“Wouldn’t you change yourself if you could?” she asked. Kiara changed her skin so that it was one even dark color instead of differently-toned.
“No,” I said. “I like the way I am.” What I wanted to change about myself, magic couldn’t fix. There was no spell alive that could cure my disease.
“I think I look better this way.” Kiara turned to me. She was searching for approval, but I wouldn’t give it. She was beautiful the way she was. She didn’t need to go changing herself.
“I don’t like it,” I said. “You don’t look like you.”
“No. I look normal.” Kiara lifted the spell, and the patches on her face reappeared. She sighed. “Too bad it doesn’t last forever.”
I successfully managed to turn a streak of my hair purple by the time class ended, but that was as far as I could go. I left it in as I walked down the hallway to my Monarchy class, passing by the Observatory as I went.
Odette came bouncing to my side. “Did you hear?” she squealed, appearing like an excited, frantic puppy.
“What is it?” I asked, wondering what could possibly provoke Odette into this kind of excitement— besides literally everything.
“Gabby just bonded yesterday. WithEli,” Odette whispered.
“What the fuck?” I looked ahead. Gabby had left class before me and was cuddling up to a brawny dude at the end of the hall. He had hooded eyes and was kissing Gabby for the entire hall to see, as if bragging that he’d found a mate.
I knew him. Elijah Zlodia. He wasn’t in any of my classes, but it was no secret he and Ethan didn’t get along. He was Lady Korva’s son.
“Oh, that’s not good.” Kiara narrowed her eyes. “He’s definitely going to compete in the King’s Contest now.”
My eyes caught Ethan’s form stomping down the hallway. He had a book at his side, his knuckles white as he crushed the spine between his fingers.
I went to speak. “Ethan, did you—”
“I heard.” Ethan’s tone was dark, and his face was shadowed. He was obviously pissed that Elijah had bonded. He refused to look at either of them as they continued making out along the wall.
His eyes briefly scanned me as he passed. The look in them… it was as if he was trying to make up his mind on an impossible decision.
Once Ethan was out of earshot, Kiara said, “Ethan better hurry up. Time’s running short. If he doesn’t pick a mate soon, they won’t let him into the Contest.”
“Yes, but how can you possibly pick a mate if you’re not bonded? How do you know you’re making the right decision?” I said.
“He doesn’t have time to dawdle. If he wants to be king, he has to make up his mind,” Kiara pointed out. “The ball’s only a few weeks away.”
“Ball?” I asked.
“The King’s Ball. It’s a party before the King’s Contest begins,” Odette clarified. “Everyone who’s anyone will be there. Each competitor has to announce their mating bond to the entire city, as well as declare their allegiance to a certain god or goddess at the Choosing before the party begins. It’s there that all potential queens are presented.”
“Thank the gods I’m not participating.” I’d go to the dance, but no way would I want to be shown off to all the Arcanea like some sort of trophy.
“Well, Gabby is,” Kiara said with a sigh. “Here’s betting she’ll do nothing but go on and on for the next few weeks on howshe’sgoing to have the best dress.”
“Yeah, well, maybe she’ll decide on a nose by then.” I checked my watch. “We’d better hurry, guys. Class is starting in a few minutes.”
The three of us had to jog to make it to class on time. Introducing the Monarchy was held in a large classroom that had high ceilings about fifty feet tall, and arched windows along the stone walls. Most of the class was here already, and was a mixture of both Marked and Companions.
“What took you guys so long?” Delmare asked as we slid into our seats near her desk.
“Busy talking about Gabby and her prince charming,” I said scathingly.
“Oh, yeah. Zlodia’s a real prick.” Delmare pointed to her mouth and pretended to gag before a sly smile lit up her face. “Good thing you’ll give Gabby a run for her money, huh Em?”
“What?” I let my textbook fall open with aflop. “Hell no. You’re not suggesting what I think you are.”
“That Ethan’s going to pick you as his mate for the Contest? Obviously,” Kiara said.
