“Maybe, but the duke doesn’t seem to mind the scar,” Alun says, and I self-consciously touch my cheek.
“She isn’t a threat to any of us. That stupid girl will be out sooner than you think. I already know what I’m going to do with my prize. The Mrs. wants to take a long break to the coast of Vantara. It’s great weather out there this time of the year,” Sebastian says, as he takes a sip of his drink.
It seems like Alun is already eating out of his hand. I don’t get why those two are even hanging out together. I wait until their voices fade away.
My neck feels stiff and I suddenly regret deciding to leave my chamber. They can insult me and put me down as much as they want, but they have no idea I’m more determined than the entire group of dragon shifters competing. I brought back the hemlock root, where most of the other contestants were injured trying to retrieve it. I still have a huge chance of winning the entire contest. There are still two more tasks. In a way, I’m trying hard to fit into Jorgen’s world. For starters, I’m a Wyvern and a strong woman–they have no idea what I’m capable of.
Others should start taking me more seriously around here.
I clench my fists and my whole body shakes with anger. The damn fire spell that turned against me eleven years ago will not hold me back anymore.
I keep walking down the hall remembering how other kids at school used to look at me. Even then, I was able to pick myself up and keep going. It didn't matter that no one wanted to hang out with me. I had my books, and the forest. From an early age, I knew why others didn’t understand me. Even now, it’s exactly the same.
It was tough, and I kept going, telling myself, one day everything would change.
Something happened when I woke up in the hospital after my magic turned against me. I remember being with my parents, then all my memories were suspiciously cut off. I don’t know why I ended up alone in a dark chamber in the first place.
I get outside the castle and start running when the fresh, humid air hits my lungs. I pass an outbuilding, not even knowing where I’m going. Maybe this whole contest was a bad idea.
Jorgen plays with my emotions. He only healed me because he knows who I am. There isn’t any other explanation. There has to be other Wyverns in the Eastern World, and Rivenna. I can’t be the only one.
The sky is navy, scattered with stars, and I run, wanting to disappear forever. The burn wound stings a little, but I ignore the pain.
I trip over a stone and fall down onto the wet grass, bruising my hand. I begin to sob uncontrollably and start pounding the ground with my fists. For some reason, I can’t stop feeling defeated by everyone around me. I scratch my nails over my deformed cheek, digging until the pain makes me numb. My fingers are sticky with blood.
No one ever told me the contest was going to be easy, but even in the castle people laugh at me. I shouldn’t care; I’m better than that. Tears fall down my cheeks anyway. I look up, seeing the castle, and questioning what the hell is wrong with me.
I’m in second place, and I have to stop being so weak. Lenin and Jetli would give me hell if they saw me breaking down.
Somehow, I manage to lift myself up and slowly make my way back to the castle. The past doesn’t matter. People should know I accepted who I am. Sebastian is no one and I don’t know why I care what he thinks about me.
When I finally return to the chamber undetected and remove the invisibility spell, I feel ashamed of myself. My face is swollen and bruised in places—I look horrendous! I hate when people say I would be really pretty if it weren’t for the scar.
Nothing will ever change. I’ll always be the deformed girl. I just have to learn to live with it.
I wipe the tears away and climb into bed, forcing myself to get it together.
In the end, I manage to drift off, knowing I’m no longer tied up to my human family and their judgmental looks.
“Astri … wake up! Wake up. It’s a new day and we need to fill our hungry bellies,” Lenin says, poking me in my healthy cheek with his tiny finger. It’s my fault I’m tired now. I wandered off in the middle of the night and had a complete breakdown.
I stretch my arms and push the covers away.
Suddenly Jetli starts flying around me, pointing at my face.
“Calm down, Jetli,” I say.
“Your cheek, Astri. What happened? It’s all red and looks bad, man,” Lenin says and I automatically lift my hand to my scar.
Now I remember. I cut myself yesterday, thinking it would actually make me feel better about myself.
