Page 18 of A Sky of Storms
I didn’t just want to become king. I needed to—for my family and for my home. And I would because I was Kayden fucking Hale. Failure wasn’t a word I was familiar with.
“Noah Hawthorn. From the Verdant Plateau,” Flynn replied. “He’s yet to show an adaptation or magical ability, though judging by the way he lurks in the shadows I doubt either are all that powerful. Caught him with a book, so probably smart.”
“And the merman?” I already knew a bit about him but was keen to hear if Flynn had anything else of note to tell me.
“He’s got gills, so he’s from Tritosa City,” Flynn said. “Dude’s annoying as hell, so he won’t make many allies, if any.”
I scowled. “I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Fallon seems to have taken a liking to him.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers. Everyone else hates her. Guess she doesn’t wanna be alone so is settling for the talking fish.”
I huffed a laugh, lifting the bar and dropping it on the rack before sitting up and glancing around the room. It was full of other Potentials utilising treadmills, weight racks and other contraptions to keep their fitness up. Some of the Potentials had their work cut out for them. It was almost comical watching the scrawny ones shake with just a little weight.
I spotted the guy from Damascon Hollow over by the squat rack. Everyone gave him a wide berth, his attitude enough to scare most of the Potentials away. He didn’t scare me though. Damascon Hollow wasn’t that different from the Crimson Steppes, and I knew his type. Sure, we were the poorest of the four cities—our lack of resources and credits making it hard for us to compete—but that just meant we were survivors. Whilst the richer cities used credits to get what they wanted, we earned it with our strength, sheer determination, and true grit.
Wealth may make you popular, but it didn’t make you worthy of being a ruler. Just one look at Victoria Auger was proof of that. The woman’s personality was as appealing as a cactus. Without credits and her family’s reputation, she’d be a nobody.
“Nevertheless, the Auger girls could be a problem. The younger one is a wild card,” I responded, my blood heating at the memory of pinning Fallon down when we’d be training. The girl had fire ... I liked that. Most women fell at my feet, but that one would give back as well as she got. A nice change—one that shouldn’t interest me but absolutely did.
I scanned the gym, spotting her running on the treadmill, her little friend with the funky hair sprinting on the one beside her. Fallon’s tight black shorts shaped her ass perfectly, and I stared, transfixed as her long black hair bounced in a high ponytail.
A ponytail I could imagine wrapping my hand around once I clipped that angel’s wings and reminded her who was boss.
“I don’t like unknowns,” Flynn said, swapping places with me as I slid off the bench. I moved around to spot him as he lay down beneath the bar. “We’ll need to get to know them better.”
“Already on it.” I grinned.
“You look pleased with yourself, Kayden,” Victoria purred as she strode over to us, her chest pushed out like her tits were trying to escape. Didn’t blame them, I wouldn’t want to be that close to her either. She’d been working at the squat rack nearby, but I hadn’t thought she could hear my conversation with Flynn. I wouldn’t be making that mistake again. “You managed to count your reps without assistance. Double digits can be so tricky.”
“What do you want?” I returned my gaze to Flynn as he continued lifting. I wasn’t gonna give the bitch my full attention, that was for sure.
Victoria stepped close enough that I could feel her breath on my skin. She traced a finger up my arm, the sensation making my stomach curl. “Actually I’m here to offer you some advice.”
“I don’t remember asking for it,” I growled, shaking her off.
“All the more reason to give it.” She smirked. “Stay away from my little bitch of a sister.”
I raised a brow. “Feeling protective?”
“Hardly,” she replied, shooting daggers to where Fallon was working out. “She’s going to die here and I couldn’t be happier. Might even throw a party.”
Her groupies giggled like fucking psychos where they stood back, watching. My shoulders tensed at her words, the urge to eliminate her where she stood rising to the surface. Was I feeling protective? I shook my head because there was no fucking way. It was her heartless attitude that got a rise out of me. Yeah, that was it. We were all here to win and that might involve killing a few people, but to be planning a celebration after murdering your own blood? Victoria was one messed up bitch.
“Well, fuck,” Flynn said as he lifted the bar and sat up. “Ice queen.”
“Exactly,” she said, flicking her long blond ponytail. “You look like you’re hard to kill, Kayden, but that doesn’t mean you’ll wear the crown in the end.” She stood taller, lifting her chin. “I will be queen. The throne is mine.”
I rolled my eyes. This woman and her cronies were wasting my time with her delusions. “Hurry up and get to the point of why you’re here.”
She trailed her perfect nails along my biceps and I had to stop myself from grabbing that hand and snapping her fingers. “Your time here is limited, but I can’t deny you’d be a useful ally. Why not work with me?”
“How does that benefit me?” I asked, laughing as I shook my head. She had to be joking. “If you’re looking for a free ride, you won’t find one here.”
Victoria narrowed her copper eyes at me. “You are going to die, Kayden. You won’t win this. Don’t you care about your parents?”
I stiffened. “Don’t talk about them.”
“Ally with me and once I’m queen I will make sure they are comfortable. Send them a few credits and lift them out of the poverty they currently dwell in.”
