His cat sat balled up in the corner watching me with huge yellow eyes. A low growling whine traveled across the room.
“Creep,” I muttered.
“Wench,” Penelope retorted.
Stupid cat. I laid there for a while, enjoying his attractive manly scent and the way the nearness of him made my belly warm. I looked across at the other bed hoping his roommate wouldn’t go spreading rumors but it was neatly made, nobody under the blanket. On further inspection, I wondered if he even had a roommate this year. All the stuff in the room looked to belong to Zyacus.
Well that’s a relief. Carefully, I crept over Zyacus, freezing when he twitched and then hopped onto the floor. I folded my arms and stood before the window. I smiled as a pair of pixies trailing blue and gold glitter twirled and danced in the air. For a moment I felt at peace and then I noticed that wretched thorned cage. It had moved yet again, haunting me like a ghost set on revenge. Music suddenly drifted on the air, a beautiful tune I’d never heard before. Fatigue overwhelmed me as the soft melody played. I laid on the cool stone floor and closed my eyes.
“Where are you going?”
I jerked awake, standing in the hallway of the Hesstian boys’ dorms with Zyacus’s hand wrapped around my wrist. Panic shot through me, I didn’t remember opening the door, I’d just laid on the floor and… “That cursed crown won’t leave me be.”
I hurried back into Zyacus’s room, hugging my arms around myself.
He followed in and closed the door. “What are you talking about?”
“I heard the lullaby. The girl was walking in her sleep,” Penelope added, perched on the top of Zyacus’s dresser.
The cat heard it too? I finally told Zyacus that the thing had been calling to me since the day it appeared. I’d sleepwalked twice to get to it. It desperately wanted me to wear it.
His face twisted in concern. “I think you need to stay with me from now on.”
“Oh, joy,” Penelope muttered.
Zyacus shushed her. “I don’t know what it means if you put that crown on but I know it won’t be good.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. We laid in bed again. This time his arms locked around my waist and I knew I wouldn’t be going anywhere.
∞∞∞
I stood before the doors of the arena entry. It was my time to shine in the tournament. The crowd chanted “Hess-ti-a” over and over. Apparently the Hesstian boy in the match before me had been victorious.
My grandfather stood beside me, as we waited for my turn. My entire body was charged with excitement and nerves. I bounced on my toes, sword in hand, electric volts bouncing between my fingers.
“I’m very proud of you,” Papa said, giving me a warm, eye crinkling smile. “You’ve worked so hard to get to where you are. You’re a Sixth Year in a tournament usually reserved for seventh-year students, and I know you are destined for the title Tournament Champion.”
“Thank you, Papa.” I grinned, hoping he was correct. I’d wanted that title ever since I was a little girl. All Academy students wanted to be Tournament Champion. Some might think as a princess I was born to privilege and things would just happen for me, that I didn’t have to earn anything. But being named Tournament Champion couldn’t be given to anyone without merit. It had to be taken, and only the best could attain that status.
“Your parents are here, by the way. They’re incognito but watching from the stands.”
My chest swelled with pride. My parents had come to watch my first real tournament. I had to perform well.
The arena doors opened and the Hesstian boy came through, grinning. “Good luck, Princess,” he said as he passed us by.
Now it was my turn to go. Papa patted me on the back and then nodded toward the opening. “You will do great. Go.”
I jogged onto the arena floor and my head swiveled as the cheers erupted. Raising my sword high, the crowd grew louder. I could totally get used to this. Competitors aren’t allowed to see their opponent beforehand, and as the tournament progressed it changed based off the winners and losers.
So as I stood there in the intoxication of the roar of the crowd, I had no idea who I would face. The doors on the opposite end pulled inward and my opponent emerged. Once he cleared from the shadows, the dark blond hair, tanned skin and brown eyes struck me. I was about to fight Aramis.
Chapter 27
Madison waited in the center for us to join her to go over the rules. I slowly walked. I’d known he would fight but I didn’t think it would be against me. Madison had probably done this on purpose. She knew Lora was my good friend. I clenched my jaw; it doesn’t matter. Win.
“Hey, Princess,” Aramis said a small smile curling at the side of his mouth.
Madison shot Aramis a glare. “No talking. We’re not here to make nice. Save that for later. Now,” she looked between the both of us. “No dark magic. Fight until your opponent surrenders or is no longer capable of fighting back or until I stop you. Understood?”
“Yes,” I said in a calm, even voice but on the inside nervousness crashed around in my gut.
My vision narrowed as we both stepped back. Tunnel Vision I’d heard people say before. The crowd quieted in my mind as I focused on winning. I wouldn’t allow anything, not Lora, not Aramis’s and my new friendship, nothing would get in my way.
Madison vanished and the thrum of magic in me soared. I threw up my shield and at once launched a ball of energy at him. He dove and it exploded on the wall behind him. With lightning speed he was in front of me, sword crashing down. I blocked it and
