Page 19

Kaelis’s arm tenses further, and he shifts with his next step.

It’s subtle, but I feel the change like a protective shadow gliding over my shoulders.

He stands slightly ahead of me, wedging himself between me and Savan.

But his demeanor is calm. From every purple-black hair on his head to the mirror finish of his booted toes, Kaelis oozes a nearly terrifying aura of control.

“Have you finished your search?”

“I’d say we have.” Savan halts when he’s close enough for me to see the yellow rings in his hazel eyes—they’re nearly catlike in the low light. “Apprehend the convict,” he commands to the other two guards at his flanks, men whom I don’t recognize.

“Convict?” Kaelis glances back at me, and I see a flash of amusement dancing in his eyes. It’s replaced with confusion when he turns his attention back to Savan. The prince’s words are steeped in offense. “This, sir, is the last remaining member of Clan Hermit and my blushing bride-to-be.”

“Your bride?” Savan nearly stammers.

“Yes. You would do well to remember this before levying such baseless accusations against her, thus deeply offending me.” Kaelis’s tone is more bitter than winter.

Savan’s eyes dart between us. Confusion rakes deep lines into his brow that soon fold into anger and frustration. “This creature—”

Before he can finish, a card seems to materialize from nowhere, hovering right before Savan’s nose, engulfed in an ominous ombré of magic. The card slowly spins, and I instantly recognize the Knight of Swords.

“This is my future wife, the woman who will become your princess. Choose your next words carefully. I assure you that having your throat cut out is not a pleasant experience.” Kaelis acts so convincingly that it steals my breath when he drops my hand from the crook of his elbow and wraps his arm around me, pulling me close.

Off-balance, I stabilize myself with a hand on his chest. I make the split-second decision to lean even closer to look like I’m leeching security and protection from him.

The movement hides the tiny tremors at his proximity.

For a dizzying second, I commit to the act; I am who he says I am and Kaelis—the void-born Prince of Oricalis—is really my star-crossed lover.

“Your highness…” Savan struggles to find words. Anger toward me wars with the instinct of self-preservation. “I do not know what lies she has spun, or how she has bewitched you, but—”

“You dare to claim that I, a Prince of Oricalis, could be ‘bewitched’ or otherwise led on? You dare to insult my intelligence and capability?”

“Of course not. However—”

Kaelis isn’t about to let Savan get a word in, and I find I’m loving it.

But I keep my expression as one of shock and confusion.

“Then what are you trying to claim, Savan? That she is some escaped convict from Halazar even though I have told you otherwise? You forget yourself. The halls of Arcana Academy are my domain; she is an initiate—under my control. And my future bride.” Kaelis looks toward me and his brow smooths with adoration, an expression I work to mirror.

His face hardens once more as he looks back to Savan.

“Unless you have undeniable proof otherwise, I would suggest you drop this claim and leave. I grow weary of your attempts to circumvent my authority.”

Savan deflates. The two other guards remain frozen at his sides, clearly unsure of how to proceed. The Knight of Swords continues to hover ominously before him. “I only mean to serve the crown.”

Kaelis leans forward ever so slightly and whispers, “I am the crown.”

Savan opens his mouth to object. It’s written on his face.

We can all feel it. The unspoken words, No, you’re not, hover in the air.

Kaelis is the second-born prince. His father, King Naethor Oricalis, is the crown.

Next in line is the firstborn prince, Ravin.

But here, now…there is only Kaelis and the immense amount of power he wields.

Standing in the stony corridors that are solely his domain.

Savan has the sense not to object further. He eases a step back, getting distance from Kaelis and me, and from the Knight of Swords that still spins threateningly before him.

“Forgive me, your highness. It seems that in my zeal to pursue the escapee, I was mistaken.” Every word from him is begrudging, and I can’t stop the satisfied smirk they draw upon my lips.

Savan’s eyes lock with mine at the sight of my smugness.

I quickly tilt my head toward Kaelis, trying to hide it.

“However, should I uncover proof, you will be the first I take it to, in order to defend the crown’s honor. ”

“See that I am. Now, get out of my academy before my hospitality is entirely exhausted.”

