“Really? The class clown?” she asked incredulously. Allyra couldn’t imagine two more ill-suited people than Chi and Jeong, and that included her own partnership with Jason.
Chi nodded. “Yes, that’s the one,” he said resignedly. “We hate each other, but we’ve learnt to work together.”
He brightened and lifted a champagne glass. “At least we made it, right? Let’s enjoy the party!”
A small party was being thrown in the Great Hall of the Terra College to celebrate the completion of the First Final. While the Great Hall at the Elemental College might have been mistaken as the hall of any old and prestigious school, the one at the Terra College could not have been mistaken for anything other than something completely magical.
They were surrounded by the redwood trees, and glimpses of the night sky could be seen overhead, dotted with a rare star as clouds floated by. Old magic rather than stones and mortar kept the rain and wind away. And at the center of it all was a single massive redwood that towered above all the others—the Gate of the Terra College.
As had been her experience with Gifted parties, there was an overabundance of champagne and elegant food, yet the atmosphere seemed subdued. It was obvious that most of the remaining Five Finals competitors were too frazzled by the First Final to enjoy themselves. The only people who appeared to be having a good time were the Masters of the Terra College and a few selected guests who had been invited purely based on their wealth or position within the Gifted community.
Master Akerman stopped at their table. “Miss Warden,” he said in greeting.
“Sir,” Allyra replied politely.
He raised his glass and gave her one of his ironic smiles. “Congratulations,” he said. His tone was dry, but it lacked its normal mocking edge. “You surprised me, and believe me, I’m not often surprised.”
He drained his glass and walked away without another word.
Chi grinned at her. “From what I know about Master Akerman, that was high praise indeed.”
Allyra laughed. “Don’t be so sure. He’s only surprised because Jason and I were so shockingly bad at working together.” She glanced at the crowd again and caught a glimpse of silky black hair being swished around in an all too familiar manner. She stood abruptly. “Excuse me,” she muttered and made her way into the crowd.
Laureline was standing at the banquet table, apparently choosing between a lavish chocolate cake and a tower of éclairs. Allyra maneuvered until she was standing next to her.
“What are you doing here?” Allyra hissed.
Without missing a beat, a brilliant smile lit Laureline’s face, and she held out her hand to Allyra. “How lovely to meet you, Allyra, I’ve just been hoping I might get a chance to meet the famous Atmospheric that managed to survive the Between.”
Allyra forced a smile to her face and shook Laureline’s hand, suddenly aware of the crowd around them and the fact that she wasn’t supposed to know who Laureline was.
“You’re too kind,” Allyra replied, “Miss…”
“Singh. But please call me Laureline.”
Laureline took Allyra’s arm in a girlish and friendly way, drawing them from the crowd with the effortless ease of a born socialite. “Let’s get away from all this noise so that you can tell me all about yourself.”
“What are you doing here?” Allyra hissed again once they were seated at an empty table. Laureline smiled beatifically. “My family is well connected, and I’ve been invited expressly by the Elemental High Master himself.”
“Marcus?”
“Exactly.”
“Marcus is dangerous,” Allyra said carefully. Laureline certainly wasn’t Allyra’s favorite person, but being annoying and superficial didn’t qualify her to fall prey to Marcus, suspected to be a Revenant.
Laureline laughed, clearly pleased with herself. “Please save your warnings. I know how to handle myself. And you should be grateful. Once I have Marcus eating out of my hand, I’ll get all the information the Rising needs, and you can give up this pretense of trying to win The Five Finals.”
Allyra remembered Marcus’s probing of her mind, like talons digging into her brain. She wasn’t sure just how much Laureline knew about the Rising, but it was much more likely that Laureline would give up all of the Rising’s secrets than the other way around.
“Laureline—” Allyra tried again.
“I hear that Marcus is without a girlfriend at the moment. I’m sure I’ll be the perfect fit for him,” Laureline said smoothly.
“You need to stop,” Allyra said urgently. “Think about Rob.”
Laureline shot her a pitying glance. “You’re so naïve. Rob was fun, but that’s all it was. Wrapping Marcus around my little finger is going to be fun too.”
Laureline got to her feet. “Wish me luck,” she said lightly. “The sooner I succeed, the sooner you get out of here.”
Allyra grabbed Laureline’s wrist. “Please. Don’t.”
Laureline shook Allyra off, an ugly scowl abruptly marring her face. “I can see through you,” she spat out viciously, her tone changing with jarring abruptness. “You’re not so special. Are you so afraid of someone else taking your place in the spotlight?”
Allyra swallowed down a sharp retort and modulated her voice until it came out smooth and calm. “You can have your spotlight. I don’t want it. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
Laureline laughed—an ugly, jarring sound. “And I’m supposed to believe that you care about me at all?”
With a final swish of her hair, Laureline stalked off.
Allyra stared after her, feeling utterly helpless.
“Problem?”
Allyra jerked her head toward the familiar voice.
Alex. She’d slipped into