It was stupid, and now I look even worse than yesterday.
“It’s nothing. I probably just scratched it while I was sleeping,” I say, waving it off like it’s no big deal.
After that, I shut myself in the bathroom to avoid further questions from Lenin and Jetli, and my reflection in the mirror only confirms I need to start taking better care of myself. My arm’s still sore and my self-esteem is crushed.
“We know what you’re doing in there, Astri. Pull yourself together. The contest won’t win itself!” Lenin shouts, and I hear him hitting the door with his tiny hands. I roll my eyes and take a few deep breaths to calm down.
I really need to stop feeling sorry for myself. Sebastian’s an arsehole, and I shouldn’t care what he thinks about me, but last night his words struck a nerve in the worst way, bringing back all of my dreaded insecurities. Instead of dwelling on the past, I need to focus on the present—the contest and winning. No more damn tears.
“I’m fine, Lenin, just don’t rub it in. Let’s go and get breakfast,” I say, finally opening the door.
“You’re strong, and don’t hide. We believe in you, even if you don’t believe in yourself,” Lenin says, giving me his usual sharp look.
We head over to the dining room. Sebastian and Alun are already there, along with a few other staff members I don’t recognise. There’s no sign of Duke Jorgen and I’m relieved I don’t have to deal with him this morning.
“Hey, sugar. No hard feelings, right? You seem fine and I was just trying to win,” Sebastian shouts from his table. I give him a half smile and tell Lenin to stay by my side when he tries to fly to him. What a dick.
After I fill my stomach, I try to ignore the curious stares from the staff working in the castle. Thayer walks around handing everyone the new training schedule. The duke must have paused the next tasks, waiting for me to heal. Now it looks like he gave all contestants a break before the next task.
“One week before I have a chance to prove to the young duke that the bunch of you are useless,” Sebastian laughs, then winks at me when I take my tray back. I ignore him, knowing I have to prove to him I’m not just a scarred little girl, but a strong Wyvern who can burn this whole town to the ground. He can shove his taunts up his arse.
Chapter 12
Shining prizes.
I feel great jumping over a broken tree and running towards the castle grounds. My pulse pounds in my ears, and my breathing is laboured. I’ve clocked at least ten miles today and all other contestants are way behind me. Even Sebastian has been struggling to keep up with my speed in the past few days. It’s probably eating him alive. Good.
All those years spent with Jared in the forest are finally paying off. I see Thayer and a few other members of Jorgen’s entourage in the distance. It’s another training day for me, and I wonder why they’re here now. Maybe the duke’s advisors have something important to announce.
The week flew by. We’ve been training every day, pushing each other and learning how to fight with knives and swords. Jorgen made an appearance once or twice, providing us with his own exercise regimen. I’ve never been more fit, but after the day I’ve had in the forest, I’ll be sleeping well tonight.
No one knows what to expect in the next task. There’ve been many rumours going around the castle, but none of Jorgen’s people confirmed anything concrete. I managed to lift myself up after my breakdown in the middle of the castle grounds. Luckily, no one saw me and I
feel lucky to have the ability to disappear whenever I want.
“Awesome, Astri. I think this is your best time today,” Lenin says, staring down at Thayer’s watch.
I lean down, trying to catch my breath, watching as the others begin crossing the finish line too. Energy travels into my system, pressing against my skin and seeping into my pores.
“Duke Jorgen’s expecting all of you in the courtyard at six a.m. sharp. Anyone late will be automatically excluded from the competition,” Thayer announces once everyone has gathered around him.
I’ll be sore tomorrow, but that’s fine. Every day I’ve tried pushing myself further, knowing hard work would eventually pay off. Lenin and Jetli are getting used to the luxuries of the castle, and I can’t imagine going back to my old life in the basement. I always enjoyed working for Emilia, but apart from hunting, my duties weren’t very challenging.
