Page 99 of Blooms of Darkness

Istumbled to the side, sword in hand, tripping on a small root that suddenly sprouted from the ground.

“Good, Leif!” Ian’s praise echoed through the training pit, and I spun abruptly to observe my friend.

“Magicandswords, watch out world.” I laughed.

His smile grew wide with my praise.

My training hadn’t involved weaving magic into attacks, since I clearly lacked any. I encouraged Ian to do so with Kalliah and Leif, even if their abilities weren’t powerful, they were there, and those skills could be honed if trained.

I’d been right.

My date with Ryland yesterday afternoon had been sparring together. He’d remembered it was one of my hobbies I briefly mentioned during our first dinner together. I was taken aback he recalled such a minute detail of my life, but I appreciated the date had a purpose, instead of just being seen in public on the princess’s arm. He taught me some of his own specialty maneuvers he had been perfecting for years. The movements were fluid yet stealthy enough that I wanted Ian to incorporate them into our training. I was concerned when the date beganthat Ryland would want to use magic in our session, but he seemed content to keep it physical.

I’d been surprised at how easy I envisioned a friendship forming with him. Our conversation flowed freely and easily, but it lacked any sort of spark. Besides, I was still concerned about his conversation with Casimir. Although it sounded like he turned Lord West down, my trust wouldn’t extendthatfar to others yet. Or perhaps ever.

I’d even tried to sneak in a question about how he felt about the other contenders to see if he would bite, but he failed to take the bait.

While it had been fun, Ryland lacked some of the characteristics I hoped for in a husband. I didn't feel as if he could succeed on the throne, without exceptional handholding, which I had no intention of providing.

He would, however, make an excellent addition to Ian's guard if he ever wanted a place here in Ellevail. I’d have to mention it to Ian when all of this finally passed.

“Okay, rest,” Ian said, bringing me back to reality. “Lan, come here.”

I bounced on my toes, shaking out my shoulders and stretching my neck before standing in front of Ian.

Leif jogged to the outskirts of the training ring to retrieve two glasses of water for us. In the distance behind him, I noticed Kalliah practically skipping along the path from the palace to the ring.

Leif handed me a glass as Kalliah approached our group, her eyes gleaming.

“Well, do tell. What has you all giddy?” I asked her as I downed the cool water. Sweat seeped through my shirt since I finally stopped moving.

“I was asked to the Festival of Blessings!” She clasped her hands together.

Leif immediately spat the water out of his mouth, spraying it across my face.

“Leif!” I shouted as I turned and stared with indignation, wiping the spray from my cheek.

He ignored me completely and immediately questioned Kalliah. “And you said yes?”

Kalliah paused, and shifted to face Leif, glaring at him with utter indignation. One I would not want to experience. “Yes, I did. I believe one should take advantage of the opportunities which are afforded to them, instead of waiting around for something which may never happen.”

Leif opened and closed his mouth before clenching it shut.

“That’s what I thought,” she said. “Lana, we must be off to prepare you for your next date. Good day, gentlemen.”

Kalliah grabbed my hand and pulled me quicker than I anticipated. I barely had time to shove the now-empty glass into Leif’s hand before stumbling after Kalliah. She gripped my hand like a vice. I didn’t even get a chance to glance at Ian to see his reaction to the news and Leif’s stammering.

Finally, when we were far enough away and she had slowed down, I said, “Cruel, Kalliah. Cruel. I didn't know you had it in you.”

“What was cruel?” She cocked an eyebrow at me.

“Oh, no, don’t you play coy now. Leif will likely cry himself to sleep tonight,” I said. “Hand me your handkerchief to get his spit off my face please. Fates, did no one see how hard his water left his mouth?”

Kalliah’s eyes narrowed. “Leif is only concerned with baking and his Hidden Henchman duties and has yet to pursue me at all after our talk at the ball. I refuse to wait around for him to ask me for more of my time. So of course, when Dimitri asked, I agreed to go with him,” she said, clearly trying to convince herself she made the right choice.

I knew something had happened at the contender’s ball. “You are trying to make him jealous,” I countered, grabbing her arm to stop her focused walk toward my chambers.

Kalliah bit her lip, her darker cheeks blushing. “I’m not trying to be cruel. I just, well, if there’s a chance at love, I want it. And Dimitri is handsome and kind,” she said, shrugging.

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