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“Leaf Aanders, please stand.”

I gasp as Leaf stands, stoic and tall.

Ramona squeezes my hand and whispers into my ear. “I’ll explain.”

Markus looks smug. “Your father sent me a notice a few days ago explaining that you did not intend to spy or infiltrate”—cadets gasp—“but just wanted to train from the best.”

Leaf’s jaw clenches.

“No need to keep the illusion going.”

I cannot tear my eyes away from my friend as his entire demeanor changes. He’s the same Leaf, but not. His ears lengthen to a point, for one. His entire body appears to grow.

Gryphon reaches into his pocket. “Fucking lost my Watcher coin. This is cool as shit.”

Selene smirks and swipes the coin out of his palm.

I’m still awestruck by the person—no elf—standing before me. A prince?

“Considering the current political climate,” Markus continues, “it seems only fair that while we offer up the option for one Elven prince to study at the Watch, that we do so for the other Tribe as well.”

Genuine shock ripples through the crowd as a tall, lethal shape emerges out from the darkened arena entrance. Prince Ladon of the River Tribe stomps forward to stand next to the podium, blue hair tucked back into a loose knot save for a few pieces framing his face.

Leaf’s hand bunches into a fist.

Women and men alike squirm with delight at the sight of the handsome prince.

Two handsome princes.

Studying at the Watch.

Markus gestures to the River Prince. “Welcome, Prince Ladon, to the Watch. You’ll be studying along with our Moon’cher cadets as a Second-Stone to best align with your Source channeling abilities.”

I look to Ramona, but her eyes are glued to the River Prince. Her old Sponsor is back, the same one she gushed about before she was eliminated in the second task.

“That concludes the announcements. You are excused.”

The entire arena explodes in commotion.

I sit there, stunned.

35

Flashes of Fur

The tone across the academy is as grim as the overcast sky. The air has shifted from human magic welders-in-training to future-soldiers-in-combat. Rumors are afoot about WatchGuards being sent to the southern border before completing their training, professors intensifying pressure in the classroom, and the strangest of all is that there are now two Elven princes strolling the castle corridors, one of which is stuffing his face with a bread roll he managed to swipe from the kitchen staff. Though, I’m beginning to think they are giving them to Leaf willingly.

The dining hall is still full of cadets breaking for lunch when Ramona and I head to Battlefield in the lower fields a little ahead of class. We wave goodbye to Leaf, and first-stone cadets swoop in after us, taking our seats in a matter of seconds in hopes to get close to the Forest Prince.

Leaf’s laugh is heard from the other side of the cafeteria.

“It’s starting to get so fucking annoying,” Ramona mumbles as we push open the massive side doors of the castle.

My eyes water from the crisp winter air, and it takes a few blinks before I’m confident my eyelids aren’t going to stick together forever. “Yeah, if Leaf gets any more popular, it’s going to go to his head.”

“No, I meant all those people trying to talk with him.”

“Oh.”