“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you,” she told him. “You saved my life.”
He smiled, brief but genuine. “It’s what I’m trained for.”
She didn’t know what to say to that.
“Are we going to talk about it?” he asked, too low for anyone else to hear.
She tried to keep her face impassive. “About what?”
“About what happened.” His voice dropped even lower. “With our magic.”
Her stomach flipped.
What is he doing?
I want to but–
Not here. Not now.
But still – she nodded once.
This is a very bad idea.
He nodded too, then looked back to the crowd. But his shoulder didn’t move from hers. If anything, he moved a fraction closer. Kara was barely listening to the Council members as they stood one by one, offering carefully worded congratulations to their delegate on the winning team. Simone Navyr praised Jax’s precision and control during the Water Trial, which drew another roar from the crowd, but the words washed over Kara. After that, the speeches blurred into noise.
Until Tobias Thorne stood up. Beside her, Sebastian tensed. His father surveyed the arena with cold eyes before his gaze settled on his son. Then to her. Sebastian shifted away, widening the gap between them by a few inches.
“I commend all four teams,” Tobias said, voice low and gravel-edged. “But particular credit must go to Team Four, whose performance in the Fire Trial was notable. Sebastian demonstrated the qualities demanded of House Thorne.”
Then he sat.
That’s it? For your own son?
She couldn’t tell if it had been meant as praise or warning. The applause started slowly – hesitant, as though the crowd were unsure if he was truly finished.
“Man of many words, your dad,” Jax said, clapping Sebastian on the shoulder.
“He’s efficient,” Sebastian smirked back at him, the mask slipping neatly back into place.
Her father stood up next.
“Excellent work from all teams in what was an incredibly difficult set of trials. Team Four showed quick thinking and true team spirit. Lady Hale,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips, “your mastery of magical and non-magical healing has been evident throughout the Arcalon. Your House stands proud. To be Hale is to be whole, to heal what is broken.”
The crowd erupted into genuine cheers, much louder this time, shouting her house creed back at her, backed by drums beating out a celebration rhythm. Kara’s throat tightened. Her father didn’t say things like that often – not where people could hear. It had surprised her. She shared a look with him, pride blooming in her chest. She only wished moments like this came more easily between them. And that she hadn’t had to narrowly avoid death or serious injury for two days to earn it.
The judge descended from the Council’s box, a velvet case of Arcalon medals cradled in her arms. The medallions were heavy gold, Vallenna’s crest engraved in their centres – two hands clasped within a shield. Around the edge was the inscription: Unity above all. She placed a medal around each of their necks, offering polite congratulations as she passed.
She paused longer in front of Sebastian. “Congratulations, Lord Thorne,” she said as she lifted the final medal.
“Thank you,” he said, dipping his head to accept it.
She leaned in slightly. “We were watching,” she said quietly, so only Kara and Sebastian heard. She looked meaningfully between them. “Both of you.”
Sebastian stiffened. “Right,” he said uncomfortably. He waited for her to say more, but she simply stepped back with a knowing look.
Kara frowned. “What was that about?” she asked over renewed applause.
He glanced at her. “No idea.”
