecided, angrily gripping her hilt.‘I lost the ability to bring magic to my people, andnow I’ve lost Kaelric, too!’I screamed, wanting to snap the blade in half.
She vibrated at my hip, her power slipping over me like a heavy blanket.‘Trust me, young one, I need?—’
‘I don’t care what you need anymore. I need to think about myself, my own people. Don’t talk to me anymore.’I pulled her from her sheath and stormed out of the arena with her clenched in my grip.
I felt like a child who had given up everything for a boy without a second thought. Regret burned through me fast and hot. I passed the Elite sponsors, Kirk, Corvessa’s headless body, and left them all behind.
I felt so stupid, I wanted to hide. How did I tell my family that I won the Arcane Trials but did not have magic to bring home to them? They would be living in tents, ready to rebuild, and I hadnothingto offer them.
‘Brynn, just—’Valkaryn started.
‘Speak to me again and I’ll pay a metalsmith to melt you down!’I snapped, and she went silent.
Never again. Never again would I put a man’s needs before my own.
“Brynn!” A strange female voice called as I stepped out of the arena and moved towards the train station.
I spun to see an Aerlyn messenger, out of breath with a scroll in her left hand.
“I missed the first train, and then you were inside the Arena.”She panted.
I looked her up and down. She wore the crimson cloak of a messenger from the city, but what was she doing all the way out here? And why did she call my name?
My mind was a mess from Kaelric and Valkaryn, and I couldn’t handle anything else.
“Is my family okay?” Maybe they never made it to Hildreth, maybe their train was attacked and?—
“I don’t know, but I have this for you.” She looked back over her shoulder like she expected someone to be watching her.
I took the scroll, and she peered at me again, not moving.
“Oh, I don’t have payment,” I told her.
She shook her head, looking embarrassed. “No. It’s not that. I just… You won?” She smiled.
I did. I won the Arcane Trials, and I had no magic to show for it.
“Yep.”
“Congrats.” She smiled. I peered at the Elite magic mark on her chest. She was a messenger, a menial job in Aerlyn. Definitely not of noble blood. Probably carried weak magic, but magic nonetheless.
“Thanks,” I said dryly, hoping she would leave so I could read whatever this letter said in peace.
