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“There is no one next in line, I am the only son of my father, and worse, if the witch hunter or anyone else finds out I am weak and dying, they will attack.”

“That is not my problem.” She was contemplating killing him herself, though her rage was subdued at this moment. Without his heart as a prize it was only half as fun to kill him.

“It is because to obtain the prize of this tournament and finally have the life you always wanted you have to go through a last trial.” He stared at her, raising his black arm, veins inhumanly protruding against his skin. “Find the witch who cursed me and save my life Noora and I will give you everything you wish for not only gold but something you have wanted from the beginning of all of this.”

She took a step closer her breath coasting over his skin. Noora saw him shiver slightly and her lips spread into a cruel grin.

“And what could that be, King of the Damned?”

His icy eyes did not let go of her gaze as his lips parted to speak the words. “Revenge”

Epilogue

Tyra practically skipped through the halls, her long dressdragging against the stone grounds as she advanced. More guards than usual were posted at the doors she passed, their bodies tight and stiff as if awaiting a surprise attack to blow them off their feet any second. This was ridiculous, considering that everyone living in the palace, as well as the old town close by, were currently posed in the tournament arena, waiting for the contestants to get off their leash and embark on the last trial. Who would attack an empty palace? There was nothing inside these walls worth keeping, not even the gold in their treasury was anything impressive.

However, with the last manipulation on the second trial, her mother was going crazy, seeing ghosts in every corner, and enemies ducked under tables ready to jump out and attack. Tyra did understand why her mother felt uneasy, she was far from a coward. Queen Euphemia was not afraid of many things, facing an enemy was not a problem to her. As long as she knew who the enemy was.

Nodding at the next guards she passed she hoped she would not miss the start of the trail. Jo forgot her makeshift sword in Nikolai’s office after breakfast and refused to watch the trial without it. After a five-minute discussion, with a lot of whining on Jo’s part, Tyra decided to get the damn sword before her sister broke out in a bigger temper tantrum and her mother would punish her for it. She could imagine the withering look directed at her, ‘a good sister and a good princess would be kind enough to retrieve the sword for her sister’. Though Tyra doubted her mother would not scold Jo for even having a sword.

She did not want to go and miss the start of the trail but judging upon the arrival of Aileen, who still had not been locatedat the grandstand, she thought she might meet her in the halls and could spend a few seconds with her, before having to share her with her brother again.

The large wooden doors came into view at the end of the hall, and no guards were stationed beside the doors which were slightly ajar. Tyra stopped for a moment, a strange feeling churning in her stomach. Regarding the paranoia of her mother, she would have thought there to be two guards stationed at either side of the king's office doors. Maybe Nikolai sent someone to retrieve an item he forgot to take before climbing the tower in the tournament arena? She doubted her brother was the culprit behind the slightly ajar door, he was way too accurate and disciplined to forget anything important.

Cautiously Tyra advanced on the door, the closer she got the harder her heart beat against her ribcage, seemingly trying to escape her body. She cursed herself for not taking her small pocket knife with her, too scared her mother could somehow detect it. Usually, she had it attached to her boot, though for today's celebration, her mother made her wear a floor-length gown and these uncomfortable high-heeled shoes, that squeezed the living daylight out of her smallest toe. Not a few hours had passed and it felt like she was walking herself with multiple blisters on her feet. She could have sheathed the knife with a strap to her ankle but she somehow had the feeling that her mother would see through the material of her gown and detect the knife.

Tyra tried to approach the door on her tiptoes, her heels clacking against the ground if not. Daylight streamed through the opened door and the closer Tyra got the more she could hear the familiar sounds of a living being occupying a room. Papers kept rustling, something like porcelain clinking carefully. Something must’ve dropped as a dull thud sounded, joined by aperson cursing under their breath. Tyra’s body froze entirely as she listened to the familiar voice. No, it could not be.

Putting her back flush to the closed door, Tyra leaned forward and peeked through the opened door, swallowing when the person came into view. There at the desk of her brother stood Aileen. Her back was towards Tyra, so she could not see her spying on her as she raised shaky hands to clean up a spilled cup of tea. Frowning Tyra watched her pull a small sack from a hidden pocket in her skirt, before shaking blue powder into the cup of tea. Her long, slender fingers took a silver spoon and mixed the liquid expertly. What was she doing?

Why was she even in Nikolai’s office? Tyra doubted her brother wanted a cup of tea in the middle of the last trial, above all he would not send Aileen to retrieve himself a cup. Tyra continued watching the princess, her throat growing tighter the longer she watched, her heart shattering like looking glass as she slowly realised. There were not many explanations available for this situation and Tyra was never daft or slow when it came to making connections. There was only one thing she could think about. Whatever Aileen had mixed into the cup it was not some migraine healing powder and she doubted that Nikolai knew of it.

Hesitating, Tyra hovered in the doorway, now not even trying to hide but Aileen was too enraptured in her doings. The princess swallowed, pushing a red strand of hair behind her ear, revealing the profile of her face. Hair Tyra had pushed her hands through, knowing how silky and soft it was. The golden nose ring glinted against her bowed nose. Tyra had asked her about it and if it hurt whereas Aileen told her how she and her sister got it at the same time, crying tears of joy afterwards. Her parents were furious when they found out but Aileen persisted in keeping it, selling them a lie that it would leave an ugly hole if she took itout. And a princess with a flaw seemed to be worse than one who accessorized her face with gold.

Her bronze skin was flushed, her lips parted in concentration as she stirred the tea, not a clue that she was being watched.

Tyra slowly stepped into the room, her heartbeat in her ears as she watched the girl she fell in love with, mix poison into a cup probably dedicated to her brother. Maybe this was a misunderstanding, it could be any powder. Don’t be daft, Tyra. Who would mix the ominous powder in a cup during an important trial and do it in someone else’s office? Stepping fully into the office, she let her heels clack against the ground. Aileen spun around, gasping, her eyes widening as they met Tyra’s.

“What in the world do you think you’re doing?”

THE END