Blood rushed through my ears, and a wave of dizziness hit me.
Sari was sickly pale as she stared at me like I was filthy. Faint blue bruises covered the side of her pretty face.
Just a few days ago, I’d ripped Horace off her and stabbed him to death.
Tara had been dead beside us as I’d carried Sari’s limp body through the corridor and laid her at Lyla’s feet. I’d collapsed onto the dance floor as colors and sounds spun around me.
Tara’s sightless eyes staring at the ceiling.
Sari under Horace on the bed, refusing to look at me as she bled out.
I brought my pipe to my lips, and it rattled against my teeth.
Nausea churned my gut.
I pursed my lips but couldn’t inhale.
My lungs were flat.
Sari knew me. She’d eaten lunch beside me every day for a month while I’d helped her with her homework. We’d talked for hours.
She was a friend.
From her expression, we weren’t friends anymore.
I tore my eyes away and stared down at the cracked gray floor. Scuffed my toes back and forth.
Concentrated on anything but the pressure on my chest.
“Settle down!” Lothaire held up his hand, and the hall quieted. “Students will still attend their respective classes but will get competition days off. The members of the academy legion will no longer attend class because they will be recovering and training.”
The students murmured with disappointment.
“Silence!” Lothaire shouted.
No one made a sound.
He breathed deeply, then said calmly, “As some of you know, the Legionnaire Games is a showcase where the strongest warriors in the realm compete before the gods. Yes, that means exactly what you’ve probably guessed—”
He paused dramatically.
Everyone stared at him with rapt attention.
“War is coming.”
Ice washed down my spine.
“A stadium is being assembled as we speak on the west lawn of this island, and per tradition, there will be six legions that compete. They are arriving now. You will treat them with respect and will bring pride to this academy.”
There was another swell of excited chattering.
Lothaire continued, “The gods will observe the legions in four competitions that will be held every ten to twelve days. All teams will be evaluated to see what role will fit them best in the upcoming war. After the first four performances, the gods will choose their top two legions to compete against each other in a showcase.”
Forty days.
Four competitions.
That was doable.
Lothaire spread his arms wide theatrically. “If the two chosen legions pass the showcase test, then the games conclude and all teams will be given their assignments. However, if the gods dislike what they see in the showcase, the games restart from the beginning. The process will continue until the top two legions pass the final test. Some of these games last for two months. Other times, they last for years.”
I blinked.
Never mind, not doable.
I wanted to puke.
Lothaire’s face was hard as he said, “If the top two legions pass the test in the showcase tournament, they will be named the champions in the next war. The rest will be sorted into leadership roles, training and guiding the generals, spies, assassins, and foot soldiers.”
Students smirked at one another across their tables.
Grown men trembled with excitement.
Like this was all a game.
A realm-wide war against something that was so serious it was led by the gods. It didn’t take a genius to see this was about the ungodly.
The implications of everything hit me.
I would fight with the men standing beside me in a war. There was no escaping them.
We were now a legion.
Lothaire spread his arms. “Now, before we welcome the other five legions, I have one more announcement.”
His expression hardened.
“It is now necessary to inform you that Aran is really Arabella Alis Egan, Ruling Queen of the Fae Realm. She’s been disguised as a male for safety, but circumstances have changed, and the subterfuge is no longer needed.”
The entire hall stared at me.
Waited.
My fingers were numb as I pulled back my black hood and my unruly blue curls tumbled out. The bright-blue mane ensured I always stood out.
I donned the blank expression of a heartless queen.
“Holy fuck!” someone screamed, and the room erupted in shouts as everyone chose collectively to lose their minds.
I stared forward like I was bored.
Unbothered.
You’re a pampered, unfeeling despot. I pretended to be the heartless bitch Sari thought I was.
Men and women picked me apart like vultures as their voices swirled around me like a vortex.
“Wait, she’s actually hot.”
“I still thought the queen would be prettier.”
I made a mental note to throat punch whoever said that.
“I’ll bet you a fortune. I’ll have her on her knees within a week.”
“I’ll have her within three days.”
“Didn’t she kill her own mother and eat her heart?”
“I heard there’s a warrant on her head.”
Lothaire spoke loudly, but his voice barely cut through the fray. “You will treat her with respect, like the rest of her legion. I am aware that she is wanted back in the fae realm. However, the gods have decided that her services are needed here. If anyone tries to harm her, they will answer to me and I will not be merciful. This is your only warning.”
His threatening speech didn’t stop the whispers. More people started talking.
“I wonder how much she paid Lothaire to say that.”
“How embarrassing that she pretended to be a guy. I’m sure the men are super pissed right now. I would be.”
“Does that mean she’s competing in the games? She doesn’t look like a warrior; she’s going to get destroyed.”
“I heard she’s insane like her mother.”
“She probably pretended to be a guy so she could get close to the kings. What a slut.”
“I heard she’s powerless and doesn’t even have any fae abilities. She’s desperate for power. She’s probably been fucking the men.”
“As soon as she sets foot in the fae realm, she’s dead.”
“She must be so embarrassed right now.”
Ice crept up my throat, and the numbness became a ledge.
The ledge was razor thin.
I was free-falling.
John grabbed my shoulders and forcibly turned me so I was facing him and not the rest of the hall.
Sandalwood surrounded me as he stepped closer. His dark eyes were intense. “Are you okay? You look like you’re about to pass out.”
“I’m fine.” I tried to suck on my pipe, and I missed my mouth.
John patted my back. “Don’t fall apart now.” He flashed his dimples and whispered, “It will ruin our street cred.”
I choked. “What street cred?”
“Exactly.” He nodded gravely. “Honestly, I can’t be your friend if you’re going to fall apart over nothing. It’s bad for business.”
“I’m not falling apart,” I hissed with annoyance. “And what business?”
“You don’t want to know. If I tell you, then I’ll have to kill you.” He playfully ruffled my curls.