Savan dares to give me one last scathing look from the corners of his eyes. The guard turns on his heel and leaves, motioning for the others to follow him.

The Knight of Swords floats back into the pocket of Kaelis’s coat, slotting into an unseen deck.

“Do you see?” the prince asks, drawing my attention to him. He looms over me once more, arm still tightly around my waist. Somehow stronger than any shackle of Halazar. “I am the only one who can defend you.”

I shift, pulling myself from his person.

I glare up at him but say nothing. Prince Kaelis is defending me.

What an impossible thing. I can’t deny it after that display, but I know better than to think it has anything at all to do with any compassion for me.

This man was the one who let me rot in Halazar for a year…

only to pull me from the depths of that abyss when he had a use for me.

He truly is so loathsome.

His fingers wrap around my chin and force my face toward his. I ignore the pain from the burns. Kaelis tilts his head slightly to the side. Strands of hair fall across his face.

“Yes, I like this expression.”

I glower further, and his eyes shine even brighter in delight.

“Your tenacity will suit our ends.” “Our,” as if we have a mutual goal…

“Keep that fire, Clara.” He releases me and steps away, gesturing casually to the right.

“This way back to the main hall. I’ll go and ensure Glavstone’s minions see themselves out of here, or I’ll flay their skin from their bones, whichever suits me more. ”

Kaelis’s boots click down the hall with his departure.

I head in the opposite direction—back toward the main hall.

The feeling of his hand on me has the heavy dinner threatening to come back up.

I walk faster, as if I could escape the sensation of him.

But the prince is alive in this fortress.

It lives and breathes him. There’s nowhere I can flee that doesn’t remind me of my current predicament.

Still, my haste serves me. I return not a moment too soon. Mere minutes after I slip back through the door and rejoin the students and initiates, Professor Thornbrow moves to the front of the room, in the center of the faculty table.

“If the initiates will please follow me, I will show you to the dormitories and explain your first-year arrangements.”

Thornbrow leads us out through the doors and into a new passageway. Once more, I am stunned by the sheer scale of the place. Especially as the narrow passage quickly opens to a large inner conservatory—one I recognize from when Kaelis brought me from his tower. Except this time, I’m two floors up.

Not that I have much time to assess it. Luren materializes beside me.

“You missed the excitement,” Luren says.

“ Why did you miss the excitement?” Kel is at her side, as has been the case the whole night. She peers at me through narrowed eyes.

“Didn’t you see? She slipped out with Headmaster Kaelis. Her betrothed, if what the students are saying is to be believed,” Dristin says as he comes up on my left flank.

“It’s true, then?” Luren is far too eager about this. “You really are engaged to be married to Prince Kaelis?”

“They said the prince announced it himself,” Kel says.

“I am—we are.” I force a smile, thinking of the Halazar guards. Of Kaelis standing between me and them. Until I can find my own way out, they all have to think I love him. “What was the ‘excitement’?”

“Halazar guards were here.” Dristin removes his spectacles, wiping them on his shirt. “Apparently, someone escaped the prison.”

“I don’t believe it.” Kel shakes her head. “ No one escapes Halazar.”

“That’s what would make it so fabulously scandalous if it’s true,” Sorza chimes in from behind us.

We all glance over our shoulders and then make space as we’re walking.

Sorza tucks a strand of black silken hair behind her ear.

“Think of how powerful someone would have to be to escape.” I can’t shake the sensation that Sorza is looking right at me.

“Or well connected,” Dristin adds.

“I hope the person is found quickly. They must be dangerous if they were in Halazar, definitely not someone we’d want roaming free.” I try to sound like all the nobles I’ve hated. Ignoring how many harmless Arcanists are sent to Halazar to rot alongside true criminals.

“At least we don’t have anything to worry about in here. Prince Kaelis would never allow anything to happen on academy grounds.” Dristin seems reassured by this. Meanwhile, the notion has my insides squirming and my waist hot where Kaelis’s hand was.

As we walk, I hear chatter among the other initiates about the escapee and the Halazar guards.

There’s no way any of them could know, I work to reassure myself, even though I feel as if a broad target is painted on my back.

I worry my every step might give away that I’m not who I say I am.

I must convince them all I am Kaelis’s betrothed.