“Madison, you know that my visions aren’t wrong.”
“I’ve told you before, Visteal that the future is never set. You just haven’t figured out how to make use of your gift yet, but one day you will.” She sat down at her desk and pulled a piece of paper from the drawer. “Aric will leave this academy today. You two will not be in Collweya or anywhere near him so this vision of yours won’t happen, and perhaps he will live a little longer. No attack will happen here because I’m sending for extra guards. We will be safe.”
“I feel good about this decision,” Zyacus said, twirling his thumbs.
I was torn, but I hoped that Madison was right. As we made our way to the exit, Madison said, “I’d tell you to say your goodbyes but it’s probably best if you stay away from him considering the both of you were there in the vision. It was reckless for you to wait this long to tell me. It’s been weeks. Do you understand the consequences if Aric, a prince, would have died here? It could have started a war.” She paused with her quill hovering above the paper. “I know you want to prove yourself, Visteal and do things on your own but a wise leader knows when to ask for help and when to delegate tasks. Remember that.”
I nodded and looked down at the floor but muttered. “How will he get home?”
“I’m bringing your mother here immediately to open a portal.”
With that, we took our leave. Standing in the hushed hallway the both of us hesitated to part ways. He pushed a hand through his hair and then stuffed them both in his pockets. “Want to spar? I need practice for the next tournament and you have one coming up too.”
With all the drama, I’d nearly forgotten about his victory as well as the fact that he’d been in the tournament for seventh years in the first place. “How did you even get the chance to fight?”
He tipped his head toward Madison’s office door. “Your grandmother has a soft spot for sexy princes with my skills.”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Madison doesn’t have a soft spot for anyone except maybe my Papa.” I started down the hall and he fell into step beside me. “And I’d rather kick your butt in Advanced Swords so everyone can see it but I suppose we can spar together now.”
“Professor Magnevera hasn’t allowed you and me to face each other in class yet. I think she’s waiting for the fifth year tournaments to start.”
“It would seem so.”
Chapter 24
The indoor sparring room had a few others practicing but was relatively quiet. Most students liked to sit around and socialize on days off from classes. Legacy and Aric were probably tangled up in each other’s arms kissing somewhere and my heart hurt for them. They barely made up from the last mistaken breakup and within the hour, he would leave and I didn’t know when they’d ever see each other again.
Zyacus and I stepped into a sparring ring and a burst of butterflies suddenly battled in my stomach. I hadn’t been nervous for a sparring match in a long time. It wasn’t about winning or losing either, it was the way he watched me, his eyes roaming over me from head to toe. He drew his sword, and I mine.
“Magic? Or weapons only?” I asked.
“Weapons only.”
A step to the left and he mirrored me and soon it was like we were back at my birthday event dancing. I swung first and our swords clashed, ringing loudly. The force of it reverberated down my arms. Pulling my weapon back and hopping to the right, I swung again and again until the sound of pinging fell into a melody. Metal grated metal as we pushed against each other. Sweat beaded on my brow and I dropped and rolled to avoid him overpowering me then was up on my feet on the offense. He blocked everything I threw at him. Several minutes of this bout had both of us breathing heavily.
“I may have met my match,” Zyacus breathed as we circled each other, both needing a break. “But let’s make it interesting. A wager?”
I let out a short laugh. “Trying to steal kisses again or perhaps another lake dip?”
“If I was after your kisses, I wouldn’t have to steal them,” he purred.
“Is that so?”
His lips curled. “When I win, you’ll be my date to the winter formal. I liked seeing you in that tight dress.”
There was mischief in his eyes; he was trying to get a rise out of me. Trying to get me to let my emotions get in the way so he could take advantage. I knew his tactics by now. We continued walking in a circle and I ignored the comment about the dress. “If you win, but what about if I best you in this match?”
“That depends. What do you want?”
What did I want? If I was being honest with myself I wanted to go to the dance with him, but I was unsure about the message it would send. One minute he was telling me there couldn’t be anything between us and the next he was inviting me to be his public date. I couldn’t get my mind around his motives. “I want you to tell me why you want to take me.”
He swung his sword in a circle. “If you win, I’ll tell.”
With that, the match continued. Cling, clang, whoosh, both of us spun around and our swords ended up at each other’s necks. A tie. “So does this mean we both get our wager or neither?” I asked.
He lowered his sword and I followed. “We didn’t set rules for a tie. Personally I’d like it if we both get what we wanted.” A
