My heart thumped harder when she straightened and boldly trailed a finger along his forearm.
“Would you care to train with me, my prince? We’ve been encouraged by Sir Featherton to practice within these training rooms in preparation for the first test. Since it’s been postponed,”—she cast a scathing glance my way—“I thought it might be fun to pass the time sparring with one another, and I’ve never trained with a male as powerful as you. It would be most rewarding if you tested me using your skills.”
A flash of fire raced through my veins, zapping everything in its path when her finger trailed lower, along his stomach and toward his—
“Lady Seary!” Matron Olsander barked. “Control your affinities. Open your Outlets this instant!”
Georgyanna cast me a disdainful glare before she turned back to the prince.
“Is she the new one?” Georgyanna pouted prettily even though her scathing glance only a second ago told me she knew exactly who I was. “Such a pity that she has no wings. Are you sure she’s not a defective? I heard she was considered that for many winters.”
The prince raised an eyebrow. “She’s not a defective, and I suggest you concentrate on your own training and not those of others, Lady Endalaver.”
“Oh, my prince.” She swatted his arm playfully. “Please call me Georgyanna. No need for such formality, especially during our courtship. Wouldn’t you agree?”
She took another step closer to him and stood only inches away, her meaning clear as she glanced up at him through her lashes while running her finger along him again. Her movements were knowing and practiced, as though she were a true courtesan and had an affinity in seduction.
Blessed Mother, did such an affinity exist? Surely not.
But I didn’t fully understand the complexities of affinities, and if I remembered correctly, one of Georgyanna’s affinities was manipulation, which she seemed actively practicing at this very second given the slight trace of oily magic swimming in the air. That hadn’t been there before she arrived.
Shuddering, I forced my attention away from her. The other two females, Meegana and Beatrice, still stood near the door. They shot the prince and Georgyanna curious glances before Nuwin waved toward the wall.
“Shall we, ladies?” The other males followed the young prince as he led the females across the stone floor. Everyone ignored me except for Michas.
The young lord gave me a mischievous glance when he passed, then dipped his head in acknowledgment.
I returned the gesture, but my cheeks flamed when all of them began casting their magic and showing off their affinities as they laughed and teased one another, making their “training” session look more like a courtship ball filled with bursting egos.
Lady Beatrice Leafton was the tallest of the three females and had the most athletic build. She seemed very practiced within her affinities. She spun around the room, weaving her hands through the air as objects lifted and flew under her telekinetic command, and every time her wings flexed, I thought she would take flight, but instead, the stones levitated her in a combination of telekinetic and elemental power.
Lady Meegana Ockson, while not as quick to show off her skills as Lady Leafton, didn’t seem any less capable. She conjured water from the air, pulling the particles together to form at her command, then gave playful splashes to those around her. And under Nuwin’s insistence, she shifted into her colantha form, the large jungle cat in complete contradiction to the sweet, shy side she’d exuded earlier.
The males laughed and showed off their skills as well, all of the elements at play between them along with various tactile, sensory, and emotional affinities. One of them must have had a seduction affinity. Such a thing had to exist because something hot washed over my skin, and then my nether regions were warming and craving.
“Blessed Mother Above and Below,” I whispered. How in the realm do I compete with this kind of power? I cut a glance toward the crown prince, but Lady Endalaver had sunk her manipulative claws into him so deeply that she still had him cornered in the room.
A rush of lust and rage shot through me simultaneously when someone’s seduction affinity hit me again.
Matron Olsander gave a frustrated sigh. “Lady Seary, you shall need to concentrate despite this interruption.” She again smacked me upside the head, the pain briefly releasing me from whichever male held the seduction affinity, before she barked sharply, “Pay no attention to them as we begin your next lesson. You’re falling prey to their affinities since you have no Shield in place.” She clucked her tongue. “You have much to learn.”
I rubbed my head, my cheeks warming again, but I tried to heed her warning as I valiantly attempted to ignore the triumphant glances from Georgyanna and the fluttering giggles from the other two.
But my lack of control and juvenile attempts at learning my affinities were on full display during my next lesson, which had my neck flushing and me wishing I could sink through the floor.
“How in the realm is she going to pass any of the tests?” Lady Meegana Ockson whispered. She was the smallest of the three, with short hair that curled at the ends. She’d shed her colantha form and had since returned to her fairy body, but I didn’t bristle under her comment since her question sounded genuinely curious versus scornful.
Lady Beatrice Leafton shrugged and held her hand out for one of the spears. It floated toward her. “I haven’t the faintest idea, Meegana, but if she doesn’t learn the basics by the time the tests start, she’s bound to come in last.”
Shame burned through me again. It was such an old, unwelcome friend, but a companion who’d been at my side my entire life.
And to think I’d felt nothing but joy and confidence this morning when the prince had showed me the field in Harrivee. For that brief moment, I’d felt special. Powerful. But it soon became apparent to me and everyone else in this room that I was the weakest of them all despite what Prince Norivun claimed I would be.
And that only meant one thing—there was no way in this realm or the next that I could ever win the Rising Queen Trial, which meant I was destined for marriage with whoever the king chose for me unless the prince was able to stop him, or Cailis and I escaped.
CHAPTER 4