There was a hushed silence as Darren turned back to face the crowd. I lost my breath. Blayne might wear the heir’s crown, but Darren was the one with power. Whatever I might think of him, the prince had earned that robe.
Darren returned to his seat beside Priscilla. I waited with bated breath. Who would Byron name next? The only other male in our faction or the future princess of Jerar? I was sure he wanted to name Ray, but the master would not be so quick as to snub a girl of great influence.
Ella nudged me with her arm. “Ryiah.”
“Shhh.” I nudged her back. “I’m trying to hear who he picks.”
“Byron just called your name!”
“You’re joking.”
“No. I’m not.” She jerked her chin to point in the direction of the throne.
All the blood rushed from my face as I realized she was telling the truth. The training master was glowering at me from his position beside the king. I hastily pulled myself off the cold marble floor and raced over to stand before the throne. I kneeled before King Lucius, Prince Blayne, and Master Byron.
“Ryiah of Demsh’aa, I award you second rank for your—” The man paused uncomfortably. “—your outstanding apprenticeship. I’d be a fool to ignore power when I see it, even if you are a—” He coughed. “—a woman. Please stand and accept your new status as a second-rank mage of Combat.”
I stood, hardly conscious that I was sobbing. I only realized it when the servant handing me my robe touched the side of my face and showed me my tears. “Not many mages cry,” she told me kindly, “but I like to think it’s the best of them that do.” I nodded, wetness staining my cheeks, and then let her help me with my robe.
Then I turned back to face my audience. I could hardly see straight, tears were blocking most of my vision, and by the time I reached my seat, my sight had cleared just enough for me to find my place beside Ella.
“You blubbering mess,” she teased, “you are making a fool of yourself.”
“I d-don’t care.” And it was true. I was smiling so hard my face hurt.
Master Byron called Ella next—much to our mutual shock. The girl almost screamed when he said it. And then it was time for Ray.
Priscilla was last. When the dark-haired beauty left the podium, she was seething, anger piercing the gaze of any person foolish enough to meet her eyes.
I, for one, had trouble containing my glee.
The herald called for the newly ascended mages to take the ceremonial banquet in the king’s dining hall. Having never before partaken in the meal—apprentices were always directed to the ballroom with the rest of the visiting mages and court—I was eager to see how it transpired. Only the Council of Magic and the king’s family were allowed to dine with us.
I took my seat between Ella and Alex. Within seconds the room had filled with the rest of our year, chattering on in quiet but excited voices as they found their place along the table. At the very front sat the three Colored Robes, King Lucius, and Prince Blayne.
I did a double take when I realized who was still missing.
Two seats down from me, I heard Priscilla complaining to one of Ruth’s factionmates. “I told him not to go anywhere, but did he listen to me? Of course not. Well, when Blayne finds out he is off with that trollop again—”
The chamber door swung open to reveal the non-heir and Princess Shinako clinging steadfastly to his arm. My pulse stopped. Dear gods, no. I was so close to being free of him. Couldn’t he just wait until tomorrow to proclaim his love for her? Even on my happiest day, he’d found a way to ruin it.
King Lucius looked up at his son and the crown princess of the Borea Isles, startled. Blayne clutched his wine goblet, his face tight with rage.
Darren cleared his throat loudly. “Everyone, please stay where you are.” The whole room fell silent. “Princess Shinako and I have an announcement to make, and I want all of you to bear witness.”
No. No. No. Why is he doing this now? My eyes sought Darren’s, but his attention was focused on the king.
“Father.” The prince took a deep breath. “You promised if I secured a dowry equal to Priscilla of Langli, I would be free to break off my current engagement in favor of that opportunity. You have said that Jerar is our utmost concern, and its strength triumphs all.”
Priscilla’s face went white as a sheet.
Prince Blayne pushed back his chair, spitting wine as he cried, “He did not give you permission to steal my future wife, you ungrateful, power-mad—”
Darren held up his hand. “I am not stealing her, brother.”
Blayne sat down with a suspicious glare. “Then what is the meaning of this ridiculous speech?”
“Princess Shinako and her father have been kind enough to guarantee us the sum of her dowry and a pledge of support—equal to what the two of you would receive once wed—in exchange for the same pledge from us and a dissolution of your intended marriage. We received a signed letter from Emperor Liang just this morning.”
“Father, this is madness!” Blayne turned to the king in horror. “Tell him to put an end to this!”
The king scowled at his oldest. “Let him speak, Blayne. I must admit even I am intrigued.”
“Not only have I secured Jerar more wealth than any daughter of Langli, I have also given my dearest brother the opportunity to marry a princess from Pythus and amass an even greater dowry and support for this great country.”
“The king of Pythus would never marry one of his daughters to me!” Blayne’s face was as red as his venison.
“Perhaps you haven’t tried hard enough to please him.” Darren didn’t look perturbed.
“Father!”
“Silence, Blayne!” the king snapped. “Your brother has done a great thing for us. Foolish, but great. I will not be so blind as to deny it would benefit us greatly, and you most of all.” The man turned to Darren. “Very well, your previous engagement has been ceded in favor of this new proposal. Pending the signed pledge, of course.”
