Clayton smiled. “I’ll be saving you a dance,” he assured me. A moment later he was gone, and I was left to myself with four half-empty plates of food.
I watched the dance play out in front of me.
“How is it that a beautiful girl finds herself alone with more food than even Sir Piers could eat?”
I started. To my right was a young man not much older than myself. He had short, curly brown hair and hazel-green eyes. They were crinkled with silent laughter.
Whether it was the festivities or my intuition, I liked the stranger immediately.
He wasn’t hard to look at either. Not hard at all. I felt a wave of gutsiness.
“I find myself alone,” I replied shamelessly, “because no one has captivated my interest.”
“Yes.” The stranger smiled. “I can see that…The question now is whether I have?”
“I wouldn’t know. Perhaps you should keep me company, so I can find out.”
He laughed. “Fair enough.” Taking a seat beside me, he turned to watch the dancers.
After a couple moments of silence I gave up waiting. “Are you one of the apprentice mages?”
His smile was crooked. “Yes, I’m a second-year. Are you going to ask me which faction?”
I studied him, eyeing the scar on his left cheek and the burn marks on both his palms. “Combat.”
He laughed easily. “That would make you beautiful and clever. Not too many of those here tonight.”
I swatted away his pretty words with the flip of a hand, though it was more a clumsy swipe.
He caught my wrist and leaned closer. “What is your name, girl-of-many-talents?”
I found myself staring into the young man’s eyes, unable to look away. There was something about them, something warm and safe that reminded me of flying. Whenever I had looked to Darren, the non-heir had made me feel as though I were falling, plummeting to the depths of a dark, perilous pit. This stranger made me feel reckless too, but in a fun, spirited, wanted sort of way. I liked it. I liked him.
“Ryiah,” I said.
“Ryiah,” the stranger repeated. “Well, Ryiah, I am Ian.” He chuckled and let go of my hand to gesture dismissively at our surroundings. “So what do you think of the Academy? Is it everything you hoped it’d be?”
I made a face.
“I thought so.” Ian grinned. “Piers and Barclae have that effect on people.”
I glanced at him, “Was it so bad for you?”
He shivered dramatically. “It was a terrible time,” the apprentice admitted. “It usually is for lowborns. Nobody actually expects us to stay beyond the first month.” He laughed loudly. “But I made sure to prove them wrong.”
I sighed. “I am still trying.”
He grinned. “Surely you are not that bad.”
I snorted.
“A lot can change in the time you have left.”
“I’ve only got five more months.”
“You’d be surprised.”
I laughed. “The only way I’ll win this thing is by luck.”
“May I?”
Before I could react Ian had snatched my palm and brought it to his lips with a mischievous smile. He kissed it lightly. My insides danced.
“I have been told my kiss brings good luck,” Ian said wickedly.
I snatched my hand away, albeit regretfully. The boy was clearly the best part of my evening. “You must have kissed a lot of girls to get that kind of reputation.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t make the gesture any less sincere.”
“I—” I began, flustered. I didn’t know whether or not to take the charming flirt seriously.
” The lady does not welcome your advances!”
I turned around to find Clayton glaring venomously at my new neighbor.
“Clay, it’s okay—” I began.
Clayton’s eyes never left the apprentice’s face. “You need to leave.
Now.”
“I will leave when the lady wants me to leave.” Ian’s eyes met mine. Who is your crazy friend?
“Clayton,” I tried again, a tinge irritated by my friend’s overzealous approach. “I am fine, really. Ian’s intentions are harmless…”
Ian gave Clayton a wolfish smirk. “I never play at matters of the heart.”
I shot Ian a glare that he missed as Clayton turned a stormy red.
“You’d rather sit here talking to this charmer than dance with me?” Clayton sputtered.
“Can you really blame her?” Ian drawled. “She can’t help it if you are not that interesting.”
Tensions were growing, and I made a fast decision to leave before things became worse. I really wanted to stay and get to know Ian better, but with my overprotective friend and my brother soon to follow, it seemed best to head out before one of the boys did something stupid. Alex was levelheaded in almost everything, but his sister’s romances had never been something he took to rationally. Even if he was the biggest flirt I knew when it came to women.
Grabbing my cloak, I regarded my audience coolly. “You two can continue your lovely chat. I am going to get some fresh air.”
“Are you sure you don’t want company?” Ian grinned.
“I’m sure.” I wasn’t, but it was best not to let him know. I wasn’t sure I wanted to get mixed up with a flirt. Had I not watched my brother break heart after heart in Demsh’aa?