Heir of the Solstice by Samara Saward

Author:Samara Saward [Saward, Samara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-12-14T06:00:00+00:00

sixteen

Forty minutes after I clear the Forest of Eternal Dusk, King Silas and Shadow Man take to the shadows. Possibly heading back to the trial’s start. It’s time for the second group of maidens to conquer their fears. I take the king’s absence as an opportunity to talk to Rone.

I grab his hand, which is warm against mine, and drag him out of the tent. Far enough away that we won’t be overheard. I release his hand when I decide we’re safe from eager ears.

I tuck that same errant strand of hair behind my ear that always bloody falls out. “In the forest, I used light magic. How’d did that go down with King Alston?”

“Ah, yes. I was going to talk to you about that. Why would you do that?”

“One, because I couldn’t see. Two, because we had to use magic.” I take in his lowered eyebrows and the slight downward curve to his mouth. “I thought I was allowed to pretend I’m a light mage? What’s wrong?”

He runs a hand through his hair, his tattooed bicep flexes with the action. “The king definitely took notice. A light mage with elemental powers? It’s all but unheard of.”

“That would explain the look he gave me when I finished the trial.”

“What look?” His voice is as sharp as a whip crack. I give him a perplexed look. He repeats himself. “What look, Bloom?”

“It was almost as if he was assessing me. I don’t know. But I get the feeling he’ll be watching me more closely from now on.”

Rone swears under his breath. “I’ll talk to Cas. See if we can’t teach you some magic similar to his light powers. Leave it with me.”

He leaves me standing in the middle of the field, my thoughts spinning like a damn clothes dryer.

If I’m under the king’s scrutiny, will that hinder any plans of escape I can come up with? I’ve just made things so much harder for myself. Just by throwing a few orbs of light. By being uncomfortable in the dark.

Stupid. So fucking stupid.

I wander back to the tent, taking a seat on a large orange cushion. Five of the escorts leave the tent, gathering behind a long table where several people sit jotting down notes and bending their heads together in whispered conversation. Must be the judges. Okano and Clovis aren’t by the judges’ table, meaning Juniper and Larry are yet to begin their trials.

A purple cushion thumps to the ground beside me and a familiar arm hovers in my periphery. “Do you mind?” asks Clovis.

“Not at all. Please.” I gesture to the cushion. “My escort disappeared somewhere, so I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be doing.”

“We just wait here until everyone clears the trial. I’m sure your escort just got held up.” Clovis pins his dark eyes on the judging panel. “I heard some snippets from the judges about your trial.”

I don’t bother answering. If he’s going to berate me, I’m not giving him ammunition. Instead, I watch as King Alston and Noxen return in an explosion of shadows and join the judges.

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