Page 23 of A Storm Rises

“Did you see it? Were you there?” Lily tugged at Nia’s flowing skirt.

“I was, little princess.” Nia bent at the waist and raised her brows. “It was during breakfast. Eiric swung at the Sublander?—”

“Did he get Mateo?”

“No, little princess. The Sublander sidestepped Eiric and then hit his nose. Blood spurted.”

Lily gasped. “Oh. I bet that hurt.”

Avalynn laced her boot. “I wonder what they said to him.”

“You think the Sublander was provoked?” Nia asked.

“I do.” Lily piped in. “He is way too lovely. A lovely person like him would never start a fight.”

Avalynn embraced Lily by the shoulders. “What did I tell you about looks not mattering?”

“I think maybe for Mateo Vela, they should matter.” Lily chuckled, then broke away from Avalynn’s grasp.

“Looks aside…” Nia nodded her head. “The Sublander is out of his element. I doubt he would have started anything.”

“He is exactly the sort of person who would start something.” Avalynn grabbed her boot. “You saw what he did at the procession, Nia.”

“What happened after the Sublander hit Eiric in the nose?” Lily lay on Avalynn’s bed and rested her hands under her chin. “Tell me everything.”

Nia continued. “Well, after the Sublander hit Eiric, he readied himself for Finnian. But then Eiric threw a chair at his back, allowing Finnian to strike the Sublander when he was not looking.”

Lily slammed her hands over her mouth. “Please tell me he did not bleed and that he is still beautiful!”

“He did not bleed.”

Lily sighed with relief. “Good. That was not fair of Finnian!”

“Life is not always fair, Lily,” Avalynn reminded her sister for the thousandth time. She finished lacing her boot and started on the other. Suddenly, her task to make sure the Sublander came in last seemed more difficult than she’d once thought. Good thing she had the others to help her. She would need to solidify their alliance at the training circle. Maybe even come up with a plan.

She rose and threaded her black belt between the loops. She straightened the collar of her purple shirt. “How do I look?”

Lily smiled. “Beautiful and strong.”

Avalynn knelt and pushed Lily’s long silver hair behind her sharply pointed ears. “More so than the Sublander, little sister?”

“Of course, my future queen. None in this land can outshine my big sister.”

“Most definitely.” Nia picked up the silver tray from the bedside table. It held delicate crystal vials. “All you need to complete your look is your oils. I have two for you to choose from.” She pointed to a pink one. “This one features rose and geranium.” Then she pointed to a green one. “This is a blend of amber and jasmine.”

“Pink, pink,” Lily encouraged as she clutched her chest. “It is so romantic.”

Romantic? Did Avalynn want to be romantic with Mateo? Her hand hovered in midair. She and Mateo shared opposing destinies. She needed to remember that. She snatched the green vial. “This one is perfect.”

“Boring.” Lily scrunched her nose.

“I am preparing for a hunt, little princess. Not a courting season.” Avalynn dabbed the oil on her wrists. With a slight turn, she ran her finger down her neck, spending extra time with the oil between her bosom. If she came in close contact with Mateo, it would not hurt to smell her best.

Avalynn saw three crates upon her arrival at the training circle. They were set out in a triangular shape around the grassy area. Mateo bent over one crate by himself, peering at the Shadowblood foxes inside. From her vantage point, she could see a bandage near his right eye and signs of a swollen lip. Selene and Eiric stood together at another crate. Eiric sported a bandage across the bridge of his nose. Finnian appeared unscathed and stood alone at the third.

The bright sun made it easy to see the sleek black fur of the foxes inside. Another scan of the setup showed no coverings around. Nobody but her would know of their disappearing abilities. Good. Alliance or not, she would keep that strategic piece of information to herself. The others would find out in their own time and in their own way.

She walked past Mateo and stopped next to Finnian, who bowed. “Princess Avalynn.”

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