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Sabra’s eyes snap to my feisty first-year Front, dark eyes swooping from toes to slicked ponytail with so much disdain it would make even the strongest of Elven wines spoil. I fight the urge to step in front of my teammate. Defend her. But I know better. Soren isn’t afraid of anyone and never picks fights she can’t win.
This is going to be a ruthless game indeed.
“THE FIRST TEAM TO ENTER, CLAD IN PURPLE, IS CAPTAINED BY LEAF AANDERS!” Pictor roars across the stands, and the crowd matches the energy. I jog out of the tunnel at a leisurely pace and wave to all my adoring fans.
Pictor’s voice echoes, “First-year and spitfire, Soren, joins Leaf in the Front. Kauri—with a promising future for captainship—is playing the Wildcard position. And the two boulders”—the crowd laughs—“I mean brothers, Wyatt and Riot round out the team as formidable Backs!”
A group of civilians from Olwythion swirl purple scarves above their heads as I jog by. I nod in their direction. A woman swoons. I turn back and sprint to my spot on the field. The rest of my team follows, waving as their names are called.
“RIGHT BEHIND THEM IN NAVY IS CAPTAIN GRYPHON’S TEAM! GRYPHON IS LEADING FROM THE FRONT POSITION AS ANTICIPATED!”
The crowd screams, and I stretch an arm across my chest, ignoring the annoyance blooming in my chest that the cheering is equally as loud as it was for my team.
I’ll be fixing that.
“FOLLOWING THE CAPTAIN IS ONE OF OUR NEWEST PLAYERS ON THE FIELD AS A FRONT…” Pictor dramatically pauses. “PRINCE LADON OF THE RIVER TRIBE!”
It’s fine. He didn’t use the “prince” title for me. I’m not bothered by it. Not one bit. I swing my other arm in front of my chest and stretch. My eyes wander to the sidelines, where the Goad Squad is sending blue sunfyre sparks up into the air. My vision snags on the girl at the base of the sparks.
What. The. Fuck. Is. Ramona. Wearing.
I halt myself from the steps I just realized I was taking. A growl forms low in my chest. I want to rip that navy blue jersey off her body so I can strangle the River Prince with it.
Pictor interrupts my vivid imagination. “Following our newest recruit to the Watch is one of the most vicious players in the league—SABRA AS WILDCARD! Almost as large as the brothers, playing the Back position for the Navy, OLYMPIA! She is a third-stone Sun’cher you don’t want to mess with. Closing out the team is TANZEN! A promising first-stone Moon’cher.”
Both teams claim their spots on the field.
My chest heaves, and I blink away thoughts of shoving that fucking navy jersey down Ladon’s throat.
Focus!
I squint at the small flap in the center of the field, preparing for the flare to burst out any second and begin the game. My mind betrays me once again as my eyes veer to the sidelines.
“She looks good in navy, doesn’t she?” Ladon says in a low tone only I can hear from his Front position across the center line.
I lean forward, positioning my fingers into the ground a little too forcefully. “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Ladon chuckles and matches my position.
The whistle sounds, and the flare shoots up from the center.
With as much might as I can force, I take off.
Ladon follows suit.
With a quick clap of my hands, I cast a bright ring of blayze into my enemies’ direction. Ladon stumbles and falls to the ground.
I whoop and punch the air.
Soren snags the flare. “Stop celebrating and run, Leaf!”
Shit. Soren and I run toward the middle of the field where we can get support from Kauri and get as much space from Ladon as possible.
“It’s hot! Coming your way!” Soren tosses me the flare.
A giant wave slams into me, throwing me off balance and fumbling the flare.
Ladon scoops it up and wink.
