Page 12 of Shadows of the Crown

“Don’t let me catch you in here again. I won’t be so kind a second time.” She releases me, stepping around my stunned body as she sheathes her blade. I bite my lip at the sight of her striding out of the room, and stupidly find myself speaking again.

“I told you I’m a competitor.”

She halts, peering over her shoulder and looking deeply into my soul. “And I told you I never forget a face…prince.” She leaves me alone with my mouth agape.

I chuckle to myself, cursing my treasonous body. Finally convincing my legs to move, I hurry from the room before the wraith returns and fulfills her threatening promise.

Chapter Seven

Ariella

My eyes are unwavering as I stare straight ahead, focusing on the unscathed surface of the throne. Outwardly, I show no signs of stress. But on the inside, I’m a fucking raging storm.

I’m standing in the front line of the spread out competitors. There are six rows of three, with Isaiah to my right and Sivara to my left. She clearly has a fucking problem with me, because I can feel her eyes burning holes into the side of my face. The only time I've seen her before now was at the ceremony, so it must just be my reputation that has earned her animosity.

I won’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction, though. We’re not here to start drama, we’re here to win.

And I will win.

I suck in a deep breath, the mixture of sweat, leather, and old perfume moistening the air. The throne room is large, with ceilings that seem taller than the castle itself, and walls spread so far apart, it would take minutes to walk from one side to the other. The tile on the floor is warm, giving the illusion of acomforting environment. But as I spot the hungry, excited gazes of the audience, I know it’s anything but.

We’re not guests. We’re the entertainment.

The king may have claimed this competition was created under his generosity, but those surrounding me know the truth: he’s bored and wants the kingdom’s best fighters pitted against each other to amuse his curiosities.

The air is thick, making my breaths heavy and my heart beat fast. I hear its thumping in the space surrounding me, and I hope I’m the only one who can. I don’t need the bitch next to me thinking I’m weak.

We’ve been standing here for nearly an hour, waiting forhis royal majestyto make an appearance. The intermittent coughing and shuffling have become more frequent as the anticipation increases.

Mine included.

I’m nervous. I’m not scared to admit that to myself, though Aether damn me if I’d ever say it out loud. Heat scrapes the back of my neck, building sweat along my tingling skin. But I keep my breathing even and my face blank of all emotions except annoyance. I focus on the royal guards surrounding the throne, wondering how lo—

The large doors behind me swing open, though I do not move from my position. I know it’s the king; the excited whispers andgiggles tell me just as much. I also hear the prince’s name drifting through the musky air.

I’ve tried not thinking about him since I caught him in the training room. He wasn’t supposed to be there—I really didn’t give a fuck, but the idea of cutting off his head was loud in mine. If I truly wanted to exact perfect revenge on the king, wouldn’t it be appropriate to take away someone he loves instead of him? And who better than his heir?

It was the ideal opportunity, but not the right time. No…I need to wait a while longer. If I’m able to sway from my original plan so quickly, then it wasn’t a good plan to begin with. I have to learn more about the Blackwood family; their routines, preferences, secrets. I need to be smart about this, because I’ll only get one chance.

A good place to start will be Caspian, though. Clearly, it won’t be hard to get near him. He was practically coming in his pants the second he saw me; you'd think he’s never laid eyes on a woman before.

Foolish fucking idiot.

It would have been so easy to strip him from this realm and send his royally stained soul to the Angel. But instead of being focused on his life, he was fixated on my ass.

Men.

The royal family themselves finally come into view, walking up the few steps to sit in their gilded thrones, draped in crimsonfinery. What I wouldn’t give to toss my blade right at that bastard’s head, rejoicing in the loud clank of his crown as it slides across the floor. It would be so easy—not one person in here could stop me before the blade sliced its way through the king’s grimy memories and poisoned thoughts.

“People of Valoria, welcome to the first trial! Where you will witness the kingdom’s brightest fight for glory!” I roll my eyes as he continues talking to the audience as if they’re children seeing someone weave for the first time. And they’re eating it up.

A prickle of awareness works its way up my spine and my gaze snaps to the king’s left, where the prince leans back in his chair, hands grasping the arms while he glares at me. I allow myself a small smile. He’s definitely pissed. I probably hurt his brittle ego when I showed him just how weak he was. I’m guessing no one in his life has actually fought him properly, making him think that he wins against every challenger.

Not me. I don’t give a fuck how he feels.

In fact, I find his rage quite intoxicating.

I raise my eyebrow at him, and his eyes narrow even more, lip curling slightly. Yeah, this is going to be significantly more entertaining than I anticipated. But I have a job to do, and right now that’s making it through this first trial; so I look back to the king, dismissing the prince and his loud silence.

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