The door slammed shut. Priscilla of Langli had just left the room.
The king chuckled and indicated for Darren and Shinako to take a seat.
“That is not all, Father.”
The king stopped laughing to stare at his son, his eyes narrowing. “Isn’t it?” His tone held a warning.
“No. It’s not.”
My heart began to slam against my chest so loud and so fast I was sure the whole room could hear it.
Darren’s eyes found mine.
My fork clattered to the floor.
“I wish to secure a new engagement with the dowry Princess Shinako has so generously bestowed.”
“I gave you what you wanted.” The king’s eyes were furious. “You are free of that Langli girl. Anything more and you have overstepped your—”
“I wish to marry Mage Ryiah of Demsh’aa.”
Several people exclaimed at once. My brother choked on his water. Ella grabbed my arm. The king clutched his knife so tightly his knuckles were white.
“Absolutely not!”
I just sat there, motionless. This isn’t real. It can’t be real. It’s a dream. I watched Darren, standing there in front of his father with his back erect.
“I believe Master Byron just deemed Ryiah one of the most powerful mages in this room,” Darren said slowly, “and if we all know Byron, he is nothing if not stingy in his praise where women are concerned.”
The training master’s face went up in flames. Somehow I knew his praise was anything but voluntary.
“In fact, it was Shina, excuse me, Princess Shinako’s only stipulation that the dowry she so generously bestows go to Mage Ryiah specifically, was it not?”
The princess nodded demurely, smiling. “Yes, it is the least I can do. Darren and I are good friends. Nothing would please me more than his happiness.”
“So you see, Father, there is absolutely no one who would benefit me—or Jerar—more than Ryiah of Demsh’aa. You said strength triumphs all, and Ryiah’s dowry and
status would certainly bring the Crown strength.” Darren pulled out a scroll tucked into the sleeve of his robe. “Your advisors have already given this union their full blessing. Here is a letter stating their support…”
“This is ridiculous!” Blayne shrieked. “Father, do not let him marry that lowborn!”
“Your Majesty.” Marius stood with the two Colored Robes at his side. “The Council of Magic would be in full support of this union. We think it a very wise proposal.”
The king stood, fists clenched. When he finally spoke, it was strained and full of unspoken rage. “Then it appears this girl is indeed Jerar’s best interest.” The man turned to his youngest. “Congratulations, my son, on your new betrothed.”
King Lucius strode out of the room without another word.
THE MOMENT the king and his heir departed, the room became chaos. I flew out of my chair, slamming the door behind me as I tore into the hallway beyond. My heart was beating so fast I was afraid my ribs would explode. I could barely breathe; air was coming out of my lungs in quick, choking gasps.
I hunched over, leaning against the side of the wall while the room rose and fell all around me in a frenzied whirl. I stayed there for a couple of minutes, breathing in and out, in and out, until the room began to seem a bit more static.
The door opened and closed behind me.
I turned and saw Darren standing there. “I was looking for you.”
When I didn’t reply, he made himself speak.
“I know you are mad at me.” The prince took a step forward and then stopped himself. His eyes found mine, and he took a deep breath. “If you’ll let me explain—”
“You lied to me.”
“I did.” His gaze didn’t waver. “I lied, and I lied, and I lied to you. Over and over. I know what I did. I know what I said. I wanted to make you hate me.”
“But why?”
“Why, Ryiah?” Darren made a frustrated sound. “Because what kind of prince would I be if I let my love for a lowborn blind me from the fate of my country?”
A lowborn? Tears stung my eyes and I turned away, biting back a sob.
Darren’s hand clamped down on my arm, and he spun me around, eyes blazing. “I needed to do the right thing.” His face was flushed. “Don’t you see, Ryiah? I would have been exactly what you accused me of—a coward—if I’d let my love for you blind me from what has been happening all around us! I know you despise me for what I did, but when I went to my father that day, he told me that we were going to war with Caltoth. That hundreds of our men were going to die, and if I chose to marry for love over wealth, I’d be ensuring millions more.” He cursed. “He was right. I couldn’t marry you without a dowry, not unless I wanted people like Caine and Eve to die every day, all so I can have a bit of selfishness.”
I shoved him away. “But you never told me, Darren! You made me hate you!”
Darren caught my hand in his, and I trembled. “I had to.” His voice was hoarse.
“Ryiah, I was willing to jeopardize the fate of this country just for a chance to be near you. I needed you to hate me, because it was the only way I could do the right thing.”
“I thought you were in love with Princess Shinako. Or that you were trying to impress your father so he’d make you his heir.” I could barely get the words out.
“So did my brother. So did everyone.” Darren’s laugh was bitter.
My hand fell away and I took a step back, shaking. I had cried myself to sleep for the good part of two years. My heart had shattered every time he looked at her.
Darren said the next words so quietly I almost missed them. “I kept telling myself it was better than them assuming the alternative.”
“What was the alternative?”
“That I had never gotten over you.” Darren slammed his fist against the wall. “That I was still madly in love with a girl who hated me by sight. That Shina loathed my brother and cared for a young man in her home country. That we were both trapped in arranged marriages, wanting nothing more than to find a way out. That every time I fought with you, I was really fighting myself, wanting nothing more than to grab you and kiss you and tell you that it was all a mistake. That I missed my best friend and the taste of your lips, and every night that I dreamed, it was only ever of your face.”
