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Cheers erupted from the gathered Iron Fae and Félvér, while teasing boos resounded from everyone else.
With a casual, indifferent air, I leaped from the platform, landing lightly in the space below, and strode toward the closest station. Drazen had already laid out a ceremonial bow and iron arrow for me, and I notched and drew it, taking aim at the target. Black flame erupted along the bolt as it flew straight and true to the center, flaring briefly before extinguishing completely.
“Let the games begin!” I shouted.
10
Béke Day Two
Ruslan fired four more iron arrows into the target, his aim near-perfect. Cheers erupted from the Iron Fae and Félvér watching as our king set a high bar for his subjects to follow. When he finished, he returned to the stage at the far end of the range, joining Queen Viktoria to survey the competition below. The high-backed chair where he lounged glittered with precious gems, and he looked every bit the ruler he was. I bit my lip and blushed as he caught my eye and winked.
Drazen nudged me forward, and I realized I was being herded toward a quickly forming line where contestants queued to give their names and realms in exchange for a number. Liliana was ten paces ahead of me, and as if she could sense my attention on her, she turned, waving.
The line moved quickly until suddenly we stood before the booth.
“Izidora Valynor,” I said to the male who marked names.
“What realm?” he asked, not looking up from his paper.
“None,” I said, though my voice did not hold much conviction. I couldn’t choose – not yet, not when the pressure of my bigger choice loomed over me like an executioner’s blade.
He handed me a number – ninety-four. “Strap that around your arm,” he instructed.
Drazen fastened it for me, then secured his own place in the competition. He fetched a bow for me, this one much smaller in size than the ones wielded by the large males in front of me. Zuriel joined us in line, along with a few of the Demons I had begun to recognize as they emerged from their cocoon of safety.
“What realm are you representing?” Drazen asked them.
The taller male Demon, whose black hair seemed to suck in all the light around it, replied first. “We decided to represent our continent, Keleti, rather than any realm.”
Drazen nodded, not seeming surprised by their choice.
“Each Telivér has chosen to represent their respective continent as a way to show worldwide unity,” Zuriel explained, and I knew my cousin well enough now to know that pride filled his voice.
Before, it had struck me as odd that Zuriel had not hated or rebelled against the Iron Realm that kept him chained to this continent with magical binds, but there was something about the way he spoke of the continent of Angels and Demons, Keleti, that made me think he was happy to leave it behind.
Around us, conversations were loud and filled with laughter, and I opened my empath magic to absorb the positive energy buzzing in the air, replenishing my stores for whatever may lie ahead. Ruslan constantly reminded me to keep up my strength, and I loved that he chose to empower me so often. It helped me remember just how powerful I was when moments of self-doubt crept in.
Absentmindedly, I played with the string on my bow, letting my thoughts drift, but when we were about halfway through theline for the archery stations, it broke, stinging my finger as it whipped to the side. I cursed, and Drazen looked it over. “There are more bows around the corner there.” He pointed in the direction of a small building overflowing with various goods and leftover building materials. “Test out a few until you find one that you can pull. I don’t think there are any smaller ones left.”
“Hold my spot!” I tossed over my shoulder as I jogged away. Dozens of bows lay against the wall, and I picked up the smallest one I could find, pulling back on the string and testing its flexion. I tried two more before the hairs on the back of my neck rose, causing me to pause and scan my surroundings. All I heard were the shouts and cheers of the archery competition in the distance. Otherwise I was alone.
But Kazimir had to be nearby, otherwise this tug low in my belly would not be so insistent.
The last bow I tested was sufficient, and I hurried back to the safety of where Drazen, Zuriel, and the Demons waited in line, that sense of being watched never leaving me, even as the line grew shorter. I craned my neck, searching the crowd for any sign of Kazimir, but he never appeared.
“Who are you looking for?” Drazen asked.
“Kazimir,” I whispered under my breath, knowing his keen senses would pick up on my words while the Fae around us would not.
Drazen whipped his head around, searching for the male. “I don’t see him. Why are you looking for Kazimir?” His voice dropped into a serious tone, a hint of concern peeking through. Zuriel took a step closer after making his own scan of our surroundings.
Blowing out a breath, I decided to admit the truth to them. “Because I canfeelhim like I can feel Ruslan. When I went to get a new bow, I felt like someone was watching me, and I felt thattug like he was around. But there was no one over there, except for me.”
Drazen’s dark brows pinched above his lapis lazuli eyes. “What’s his Night Fae magic?”
I chewed my lip, debating about revealing Kazimir’s magic to someone who could be a possible foe, depending on which mate I chose. I decided on vagueness. “Other than offensive blasts and such? He uses shadows.”
“And you searched the shadows too?” Zuriel questioned, giving me a light nudge to step forward in line and close the gap I’d left in my absentmindedness.
