Priscilla just scowled at me. For all her words, I could still see the resentment radiating from her form. I wondered if this was really about Darren – who had never shown the slightest interest since we joined the apprenticeship - or the fact that I had done well in the mock battle while she'd been forced to surrender almost immediately.
I had come a long way since the two of us had first met. I wondered how I would feel if I was her – the beautiful girl who had once been third in our faction, now easily the worst one here. She was still an apprentice – and she still had Darren, but for once I was better than her. And it felt good.
I'm not that pitiful little girl you bullied last year.
"If you'll excuse me, I have somewhere to be," I told her smugly. "A feast in your betrothed's and my honor, I believe." I sauntered out of the barracks with the biggest grin on my face.
****
"Ry!"
The second I stepped out of the barracks my twin spun me around, laughing. "I can't believe you and Darren actually pulled it off!"
"Put me down you big oaf!" I greeted my brother chuckling. "You'll ruin my dress!"
Alex released me and held out the nook of his arm. "Do I have the pleasure of escorting a Combat champion this evening?"
"Am I your second choice?" I teased.
"No." My brother reddened. "Ella was already going with that Loren fellow."
I sighed and put my arm through his. "Then you most definitely have the pleas-" I froze mid-sentence as I noticed the couple descending the steps below us. Lynn, looking delicate and lovely, was being escorted by a certain curly-haired third-year with laughing hazel-green eyes. Ian.
My heart caught in my throat. I didn't realize I had stopped moving until Alex was waving his hand in my face.
"Ry?" My brother tilted his head to peer at me quizzically. "What's wrong? You look as if you've swallowed a bug."
I faked a smile. "No, I just spotted Lynn… and Ian." I tried to say it casually but I was pretty sure my voice squeaked near the end.
"Oh right." Alex nodded. "The third-years from your faction. Do you want us to go catch up to them? It's a long walk to the regiment's ceremonial hall, it'd be nice to have some company."
I started to protest but my brother was already off, dragging me in his wake.
As soon she spotted me my mentor waved and pulled on Ian's arm to wait for us. "Ryiah," she said cheerfully, "I am so happy to see you are feeling better! I wanted to let you know there are no hard feelings for what happened on the battlefield…"
I could not look at Ian.
"…You've got to do whatever is necessary to win." She giggled. "I guess I should be happy it happened to me in the beginning. Ian told me he got pounded pretty badly in those caves, can you imagine?"
My face was aflame and I felt like vomiting. I was holding onto Alex's arm to steady myself.
I forced myself to look at the curly-haired third-year who hadn't spoken a word yet. "How are you feeling, Ian?"
Indifferent green eyes met my own gray-blue ones. "Fine."
An awkward silence followed and Alex finally broke it – only to make things worse.
"Say, Ian, I don't think I've met your enchanting lady this evening? Who might she be, and is she taken?"
Ian's eyes fell away from me and he smiled at my brother. "Lynn is Ryiah's mentor. And she is taken." He reached down to take the third-year's hand in his own and brought it to his lips with a light kiss. "After suffering three years of my charm, Lynn has finally allowed me to court her."
My twin gave a dramatic sigh. "What a shame. The good ones are always taken."
A huge wave of jealousy had reared its ugly head and was raging inside my throat. Ian and Lynn? Ian and Lynn? What about Ian and I? I remained unable to speak for the rest of our walk to the hall, and as soon as we reached it I immediately parted ways with the third-year couple, citing some made-up excuse about finding my seat at the grand table.
I was so consumed with avoiding Ian and Lynn that I didn't even notice Darren and Priscilla standing right nearby.
"Ryiah." The second-year girl stopped me coldly in my tracks. "Ryiah's brother."
Alex gave the girl an incredulous look. "Well hello to you, too. And Darren." His lip curled. He didn't like Priscilla but he loathed the prince. The two of them had clashed last year over a misunderstanding between Darren and I.
The non-heir ignored my brother and met my eyes instead, smiling. "Hello Ryiah, are you ready to be the center of the masters' toasts tonight?"
I should have smiled back, or said something witty, but as I looked to Darren all I could see was Ian in the caves. Ian touching my face – about to say… Something. He had looked at me so tenderly. For a moment I had thought he'd been about to tell me… It didn't matter now. He hated me. I could tell from the way he looked at me.
It was Darren's fault. And it was mine for listening to him… but I wasn't in the mood to acknowledge that.
I didn't answer and Darren's brow furrowed. Good. Beside him Priscilla looked pleased by my reaction. I didn't do that for you, I thought sourly. The couple departed.
For just a moment Darren turned his head back around to stare at me but I avoided looking at him as I took my seat beside Alex.
****