Frowning, I calmed my magic and let my air release me as I dropped to the sand.
The second I came in contact with land, a jolt of pure electricity zinged along my soles. I screamed in pain as my entire body seized. Electric currents coursed through me, burning me from the inside out.
Oh gods!
A roar of fury came from Prince Norivun as his wings flexed, and a cruel smile spread across Georgyanna’s lips.
No, no, no.
I’d relaxed my magic too much. I’d let my protective Shield down just enough for Georgyanna’s magic to take hold.
Before I could react, the Kroravee native plucked the crown from my electrified fingertips as her lips widened in a gleeful smile.
She gave me her back and flounced toward the king.
I burst through her magic and lunged toward her, but I was too late.
Bowing low, she lifted the crown to King Novakin.
“Your Majesty, may I present you with the trinket that was waiting at the bottom of the sea. I do believe this makes me the winner of test two.”
CHAPTER 28
Taberitha Wormiful grinned as I sputtered, “But, she can’t . . . I mean, how can she do that!” Water dripped from my clothes, and hair stuck to my cheeks while my chest heaved.
Norivun leveled a deadly scowl at Georgyanna just as Beatrice appeared at the top of her earthen tunnel, and Meegana shot out of the water and landed on the beach only feet from me.
But King Novakin only gave a low laugh and accepted the crown from Georgyanna’s outstretched hand as the other two females and I stood with gaping mouths.
Beatrice and Meegana gave me a bewildered look as the king eyed Georgyanna thoughtfully. “Cunning and cruel. Two traits that would make a fine queen indeed.”
My denial that Georgyanna would actually be declared the winner withered and died when I saw the king’s approval. He applauded what Georgyanna had done. Of course he did. The male was a monster. The true monster here. And then there were the rules of the Trial. These tests could be won by any means necessary.
My entire body slumped as the absolute devastation of losing test two hit me. Georgyanna had no doubt felt similar when I’d won the first test by outsmarting her, and now I’d lost test two because Georgyanna had outsmarted me.
It was cruelly ironic.
Sir Featherton clapped his hands. “What a delight! A true competition! We now have two females in the running for our future queen. Since Lady Seary won the first test and Lady Endalaver won the second test, they will compete in the final test tomorrow. Ladies Ockson and Leafton, you have my deepest condolences on your losses, but seeing as neither of you has won a test yet, you shall be removed from the Trial. The king will ultimately decide who your betrothals will be and will let you know following the final test.” Sir Featherton bowed at them as my heart beat even harder.
Meegana and I shared a fearful look. She was out of the competition? Just because she hadn’t won a test yet, she was no longer in the Trial?
I squeezed Meegana’s hand as worry etched her features. I knew she was thinking of Nuwin.
“He might still be your husband,” I said quietly. “This could still work out in your favor.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes. “But he’s the king’s second son. How can he possibly be given to the third or fourth winner? Surely, he’ll be betrothed to the runner-up of the Trial.”
I frowned, my eyebrows pulling together. Something told me the king didn’t favor anyone, even his own son, if another was stronger.
Enraged pulses of power beat from Norivun’s aura. His jaw locked tightly as his murderous gaze stayed latched to Georgyanna.
But he must have felt me looking at him, must have felt my plea.
Prince Norivun and I exchanged a weighted look. His brow grew heavy, as though the entire realm rested upon it. Neither of us had expected that the final test would come down to only two. Which meant I had to win the final test.
Otherwise, the prince would be forced to marry Georgyanna.
Everyone mistphased back to the castle and arrived in the courtyard we’d initially departed from. Since the king was watching, Prince Norivun didn’t approach me, but the look he continually gave Georgyanna could have melted glass.
“I believe celebrations are in order, don’t you think?” Taberitha Wormiful said to test two’s winner.
The tall and lithe Kroravee archon stood as regal as a royal. One would think she was the reason Georgyanna had won, given her proud aura.
Georgyanna preened and adjusted the crown on her head. “Why, Lady Wormiful, I would be delighted.”
The crown shone from Georgyanna’s silver hair, the gold flashing in the sun as the jewels sparkled. She wore the crown so easily, as though she truly believed she was born to rule.
Anger stirred in me again, and I took a deep breath. The crown that I’d retrieved from the bottom of the bay had been given to Georgyanna by the king. It was a gift for winning the second test—the test that should have been my victory.
A sick feeling twisted my stomach as they ambled away, loudly discussing their territory’s clever win.
“Norivun?” the king said, a guileless smile on his face. “Let your mother know the outcome of the second test, if you will.”
Prince Norivun’s nostrils flared, but he gave his father a stiff nod and strode back to the castle.
Still shaking from what happened, I approached Meegana. “Do you want company?”
Beatrice had already left, stalking back to the castle as soon as we’d arrived in the courtyard, but Meegana had stayed. A cool breeze ruffled our clothing. I’d dried us with my air affinity before we’d mistphased, but the wind was still biting.
She shook her head. “Even though I would rather spend the day with you, I need to find my mother and tell her what happened.” Worry lines appeared around Meegana’s eyes as she wrung her hands. “She’s going to be so angry that I won’t be queen.”
I bared my teeth. “Just because you won’t be the next queen doesn’t mean that you’re not strong or worthy, and if your mother doesn’t see that, then the fault lies with her.”
Meegana laughed humorlessly. “I think I might have said something like that to you when we first met.”
“You did, and you were right. Just remember that when you speak with her.”
“I’ll try.”
I squeezed her hand.
Behind us, the king was speaking with Sir Featherton. The two were in deep discussions but they were behind a silencing Shield so nobody could hear them.
“I’ll send a prayer to the Blessed Mother for you that you’ll marry Nuwin,” I whispered to her.
A smile parted Meegana’s lips, a true smile. “Thank you.”
We headed opposite ways, and I hurried back into the castle. Not surprisingly, Sandus was waiting for me at the gate. He didn’t say anything as he fell in step beside me, which made me think Norivun had found him and told him already what had happened.
I was glad he didn’t bring up my loss because the last thing I wanted to do was discuss it.