My heart slammed across my ribs, and I couldn’t seem to breathe.
His eyes found mine. “Ryiah…”
I forced myself to speak. “You and Shina planned this?”
“We grew up together. I knew she hated my brother. She always has. When she arrived for her engagement and told me she couldn’t stand the thought of marrying Blayne, I told her about you. The two of us were miserable. At first we just shared in our misery that we had to marry for duty, but then it occurred to me that maybe the gods had intervened on our behalf. The emperor wanted a new treaty with Jerar—he knows war is coming, but who was to say the treaty had to be from an arranged marriage? All my father ever cared about was a dowry. It took us a while to convince the princess’s father. We had to be careful in our correspondence, but when I finally returned home after the battle in Ferren’s Keep, Shina pulled me aside to tell me he’d finally agreed. We still had to get my father’s advisors to agree to his letter, but it wasn’t that hard when any fool could see it would only bring Jerar more wealth than before.”
Darren paused. “I knew we would have to wait for the ascension. We needed to have the Council present, and until a few days ago, they’d been busy along the northern border, meeting with local commanders and their regiment to make sure our defenses were sound after the incident at Ferren’s Keep.”
“After you started talking to Shina,” I said quietly, “why didn’t you say anything to me?”
Darren looked away. “I wanted to tell you, Ryiah, but after everything I’d put you through, I couldn’t bring myself to say it…. Because what if it didn’t work?” He swallowed. “And then that day at the Academy, you told me you hated me. You wouldn’t even look at me.”
“I couldn’t.” The words were barely a whisper.
“I believed you.” Darren’s voice cracked. “I started to think you were better off if I left you alone. But then that day at Ferren’s Keep, you saw what I was trying to do and you stopped me. You hated me, you had no reason to let me live, and you still wouldn’t let me die—even if it would save you. I kept thinking about that when I left for Devon. I thought maybe I’d been wrong. That you didn’t hate me.”
I held my breath as Darren stepped right in front of me. “That maybe you still might love me.” His hand found mine. It was shaking. We both were.
“Because I still love you,” he whispered desperately.
“I…” I swallowed. “I never stopped. I wanted to.” I was rambling now. “I hated myself that I couldn’t… That I wasn’t strong enough, that I—”
Darren pulled me to him, and the rest of my words fell to the floor.
He kissed me.
And as he did, I smelled pine and cloves.
I tasted cinnamon.
There was only one word to describe it. One word that came rushing back after all of this time.
Home.
How could I have forgotten?
Darren was home.
WHEN WE FINALLY BROKE FOR air, the prince was grinning.
“Who would have thought,” he teased, “that the girl who tried to get me kicked out of the Academy—”
“That was Ella!” I shoved Darren, and he caught my hands in his.
“It was both of you.” His smile was wicked. “As I was saying, this girl who tried to get me kicked out of the Academy, this girl who tried to light me on fire, this lowborn girl I absolutely couldn’t stand—”
I scoffed. “Please! You insulted me, mocked me, tricked me, lied to me—”
Darren’s hand lightly clamped over my mouth so that the rest of my speech was muffled.
His eyes found mine. “Let me finish, love.”
My heart skipped a beat.
“That somehow, this insufferable girl would become the one person I am forever, hopelessly, madly drawn to against my will and possibly even my better judgment.”
I smiled faintly. “I don’t think either of us had a choice in the matter.”
“The higher powers are probably having a good laugh at our expense.” Darren touched the side of my face, eyes gleaming. “Though perhaps they are right about this one.”
I started to lean forward and paused. “Wait. Does this mean you were behind my ranking tonight?” My heart stopped. It was him. Of course it was Darren. I should’ve known Byron would never give me second rank willingly.
Darren’s expression was amused. “I can assure you I had nothing to do with it. I was as surprised as you were—not that you didn’t deserve it, of course, but that Byron could move past his… er, difficulties where you are concerned.” He paused, and then a devious smile spread across his face as he caught sight of someone behind me. “But I bet I know who did.”
“Who?” The only person I could think of was Commander Nyx, and she was still north at the keep. There was also considerable doubt that a woman would ever be able to influence a man whose reputation was built on a hatred of their gender.
“Why don’t you see for yourself?”
I spun around and found myself face to face with none other than the Black Mage himself, Marius.
“Hello, Mage Ryiah,” the man said smoothly. “Did I not tell you we would talk again? Congratulations on your engagement, if I might add.”
“It was you,” I stammered. “You convinced Byron to rank me second?”
“I merely reminded your headstrong master what a fool he would look should a woman win the next Candidacy… I must say I’m sorry I hadn’t corrected his egregious bias sooner, but as it is with most politics, I am slow to catch on.” The gold hoop hanging from his ear glimmered, dancing off the windowpanes behind us. “As to second rank, well, my dear, he did that all on his own. I suspect the Ferren’s Keep commander would’ve made his life difficult if he had shunned a northern hero.”
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