“Is Zach usually late?” I asked Prince Weldan, who stood next to me in his scarlet cloak.
Weldan shrugged. “He’s usually the first to arrive for training and missions. But even though he’s been in plenty of fights, he’s never been challenged like this before. He’s probably not taking it too seriously.”
“Too seriously?” Tulia leaned in. “Amias is the best swordsman we have. Zach better take it seriously or he’ll end up with his head on the grass and no body attached.”
Weldan’s lips twitched upward. “We’ll see.”
Tulia made a mocking sound just as all heads turned toward the castle steps, where a young page was descending with a yawning Zachariah trailing behind. Zach wore only a tunic and pants, no armor except wrist guards, and his sword at his side. When he reached the middle of the grounds, he called up, “My apologies! I hadn’t realized that dawn meant dawn.”
Master Gelloren smiled. “Good to have you join us, Zach. Would you like a moment to warm up?”
Zach began stretching, first his neck, then his arms and legs. “Not necessary,” he said.
He probably had just rolled out of bed. All he did was a few stretches and he was ready for a duel?
Master Gelloren nodded to me, and I made my way down the hill, my cloak and the hem of my dress rustling across the grass, collecting the morning dew.
“Good morning,” Zach said cheerfully when I reached him and Amias.
Though I’d seen him smile before, after witnessing the cold way he’d faced Amias and accepted his challenge, his smile felt different now. I was much more aware of it.
“Good morning,” I replied politely. “Do you need to hear the rules of the duel?”
“I’m afraid so. I’ve never been in a formal one like this before,” Zach said. Amias drew his sword.
“They’re simple. You will each receive a battle Kiss to increase your speed, strength, and skill. The prince who yields first, loses. Are you both ready?”
Zach nodded. Amias swung his sword, then hooked it back on his belt. He held out his hand. My last Kiss with a prince had been Kellian’s failed revival Kiss, and a brief twinge of fear pricked my insides that this one wouldn’t work, either.
I took his hand, and with a few steps, closed the distance between us. He bent his head down and Kissed me.
As his lips touched mine, the words of the battle spell—Silen proderr Natalya—echoed in my mind, and I felt my magic, beckoned by his Kiss, pull from my chest and leave me, rising up to meet Amias’s. His magic, rough and unyielding like unrefined steel, seized mine, and the familiar weakening sensation passed through me. Had it been a stronger spell, it would have cost me more, because Amias always drew so much of my magic. My other partners never acted so greedy. But at least I knew now that my Kiss was still as powerful as always.
Amias released me, his entire body glowing blue as the battle magic pulsed around him gently, enhancing his body and preparing him for the fight.
“As expected from your lips, Ivy, I am invincible. Imagine what we could produce in the bedchamber.” Amias gave a ravenous smirk.
Revulsion rose in me, turning to nausea. I hated the way Amias looked at me as if I was just a power arsenal, but his sexual innuendos were the worst. As if I would actually agree to lying with him. I prayed that when I was finally sent to Freida he would not become the father of any of my children.
It was with that thought I realized I was rooting for Zach, a complete stranger and the son of a heretic. Lesser of two evils, I supposed.
I turned to Zach, studying him for the second time. I recalled my sister’s words—I think he’s gorgeous. I wouldn’t have said “gorgeous,” but he was good-looking. Originally he seemed lanky, but he was actually lithe and strong, toned but not burdened by huge muscles that would slow him down. His face, without his goofy smile, was slim, all angles—attractive but not in an obvious pretty-boy way.
Before I’d gotten close, he grabbed my shoulder. “No enhancement required, but thank you.”
I blinked. “What?”
Zach glanced at the sunrise. Dawn was now pouring over the land like spilled honey, slow, sweet, and shiny. In the distance, the Myrial bells began to chime. “I won’t be needing your Kiss, princess.”
“Don’t be daft.” I leaned forward.
He leaned backward. “Again, not to offend, but I can beat him without your magic.”
“You’re really serious, aren’t you?”
Zach just smiled at me.
Anger blew up inside me like dwarven liquor tossed in a fire. Such arrogance! Did he truly think he was good enough to stand up to my magic? Without aid?
Folding my arms, I stepped away. “You could easily die. You’ll be of no use to us then.”
Zach chuckled. “Your concern is flattering, Your Highness, but I’ll be fine.”
As I returned to the Council members, a murmur rippled through the crowd.
“Ivy, what is the meaning of this?” my grandfather called from his chair.
“He does not wish for a Kiss, Your Majesty,” I answered.
“He does not—that’s ridiculous!”
“He would not accept it.” Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Weldan lift his eyes skyward, as if he’d expected this.
Amias, still pulsing blue with my magic, watched the Council, waiting their approval. Was this even allowed?
“We cannot force it on him,” King Helios said, then gestured to the trumpeter. The boy blew his horn, signaling the start of the duel.
Amias withdrew his sword and held it aloft in front of him. The blue haze of my magic engulfing him swallowed up the blade as well.
I glanced at Zach. He had drawn his sword but held it casually at his side.
Surely Amias wouldn’t kill him? No, Master Gelloren would stop him before that happened. But I did know this: there was no way he could win. Our partnership would be over before it had begun.
Amias started for him, running across the grass, leaving a trail of blue mist. He was fast with my magic, inhumanly so. And strong, too—like a bull charging its enemy.
Zach didn’t move. Even when Amias was only five feet away, Zach stood still. Seconds before Amias brought his sword down, Zach pivoted in a sharp turn and slammed the pommel of his sword into the back of Amias’s head. Amias went down, his face diving into the ground.
The crowd gasped and many cried out. I clenched my fists, my lips parting in amazement.
Any regular person sustaining a blow like that wouldn’t be able to get up, at least not right away, but Amias was protected by my magic. He picked himself up, spitting grass, and turned back to Zach. Even from this distance I could hear the growl rip through his throat like a wild animal. He went for Zach again, the aura around him glowing brighter.
An upward cut. A dodge from Zach. A sideways turn and slash, then Zach finally let his blade meet Amias’s. The weight had to be intense. With the magical strength Amias possessed, it must’ve been like holding against the weight of a griffin. Shockingly, Zach held strong. Then he slammed his knee up into his opponent’s gut. Amias choked and doubled over. Zach hit the hilt of his sword into Amias’s head, and he again went down.
Far from defeated, Amias lumbered to his feet, swinging at Zach’s shins. Zach, with one hand on Amias’s shoulder, jumped and flipped over his foe’s back and landed behind, kicking Amias back to the grass. Keeping his boot on Amias’s back and his sword pointed to Amias’s throat, he said, “Yield.”
Amias let out a roar, and the glowing mist raged into blue flames. He pushed up from the ground, causing Zach to teeter off-balance. Amias slashed outward, and Zach only had time to throw his own sword up in defense. But the strength of my magic was too much—it sent Zach flying backward into the dirt.