Page 23 of Broken Lands

The training fields were exactly what they sounded like. A large grassy field we used for physical combat training. Metal fencing surrounded it, with some wooden benches lined around it for viewing. Lincoln was waiting for me in the far corner. I lengthened my stride, reaching him quickly.

“You attacked the girl, brother? Keep this up and the elders will assign you leader of their cause,” He chuckled darkly. “Father would have your head.”

“At least I’d be on his radar.” I quipped, half heartedly. Prince Lincoln was the son of King Ronan, the fae Water King who had been given the responsibility of ruling the fae on Earth. I was his ward, and had been for as long as I remembered. Not that he acknowledged my existence most of the time, only deigning to when it was convenient to him.

The King and Queen of the water elementals had taken me in during their election to the throne. It had been a strategic move, a way to stand up against the other candidates vying for his position, gaining him votes from those more prone to humanitarianism. Once the election was complete, he forgot about me. I was raised alongside Lincoln by his governess.

Lincoln didn’t have it much better. If his father lacked paternal affection, it was nothing compared to his mother. The queen was a vapid creature who enjoyed the benefits of her position to the fullest. The only attention he received from either of them was to ensure he was living up to the expectations placed upon him as the Water Heir.

“I’m not sure that’s a good thing.” He replied, cocking his head to the side, his feet planted in a wide stance. He was ready, waiting for me to make the first move, letting me attack first.

I rolled my shoulders, straightening my spine and cracking my neck. “Are you sure you’re up for this today, Linc? I wouldn’t want to make a mess of your pretty face right before school starts.”

“Oh good, there’s the Stefan I was hoping to find, the cocky, arrogant ass who thinks he’s top shit and he’ll always...” I lunged for him before he could finish his thought, kicking my leg out in a half circle and knocking his feet out from under him.

He hit the ground hard. Grinning wolfishly, he jumped back up instantaneously, raising his fists in front of his face in an offensive stance.

“You might have gotten in the first hit, but I won’t be taking it easy on you.”

“I wouldn’t want you to. Give me your best, brother.”

We began then, no more words passing between us as he helped me banish my personal demon, pushing it back into the cage it was breaking free of. We sparred until our lungs were burning for air, sweat pouring down our backs from the exhaustion. Lincoln took strike after strike, giving it back to me as good as he got, until the fire in my stomach dies out and the rage dissipated from my limbs.

We collapsed, laying side by side in the grass, watching as the sun sank behind the clouds, casting hues of orange, pink and purple through the darkening sky.

The salty smell of the ocean carried through the field on the breeze, and I breathed deeply, letting it soothe me and relax the tension from my mind.

The monster inside me had quietened and was again lying dormant, waiting for the next time my emotions got the better of me, when he could seize the opportunity to take control again.

The only thing I felt then was regret. I might have pushed Riley away and ruined any chance with her before I even told her what she was doing to me and how I felt about her.

Chapter thirteen

Riley

“Goodmorning,Sunshine”Beecalled as she threw open the curtains, letting the warm spring sun blind me as it fell across my pillow.

“Ugh, no. Less of the pep before coffee.” I groaned, rolling and pulling the covers over my head. My eyes were gritty, my body exhausted from the lack of restful sleep. I’d been plagued by nightmare after nightmare last night, the worst of which was Stefan’s handsome face morphing into some kind of monster with a jaw that widened beyond imagination, its mouth filled with row upon row of sharp jagged teeth.

A shudder rolled through me at the thought. I really hoped no creature like that existed. My hope was likely misplaced. The creatures from the void that Bee had spoken of were surely worse than any image I could conjure.

“We’ll get coffee,” she chuckled in reply. “You have to get up first, though.” She yanked the cover back, and pulled me up from the bed, with a strength so surprising I was in too much shock to resist. Once I was steady on my feet, she let go and pushed me toward the bathroom. “Get dressed and we’ll go get you some pep.”

“I’m not sure I like you in the mornings,” I grumbled as I entered the bathroom. “You’re super bossy.” Closing the door to the sound of her laughing, a small smile crept across my face. Oh shit, she was going to turn me into a morning person.

I showered quickly, dressing in the uniform provided for me. The navy and ruby tartan skirt fell a few inches above my knees, and paired with a crisp white shirt and ruby blazer, I felt fresh and well presented. Ready for my first day at Danann Academy.

I wasn’t the only new student today. Bee had told me that Ascension had occurred just before the start of a new year, meaning all the fae in my class were new to the Academy, starting their version of what humans in the past had called college. Another luxury the fae had. We were too focused on survival to bother with more than basic education. Lining my eyes with liner, I went a little darker than normal, trying to hide the anxiety I was feeling about today—and hide the bags under my eyes.

When I was as put together as I was going to get, I joined Bee back in the bedroom. She nodded her approval and handed me my bag. It was a simple over the shoulder black bag, just big enough to hold my tablet and notebooks.

“Thank you,” I said. “Let’s go get that coffee before our morning class.” I led the way out of our dorm and down to the dining hall. My stomach fluttered with nerves as we approached. I hadn’t seen Stefan since the incident in the library yesterday, and I wasn’t sure how to react when I did. I was both angry at him and longing for his company again.

Three days. That was all it had taken for me to fall for a guy I barely even knew. Three days.

I didn’t need to know him. My heart already did.

How much could I really trust my heart, though? She seemed to want to claim the grumpy General Brand, too.

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