Soon after, I head towards my chamber, wondering what kind of surprises Jorgen’s prepared this time around. Sebastian might be confident, but I’m more determined to prove to him that he shouldn’t count me out. I’m in second place, after all.
I walk back to my chamber, while the Pixies are flying in front, and Lenin’s telling Jetli off for something. Despite the fact Jetli’s mute, those two fight with each other all the time. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve had to separate them.
I contemplate the next few days while holding a bottle of water in my hand, lost in my own thoughts. I walk into someone, dropping my hunter’s knife and the bottle rolls over the marble floor.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble, noticing I walked into the duke himself. Warmth floods my chest again and now I feel bad for being so clumsy around him. I quickly drop down to pick up my knife and static electricity moves over my body when Jorgen’s hand touches mine. We reached for the knife at the same time and my heart nearly stopped beating.
My thoughts start racing and more heat sweeps down my throat. I quickly pull my hand away, mindful he notices my abrupt movement. Did he feel it too?
A mysterious smile appears on his face and I try to count to ten. These fuzzy feelings should be replaced by full-blown hatred. The duke isn’t my friend—he’s my enemy. My stupid body keeps betraying me every time I’m in his presence. Whether it’s magic or something else entirely. He’s too distracting with his good looks and charming demeanour. I know it’s all a façade.
We both rise to our feet at the same time and I quickly put the knife in my back pocket, knowing my entire face is flushed. Something changed when he healed me and I can’t seem to deal with the new flood of emotions that rapidly wash over me. Acting like a pathetic schoolgirl around him won’t change anything. He’s almost eleven years older than me. Nothing’s going to change the reality of the situation—he’s responsible for everything that went wrong in my life.
Jorgen’s eyes drift over to my face. I see a hint of desperation and pain in his expression. Only now, I notice dark circles and a haunted, exhausted look I see far too often on my own face. Jorgen looks like he hasn’t been sleeping lately. I should be concerned with my own well-being and stop worrying about his. I can’t allow this to become a habit, thinking of him in such a way. Lenin and Jetli are staring at us, whispering to each other.
“Don’t worry, Astri. It looks like you were thinking about something intensely,” he says. “Are you ready for tomorrow?”
“Yes, pretty much,” I say and look down at my feet, feeling as if my ears are on fire.
“How are your injuries? The doctor told me everything’s healing nicely.”
“Good, I’m fine. Ready to compete, my lord,” I respond, and I can’t help but add, “Is everything all right, my lord? If you don’t mind me saying so, you look worried?”
I have to gain his trust somehow and becoming invested in his life is a good strategy, as long as I keep my feelings close to my chest. His jaw hardens, and he sighs loudly, before saying, “My father’s health took a turn for the worse last night. The healers are doing everything they can, but if his condition doesn’t improve, I might have to accept it’s time to say goodbye.”
My face falls and I don’t know how to react. This is indeed sad news. His father has always been respected and even Jared believed he created numerous, useful laws.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I mutter. “What about your venom, my lord? Wouldn’t it help?”
“No, his and my magic aren’t a good match. This happens at times, even with family members. The doctors are using other alternative methods, but he’s only getting worse. Nothing seems to be working,” the duke admits with heavy heart. “He’s dying, Astri.”
“Maybe there’s still a chance,” I say.
“I don’t believe so, but thank you,” he adds in a sad tone of voice. “I need to head over to see someone. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good luck.”
He moves past me and I stand there, thinking about his father. Hans negotiated many peaceful treaties between other countries and his dragon was considered one of the most powerful in the whole Eastern World. It’s sad no one can help him.
“The lordi lord is sad, Astri,” Lenin says, pulling me back to reality.
“Yes, it’s a real shame. Come on, guys, let’s go to my chamber,” I urge them and start rushing through the corridors.
“Stupid, stupid girl. How could you fall for something like that? His father might not be dying. Jorgen is a liar,” I say to myself, knowing he was probably trying to manipulate me into revealing more information about myself.
