I wrapped the plant, careful not to touch it, and we made our way back toward the Professor. “Firo said he found it interesting to watch the students from all kingdoms together. I think he likes the entertainment.”
“He’s so attractive, don’t you think? ”
I shrugged. “I suppose.” His familiar appearance had puzzled me so much I hadn’t even thought of him as attractive or not. I’d only analyzed him with suspicion.
Legacy gave me a light shove. “Oh don’t act like you can’t notice the looks of other men now that you’re with Zy.”
“Kind of like you taking notice of Taron even though you supposedly want to be with Aric?”
Legacy shot me a glare. “You don’t have to be rude. And please don’t tell Aric about him.”
I put a finger to my lips. “I’m staying out of it. The last thing I want to get involved with is a vampire prince and his girlfriend.”
Legacy’s face fell into a frown. “I tried to talk to him yesterday in the dining hall. All he said was ‘hello Legacy, I hope you had a fun break from this academy’ and then he walked away to talk to a group of Collweyans.”
I lifted an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yes, like I was nothing more than a girl he met once or something, and he supposedly loved me.”
I truly felt bad for her, I did, but I also could sort of understand Aric. “I’m not trying to defend his behavior but he’s… different.”
“Not to you. I saw you guys work together in the arena.”
I had been surprised at how normal he acted with me. But he didn’t have to push me away because I wasn’t in love with him. “Do you want me to ask him about it?”
My cousin balled her hands into fists. “No, if he wants to talk to me he will on his own.”
Fortunately or maybe unfortunately, only time would tell, I planned on asking Aric regardless of what Legacy wanted. He was my friend, too.
“I also had an idea that may give you a chance to speak with him. Zyacus’s birthday was last week but his father canceled the party. I thought we could plan a surprise one here.”
Legacy beamed. “Like a big party or friends only?”
I’d prefer a smaller party with just friends but Zyacus enjoyed the spotlight. “I think we should make it big.”
“I agree,” she tapped a finger against her lips. “It will be hard to keep it from him if a lot of people know about it, however. What if you take him off grounds on a horse ride or something the day of and I send out the invitations while you’re gone.”
“Yes, good idea. Let’s plan it for this weekend. If you have any ideas, I’m all ears. Party planning isn’t my area.”
“You know I love parties. Should it be in the academy where professors can supervise or,” she grew a mischievous grin, “Shall we keep it from them, plan a secret location by invitation only and have more fun?”
The second option sounded more appealing. “Let’s keep it secret from the professors.”
Legacy clapped her hands together. “Great, I’ll start planning right away. I’ll ask his friends and his cousin Gracie to help; you keep Zyacus distracted for the next couple days.” She winked at me. “It shouldn’t be too difficult for you.”
“I think I can manage. Oh and be sure to send Jennika an invite.”
With a smirk, Legacy said, “Oh, do tell your evil plan.”
∞∞∞
Intermediate Healing was my next class, then Advanced Swords. I couldn’t wait to show off the skills that I’d learned from my father. After that I had: Hand to Hand Combat, Advanced Potions, Sixth Year Spells, Advanced Leadership, and then History. The schedule didn’t denote a specific type of history.
I was a little disappointed not to have Zyacus and Aric in Advanced Swords again this year. As the sparring began, I stood beside Madison assessing the students. She didn’t put us in groups by kingdom this time. We were randomly thrown together and it made me miss the rivalry of last year.
With a nervous ache in my gut, I walked to Hand to Hand Combat which was only about fifty yards from the sword sparring grounds. Zyacus and I had compared schedules and we had this class together. It had been months since we fought each other with swords, and we hadn’t faced off in hand to hand since I actually started liking him. It typically involved rolling around on the ground, grappling... bodies close together. With anyone else my only thought was to win the match, to hurt or outmaneuver them, but when Zyacus’s body was near mine, my insides fluttered and danced. Let’s just say combat was the furthest thing from my mind.
Waiting for someone I knew to arrive to class, I stood at the edge of a white circle outlined in the grass. As the other students gathered, none of them approached me until Lora showed up.
In an overzealous greeting, she punched my arm a little harder than I would have liked. “Hey Vis!”
I rubbed my arm absently. “Where have you been? I didn’t see you yesterday or this morning at breakfast.”
She ran her fingers through her white-blonde hair that hung in a straight line just below her chin. “My parents didn’t want me to come back so I had to have Aunt Athena convince them. Took a day longer. Mother only allowed me to come if my brother came too. He’s a year older.” She looked over her shoulder. “He’s coming right now.”
I turned to see her brother, a striking dark blond-haired boy. As tall as Zyacus and about as muscular with long hair pulled into a bun. “Oh,” was all I managed to say.
Lora leaned in closer. “He’s been infatuated with you for forever.”
My head whipped back to her. “Me? How? We’ve never met.”
Lora chuckled. “Um, well, everyone knows who you are. Your painting is in every warlord’s house and he said he’s
