Page 118 of Shadow Kissed

I dress and head out into the dining room to have breakfast with the other girls. I find them all seated around the dining table, chatting away animatedly about events at the ball last night.

“Are you upset about missing out on a top spot, Saveya?” Tyria asks. “I know how much you wanted one.”

Saveya sighs and shrugs her shoulders. “It’s my own doing. I had too much of the scath wine. It went to my head. Besides, I am confident I will get a good man.” She looks over at me and gives me a knowing smile.

“Here is our other top of the class student!” Tyria cheers, applauding me and I bow dramatically before taking my seat.

I lose myself in my own head as I rehearse in my head how I will break the news to Ark that I’m not going to partake in their plans. However I word it, it won’t go down well with him. What I haven’t thought through, though, is how I can stop the planned attack without revealing the identity of the rebels. Can I just stand there and know what’s going to happen and do nothing about it?

“I wonder who will be part of the elite male five?” Alora asks from where she sits with a book in one hand and a cup in her other. The girl has her nose in a book twenty-four seven. “I mean, we know the prince is taking a wife, and rumours suggest the commander will as well. So that leaves three others.”

Tyria gestures for me to pass her the butter. “I’ve heard that the handsome Jasiel may be another.”

“Is he even an elite?” Saveya asks, around a mouthful of food.

“He’s a high-ranking member of their army and his family must be of influence if he grew up alongside Raegal.”

Tyria glances at the other girls and leans in, winking at me. “And how would you know this?”

I shrug my shoulders, knowing full well what she’s asking me. “Jasiel told me they grew up together as boys when we were dancing last night. So, naturally, I imagine his family is of some social standing if they are friends.”

Debate continues over who the remaining two elites may be before we head down to meet our fellow girls, and Moryen and two of our teachers accompany us across the valley to the small, but busy, market. She has obviously decided to loosen the reins as she allows us to venture off to explore the stalls and tells us to meet back at the agreed upon meeting point in one hour.

Ark is aware that we come to the market on Wednesday’s, so I am confident he will make every effort to be here. I peruse some stalls whilst looking out for him and I eventually spot him over by the stall that sells herbs and health remedies. I casually make my way over, and he gestures with his head for me to follow him. I watch as he disappears down the side of a building and looking around me to check Moryen isn’t nearby; I sneak away from the busy market.

Arkynn leans against the wall, waiting for me. He’s filled out since he came to the valley, his body more muscular and defined than before. He grins at me as I walk over to him.

“Hey there, sunshine. You’re wearing a dress,” he says, unable to hide the surprise in his voice.

“Hi. Ark, we need to talk,” I start off, stopping in front of him.

“What’s the matter?” he asks me, taking in my anxious demeanour and noticing the way I fidget with the sleeve hem of my dress.

“Ark. I can’t do it. I can’t do what the rebellion is asking of me.” There I said it. That wasn’t so bad.

Ark's smile drops, and he reaches out for me, placing his hands on my arms. “Why, what’s wrong? Has something happened?”

I shake my head. “No, nothing is wrong. I just can’t do it. Ark, being here, has opened my eyes. I’ve been blinded by my own prejudice.”

Arkynn scowls at me. “It’s him, isn’t it? He’s got to you.”

“No,” I protest. “It’s not just him, it’s everything I’ve seen, like the great work they do at the orphanage.”

“The orphanage full of children who have lost parents fighting their war!” He snorts. “Their war, Reya! Not ours,” he shouts, raising his voice, and I glance anxiously towards the square.

“You think the Flame Realm would have left us alone to live happily? They wouldn’t have, Ark. They would have tried to take our realm, just like they have with every other one.”

Arkynn covers his face with his hand, shaking his head. “They’ve brainwashed you. You think you can just walk away from the rebellion, Reya? You don’t just decide you want out and that’s it. You know too much now.”

“What are you saying?” I ask him, wrapping my arms around my middle.

“That you can’t leave, Reya. Like it or not, you are the key part of the plan.” He frowns at me with a mix of disappointment and anger. “I’ve got to go.”

I watch him walk off, and I need a minute to compose my thoughts before I go back out to the market. They can’t force me to do it. If I say no, then that’s it.

I return to the market and locate Saveya, who is buying yet more hair ribbons. She must have every colour of the rainbow now. By the time we head back to the mansion, everyone has spent up their allowance and is armed with baskets full of goods. I immerse myself in one of the Night Realm history books, eagerto gain a deeper understanding of my past and the place where my mother was raised. It’s hard to believe that the woman who raised me was born a princess. There had been no inclination that she was anything other than Asen. It must have been so frightening and strange for her, losing everything and everyone she cared about and coming here alone with no awareness of our customs and ways.

This afternoon is the last of the timetabled classes. Tomorrow is the reaping ceremony. When we ventured out to the market this morning, we’d seen them getting the square ready for the event and it made it all feel very real.

---