I can’t get distracted. I have to focus tomorrow and take the lead from Sebastian. It’s the only way I can get closer to Jorgen.
“I’m nervous, Astri. I barely slept last night and now my lids are stuck together,” Lenin complains when we show up outside on the courtyard at six a.m. the next day.
“What are you talking about, Lenin? You snored your head off all night, and I couldn’t sleep because of you.” I laugh, feeling confident today’s going to be a good day, even though I was up most of the night thinking about Hans.
The reporters are here again, other shifters too, most of them gathered to watch us compete. I spot Sebastian’s wife who’s trying hard to get the duke’s attention, but he doesn’t notice her. I wonder what would happen if her husband was out of the picture. She has an extraordinary amount of makeup on her face and it looks completely unnatural.
I don’t know how she puts up with him. I hope he has greater respect for her than he’s shown for me during this competition. I suppose, in his mind, women know their place. Ugh. He’s such a smug arsehole. I can’t wait to wipe that nasty grin off his stupid face when I take over first place. He also needs a good throat punch, but I don’t think the duke would believe it to be appropriate. A girl can dream.
“No. I never. I don’t snore,” Lenin hisses back, looking grumpy. Jetli’s giggling to herself.
I don’t say anything else, aware the duke and Thayer are just about to address the crowd. Nervous tremors move down my spine. I need to demonstrate to everyone I’m much more skilled than Sebastian’s overconfident, arrogant arse. It’s my chance to shine.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. The time has come. The next task will bring us closer to a real winner. Everyone in the castle is looking forward to seeing what I have prepared for the contestants today,” Jorgen says and the crowd applauds.
“Just give it to me, duke. I don’t want to listen to this bullshit,” I hear Sebastian shout from somewhere in the back and Alun laughs at his pathetic joke. Two arseholes.
I’m fed up with hearing he’s the best and the most skilled out of us all. Sometimes it’s good to remain humble or at least keep your snide remarks to yourself. I seriously can’t stand his face. I think Lenin’s rubbing off on me in a bad way.
“The crystal challenge. You’ll enter the Shadow Cave and locate magical crystals that offer protection to dragons. Obviously, there will be obstacles, and you’ll have to use your intelligence and speed to reach places inside the cave. A
s usual, the first person to bring these protective crystals back to me will score the most points,” the duke says, ending his speech.
I look at Lenin and Jetli, and they put their thumbs up. This challenge seems fairly simple, and I know enough about the Shadow Cave to find the crystals Jorgen asked for. There are stones out there that can weaken our magic and abilities and some that can shield us from fire and smoke. It seems Jorgen’s not only looking for a decent fighter, but also someone with certain skills and knowledge.
Thayer takes over and tells us we have to enter the cave through an old tunnel under the castle, created specifically for this purpose. Jorgen’s watching me and I try hard to ignore the warmth creeping into my cheeks. We follow Thayer down a hill that descends significantly by the north tower.
Someone pushes me from behind and I nearly trip over Elijah who’s walking in front of me.
“Stay out of my way, little girl, or you’ll regret you ever thought about participating in this contest,” Sebastian hisses in my ear, then moves to the front. I clench my fists, thinking about giving him my fire song, but there are too many witnesses around. Damn him. We’ll see who regrets what, dip shit. He’s pushing me past the point of pissed off to a murderous rage, but I’m not a murderer. However, a good arse kicking with tonnes of blood would suit me just fine.
Lenin and Jetli are flying behind me. They aren’t allowed to go with me. My cheek burns a little when I sense magical energy drifting around me. I can feel it crackling down my legs and fusing my bones lightly. I glance around, wanting to find its owner, but everyone seems lost in their own thoughts.
Sebastian and Alun enter the dark tunnel first and I’m right behind them. Jorgen must have used magic to create a passage between the castle and the Shadow Cave on the verge of the Decaying Mountains.