Page 46

The next morning, Kaelis is at breakfast. For once. Of course he makes it a point to be here today.

And I make it a point not to look at him.

Running again, Clara? I can almost hear him purr into my ear as I finish eating as quickly as I can and make my way to wielding. My feet pick up the pace despite myself. As if my body is trying to sabotage me by proving even the phantom of him right.

“Are you okay?” Sorza asks.

“I hear she had a busy night.” Dristin’s tone is harmless, but I’m fighting a scarlet flush anyway. If Dristin of all people heard…

I look to Luren. “Word got around already?”

“It always does.” She offers me an apologetic smile.

“I thought students couldn’t leave the academy,” I mumble.

“ You left.” Dristin adjusts his spectacles, sounding mildly offended that he didn’t get to as well.

“Well, yes, but…” I fumble in search of the right words.

“But you’re a long-lost noble who’s engaged to a prince; clearly, exceptions can be made,” Luren finishes and hooks her arm with mine, patting me as if to say, It’s all right.

“Exceptions can be made to lock lips with Kaelis in a secluded gallery, I hear,” Kel adds with a tiny, self-satisfied smirk.

I can’t tell if I’m relieved that part of the story has made it around…or if I’m so mortified at the idea of people knowing I kissed Kaelis that I want the floor to open and swallow me whole.

“The same exceptions that are made for almost all highborn nobles,” Dristin murmurs.

Luren ignores the rest of them. “Was the soiree fun, at least?”

“It was fine.”

“So Kaelis isn’t good in bed?” Kel remarks dryly.

“I never said anything of the sort,” I object hastily.

“Then you have slept with him.” Kel regards me from the corners of her eyes, looking rather pleased with herself for forcing the omission from me.

“A lady doesn’t tell.” I huff and look ahead, knowing it’s probably for the best I’m fueling the gossipmongers with tidbits beneficial to the story Kaelis and I need to sell…But I still can’t stand it.

As we walk to class, I don’t miss the glances and whispers.

Kaelis’s and my showing has run rampant.

I would’ve hoped that having new fodder to gossip over would’ve turned mentions of a Halazar escapee into old news.

Ideally forgotten. Though that doesn’t seem to be the case, as new whispers circulate about even that.

The soiree did nothing but add fuel to the rumor fires.

Class can’t come fast enough.

Vaduin wears a long coat today, patched at the elbows as if worn through from years of leaning against his desk.

He ushers us all into our seats and launches into his lecture on the nuances of wielding the Aces—how each one can cast a small elemental feat, and the variety of ways in which these elemental magics can be applied.

“Lady Clara Redwin”—he motions to the center of the room—“would you care to demonstrate?”

The room suddenly grows colder as all eyes swing to me. I stand. “Which Ace would you like me to use?”

“The Three of Swords Trials aren’t that far off.”

“One hundred twenty nights away,” Sorza murmurs.

If Thornbrow heard, he ignores it. “Why not choose the card of the house you will be seeking to join?”

If I hadn’t done so many back-alley deals and honed my face into giving nothing away, I would’ve narrowed my eyes at the professor. Declaring my intention for a house, this early, is a dangerous thing. It could close doors prematurely to potentially necessary opportunities.

“Very well.” I fold my arms, making it a point to show that I summon the card without a single flick of my fingers. In my past life, Wands had always been my preference, but, here, I think Swords will be what I can depend on to carry me through.

The card glows, lengthening into a crescent of light and shadow. It rushes forward, toward Vaduin. The dark hair on the left side of his head barely moves, followed promptly by a gust battering the training dummies in the back of the room.

Eza snorts. He leans toward Alor—I’ve noticed over the past weeks that the two are closer than I’d like. “Is that it?”

She turns to him, and I can’t see what look they give each other or hear what they might be saying.

But not a second later, the center training dummy’s head silently slides off its neck. It falls to the floor with a dull foop. Straw stuffing scatters. The room is utterly silenced.

“Very good.” Though Thornbrow doesn’t sound impressed in the slightest. Not that I needed him to be. Not that I need any of them tobe.

I sit, and Thornbrow resumes his instruction.

