I pressed myself against the gnarled trunk of an ancient tree, heart thudding. I felt them close, and I recognized those voices anywhere.
“Did you have fun yesterday?” Marla Yung said.
“Yes,” Rory Rey replied, her voice low and edged. “A bit of potions, some laughing and dancing, and no Solenhart for once.”
Of course, they were friends, not sure why I didn’t expect it. They might have been from different factions, but friendship across factions was not extremely uncommon. Despicable people are always drawn together.
“Tell me about it. She’s everywhere lately. Her being in Dragontail was never part of the plan. Now I have to see her all the time.” Marla’s voice purred, thick with smugness.
Rory answered. “Ugo says I overdid it with the princess on the mat; he even pulled me away at the end. But I had to. After what her family did…”
Marla scoffed. “Yes, they forget who she is. I don’t understand what Thalen sees in her. He even made a whole jealousy scene in the arena.”
“Forget about Thalen Barret,” Rory said flatly. “You need to stop wasting time on him. Stop drooling.”
Then other footsteps. Two of them and a honey-jasmine scent I knew instantly. Lorik Draventh.
“Rory is right, Marla. Thalen Barret is an entitled prick who thinks he’s above everyone else,” Lorik said, his voice dry as sand. And he wasn’t wrong. Thalen had always carried himself like a noble raised above the commoners, always certain he deserved more, even when he tried to pretend otherwise.
“Look who honors us with his presence,” Rory joked. “We missed you yesterday.” “You know bars and potions aren’t really my thing,” Lorik said.
“Our lives are stressful enough. A little fun helps,” Marla chimed.
“Your eyes, Rory,” Ugo said quietly. “Did you drink potions yesterday? You need to...” “I can do it by the river. We are late,” Rory said with a kind, soft voice I barely recognized. Their footsteps cracked the underbrush, fading into the forest.
I waited, still as stone, until silence crept back in and the river’s roar filled the space where voices had been. But the moment I stepped from my hiding place, Lorik Draventh was already there, waiting.
He shoved me back, pinning me against the wide base of the sequoia. His eyes burned as he loomed over me, close enough to feel the heat rolling off him.
“So, you do like to lurk and follow me,” he said with an edge of amusement.
“I could say the same about you,” I snapped, fury rising in my chest. “I was here first. Now move away.”
I tried to push him, but it didn't help.
“I asked what you were doing here.” He commanded.
“Fine!” I said, giving up the fight. “I was recharging my spirit with nature. Happy? I was not trying to spy on you.”
He lifted a frown with curiosity. A face I hadn’t seen wear before.
“Interesting choice of words.”
“Are you done? Let me go,” I demanded.
I pulled fire into my hands out of my uncontrolled range, and fear mingled together. I pushed fire into him, but without a doubt, he pulled a wall of shadows around him to block the flames.
Lorik still didn’t flinch.
My fire was extinguished as quickly as it came from my hands.
“Now that is how you channel your emotions to combat,” Lorik said, almost impressed, stepping back to let me walk away.
“Stop pretending you care about mentoring me. I will tell Professor Hog to remove me from your mentees.” I chastised him while walking to the trail again, as fast as I could, without looking desperate.
“Good luck with that.”
“You forget, I’m the heir of Solenhart. Privilege follows me whether I want it or not,” I said, letting the sarcasm cut sharply.