By the eager expression on Lady Magdalina’s face, clearly not. Mom’s eyes were heartbroken. It nearly killed me to see her like that.
Mom extended a hand to me. “Come, Emma. I’ll help you pack.”
I took it, and she led me upstairs to my room. I got out a suitcase and started packing things in silence with Mom beside me. I looked around my room. Would be the last time I’d ever step foot in this house? Would I ever come back home to Michigan again?
Would I ever see mymomagain?
Mom put a bunch of sweaters in the suitcase. “It’s cold in Malovia. You’ll need to keep warm.”
My throat got hot, and tears dotted my eyes at the thought of leaving my mom to go to a place where I had no friends, no family, and no idea of the culture there.
“Emma…” Mom straightened up after she put a few wool socks in my suitcase. “Lady Magdalina means well. She’s a wonderful woman, the best of the Arcanea. I admire her very much. She’s a dear friend to me.”
Mom took a breath. “But she’ll ask you to do things that will be extremely difficult, and she expects success every time,” Mom pleaded. “Think about that before you agree to go.”
I searched her face and found only honesty. She both looked up to and feared Lady Magdalina. I wasn’t sure why.
Despite what Mom said, I trusted Lady Magdalina. She was an iron lady, the type you wanted to lead you into war, because you knew she’d win. She was the kind of woman that intimidated men and demanded what she wanted out of life. I liked that about her, and she had picked me. I knew she’d push me, but I was a figure skater. I could handle it.
I didn’t want to hide from life like my mom, regardless of whatever reasons she’d chosen to do so.
“This is my decision, Mom. I want to go,” I said. “You can’t stop me.”
She looked away from me. “No. I suppose I can’t.”
That didn’t mean I wanted to abandon her. “Mom, come with me,” I begged. “Sell the diner. We can start over in Malovia. I don’t want to do this without you.”
Mom smiled slightly. “I’m afraid that’s not possible, Emmaline. At least, not at the moment.”
She had so many secrets. Secrets I was afraid I’d never learn. I reached up and wrapped my arms around her. “I’ll miss you so much.”
Mom hugged me even tighter. “I’ll miss you as well, saving grace. But Lady Magdalina is right. Malovia is where you belong. Arcanea University is the most wonderful place in the world. I promise that you’ll love it there, just like I did.”
I hardly cared if I did or I didn’t. I was mainly going there to keep my Mom safe from the Black Claw freaks. They wouldn’t hurt her if I was gone. They’d follow me back to Malovia.
I forced my tears back. Crying wouldn’t do any good. I was going on an adventure, to learn how to do magic at a college for sorceresses while Lady Magdalina tried to play undercover matchmaker between me and some werewolf dude. I hoped to God he was hot.
I was giving up my mom and everything I’d ever known for this.This slobbering dog better be one hell of a catch.
Chapter Five
Ethan
Iknew I was in trouble when my mother, Queen Antonia, summoned me the day before I moved my things into my dormitory at Arcanea University.
It was supposed to be my last day in the palace until next semester. I had hoped to slip out without being noticed. But nothing ever got past my mother. This was harder than facing the Circle. I sighed and dutifully proceeded after the servant who had informed me of such matters, cursing my luck.
Mother sat in the tearoom, in a large armchair by a ceiling-length window that looked down on the city from above. The armchair was high-backed, and sat on a bearskin rug that my father had killed himself. The room was full of decorations, paintings and treasures from around the world. Mother was a world-traveler who liked comfort and nice things. Father made sure she had them.
It was unusual to see her not at my father’s side as I entered the parlor. Now that he was gone, it seemed she had lost her place in this world.
“Sit down, Ethan.” She stirred her tea slowly. She liked it black. Today she’d forgone the mourning clothes and was wearing an oversized red dress. It was one of the last gifts my Da had given to her. Her face was done perfectly with makeup, and her black hair was fashioned into an updo. Grief was no excuse for looking like a mess, in the land of the Arcanea.
I lounged on the couch and threw a leg up. Her nose wrinkled, but she didn’t complain. She didn’t like when I didn’t sit properly. I was a pretty casual prince, as far as they went.
“I heard you declared your intent to enter the Contest,” Mother said. Her black eyes looked to me. I said nothing.
Mother didn’t want me to enter the King’s Contest. She wanted to keep me safe. People died in the Contest every time it was held. It was a deadly competition not everyone survived.