When the bell tolls a few hours later and everyone begins to gather their things, Alor wastes no time in approaching me.

I acknowledge her with a glance. Since we arrived at the academy, we’ve yet to speak more than a few words to each other.

My nighttime training has ensured our paths very rarely cross.

And her still sleeping with her dagger tells me all I need to know. She’s not here to make friends, either.

“There are only two spots in House Swords,” she says matter-of-factly.

“One of them is mine, and the other will be Eza’s.

” I say nothing and continue packing my things.

But what I want to ask is why in the Twenty she’s sticking her neck out for Eza, of all people.

Probably as simple as nobles looking out for nobles, and that explanation makes my blood boil.

“So there is little point in making an attempt for one.”

My eyes flick in her direction again, and I pause briefly to give her an incredulous look. It has the effect I wanted. She stands a little taller, as if bracing herself against an oncoming attack, even though I’ve hardly moved. I smile faintly, and this seems to only annoy her more.

“I’m trying to be helpful.” Her voice lowers as she leans in.

“You might be a noble, maybe even a High Lady once you’ve graduated…

if the king carves out Hermit’s old lands from the lords and ladies he parceled it to on their demise.

” Her tone betrays skepticism that such a thing will happen and, if it does, that it’d probably be a bad idea.

Even I can reason that the High Lords and Ladies wouldn’t be too keen on giving up land.

“But let’s not lie to ourselves…Even then, you’ll be the High Lady of a giant hole in the ground. ”

I almost falter at that, the Starcrossed Club flashing before my eyes. Did Kaelis have something to do with it despite claiming otherwise? If he already annihilated a clan by reducing it to nothing…what’s to say he didn’t do it to the club?

“Those in House Swords are cunning; they’re not going to pick someone who doesn’t offer a tactical benefit to them,” Alor continues, oblivious to the sudden turmoil swirling in me.

“Since you’re new to the world of the nobility, let me emphasize that there are ways things are done and times that we step aside and out of each other’s way. ”

I hum, making a show of contemplating her advice, as if she really has imparted to me some profound secret.

“To make sure I have this right…you’re telling me that you’re the sort of person—that your sister is the sort of person—who is fine with being accepted into a house through nepotism rather than on your own merits? ”

“Keep my sister out of this.” Her voice sharpens, and the remaining initiates who have yet to filter out to lunch halt in their tracks.

“I’m merely trying to understand, since you are so kindly educating me.

” I smile thinly. “As you are the sister to the King of House Swords, and a high-ranking member of the prestigious, noble Clan Tower, I would’ve assumed that you would want to prove yourself to your peers and to your family.

That your noble sister would want that as well.

That you’d accept nothing less than the best. And, to that end, neither of you would be afraid of a challenge. ”

Alor leans forward. I don’t move back at all. If Kaelis can’t intimidate me, she won’t. “You should watch your tongue.”

“Threats aren’t very befitting of a lady.” I tsk.

“How—”

“Let me teach you something, Lady Alor.” I slowly stand.

“I might be a recent noble. I might deeply appreciate your kind assistance in trying to guide me.” I let my tone do the work of conveying everything I’m not saying overtly.

“But don’t forget that because I am ‘new,’ I didn’t grow up with the same privileges as you.

I grew up in a world where if you threaten someone, it has consequences.

So be really sure you want to make me your enemy before you say another word. I know where you sleep, after all.”

“I am not trying to be your enemy,” she whispers.

“Well, you’re not doing a good job of it.” I notice the shifting expressions on the other initiates’ faces. I seem to have gained some respect with the common-born…and lost some with the nobles. But I’m too far in now to back down. Not that I would, anyway, not when Eza is approaching.

“Need help convincing this one to show some respect?” Eza runs a hand through his perpetually wild, nearly white tresses.

“No.” Alor eases away. “It’s not worth our time.”

I can’t help but snort.

“What?” Eza narrows his eyes.

“Leave it, Eza.” Alor’s encouragement is ignored.

“I think it’s adorable how close you two are,” I lie. She spoke to him like a dog. All right, perhaps Alor isn’t all bad. “I had no idea.”