Page 18 of Dueling the Suitors

“There’s no one left for you to marry, you foolish girl!”

“Arenoblementhe only men in the unconquered kingdoms?” Astoria leaned forward, resting her arms on the table, her eyes narrowing. “You do realize I’m trying to find someone powerful enough for a union, don’t you? That is why I have to challenge them all in duels, to see who is worthy. It’s not my fault none of the Mages you have gathered are strong enough, like that self-proclaimed wizard.” She rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair.

“What do you propose I do?” The king sat back down, barely calm.

“Send a proclamation across the seven kingdoms and bring me Mages from commoners and peasants. Even beggars are welcome if you find aMageamong them.” She laughed at the irony.

Her father glared. “And you will marry someone so far beneath your station?”

Astoria glared back. “Do you want to protect our kingdom from the Emperor or not? I mean, you are the one who said the nonsense about a marriage union magnifying powers—that,as a woman, I am not enough. Or have you changed your mind after witnessing my unbeatable power these last months, and now you want me to fight Emperor Cyrus alone?”

Astoria smirked, but her father’s glare remained.

“You are getting married,” he said with finality, ringing for a maid. “I will send out the word. Perhaps this time, one of them will not only beat you in a duel but tame you as well.”

Laughter bubbled to her lips and Astoria didn’t think twice before releasing it. “We shall see about that.”

* * *

In the months that followed, after word was sent inviting the lower-class Mages, no one showed up at the castle gates.

Her father grumbled that they weren’t brave enough for the task, but Astoria knew better.

They were wiser than the nobles.

No one could beat the Unyielding Princess in a duel. No one was as powerful as her on the entire continent—other than Emperor Cyrus himself, as Skylar said.

Astoria didn’t cease her training even as she started to believe she had finally run out of suitors to duel with. She sharpened her skills and tried out new tricks from thePrince of Lark. A nagging feeling told her that there was more to her powers than the book taught her. It was a book for children, after all. She wanted to discover more of the serious magic, but she was hopeless. And there was no one to help her, not even Jasper.

Astoria had hoped things would go back to normal between her and Jasper, but she realized how naive that hope was when Jasper continued to ignore her. He no longer trained her, and when she approached him to ask if he knew more about Pureblood or Half-blood Mage powers, he said he didn’t—just before excusing himself and walking away.

Skylar told her that her rejection had broken his heart.

Emmett didn’t know about this until Jasper resigned from his position as her trainer. Astoria told him what happened when he confronted her afterwards.

He wasn’t exactly pleased with his best friend, but Astoria managed to calm him down.

“Knock, knock.”

Astoria looked up from thePrince of Larkand saw Silas leaning against one of the bookshelves, arms crossed. She brought her gaze back to the book.

“What?”

“I have news.”

“Coming from you, I can tell it’s not pleasant.”

“Nah, I’m not sure about that—not after I tell you what it is.”

She brought her gaze back to him, annoyed. Seeing the amused smile on his lips, she grew even more irritated. If he was here to mess with her, she swore to herself, she’d seal his mouth shut for at least a week.

“What?”

“Can’t you ask a little more nicely?” His eyes twinkled.

Goodness. Whatever had put him in such a good mood was going to be the end of her.

“Can’t you be less irritating?” she retorted.

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