Fingers twitching, I reach down into the depths of mymagic, deeper than I’ve ever gone before, and something within me snaps free—a wellspring of power I didn’t know existed, fierce and unyielding, raw and unstoppable. My anger fuels it, flaring brighter, hotter, until I feel the magic surge through me like fire, like an unbreakable tide.
I will be forever fierce.
I will be forever fearless.
And I will be, forever, fucking, free!
With every ounce of strength I have left, I pull on that power, the water around me stirring, responding to my call, churning into a relentless current beneath me. I channel it, focus it, commanding it to carry me up, up, up—and with a cry, I surge upward, the water roaring in a column beneath me, lifting me with unstoppable force.
The ice above shatters as I break through, shards scattering around me as I burst from the dark, soaring into the air, a pillar of water propelling me forward. I land back on the icy surface, gasping, the world around me coming into sharp, vivid clarity.
Gasping for breath, I scramble to my feet, the crackle of power igniting between my fingertips.
Thank you, Morath,I whisper my gratitude to the god as I shake my head, clearing my vision to see Selene standing a few paces away, staring at me in shock.
But her shock quickly turns to fear as she stumbles backward, the very ice she stood on now splintering beneath her weight. The ground gives way, the cracks spider-webbing outward, and before she can react, she’s falling, her scream echoing as she plunges into the dark water below.
For a heartbeat, I stand frozen, watching her disappear. It would be easy—so easy—to let her fall, to walk away, to finish the race and win. But something within me rebels, an instinct so fierce it drowns out every thought of revenge or victory. I reach out, summoning the water around her, wrapping it in asafe current, and with a steady pull, I guide her back to the surface. Grabbing the back of her armour, I drag her to the surface, turning her to the side as she splutters out a lungful of water.
Selene’s eyes meet mine, wide with shock, her face pale and confused. “Why?” she whispers, her voice raw and broken.
I hold her gaze, feeling the truth settle within me, solid and unshakable. “Because my promise to protect people doesn’t only kick in after I take the Keeper’s oath.”
She stares at me, speechless, her body limp on the ice, the weight of my words sinking in. Leaving her, I turn, every part of me aching with exhaustion but my spirit blazing with resolve. I don’t look back as I cross the final stretch, closing the distance between me and the finish line, each metre filling me with new strength. And as I finally take the final step over it, a surge of triumph floods me, filling every corner of my being.
The crowd erupts into cheers, the sound echoing through the chamber, but for a brief moment, all I can hear is the rush of my heartbeat, the beat of triumph that thrums through my veins. I look up, catching Rylan’s proud, steady gaze from across the field, and a fierce smile breaks across my face.
And in that moment I know…
I’ve won.
FIFTY-TWO
Eirabella
Brienne is practically buzzingwith excitement as she fusses over my hair, fingers weaving and twisting with practised skill as she talks a million miles a second. Recounting the trial from beginning to end, she embellishes with details that I don’t even remember, which is odd, having been the one who experienced it firsthand (and first foot and head and arms and legs and every other exhausted and sore part of my body). Her energy is contagious, though, and while I wish I could just collapse into Rylan’s bed, wrapped in his arms, and sleep for a whole season, I’m also swept away by the grandiosity of it all. I smile as she asks me questions that I can’t answer because I was too busy doing the trial to be taking notes about the trial itself.
“But when Selene melted the ice under your feet… did you think you were going to die?”
ThatI can answer.Yes.For a moment, I did think I was going to die. Until I didn’t anymore. And then I didn’t. And ifthere’s any single lesson I’ll take from the whole experience, it’s that.
“What a dirty little sneak,” Brienne mutters under her breath, making her thoughts about Selene’s gamesmanship clear.
“She just really wanted to win,” I say, wondering if I could have been so dismissive about it if I hadn’t emerged the victor.
Brienne grumbles a few more unrepeatable words under her breath, then stands back, hands on her hips, to admire her handiwork. “Forget her. Tonight is your night! You look absolutely radiant.” She pauses, her voice catching slightly as she continues, catching my eyes in the mirror. “I knew you could do it, though. I never doubted you, not for a single moment. Not from that first moment I saw Mistress Verisya walking you to her quarters that first day. I told the other girls,‘whoever that is, she’s going to turn this castle upside down.’”
Her eyes shine, and I feel a warmth flood my chest. “Thank you,” I murmur, barely able to find my voice. “But if you recall, I could barely turn a glass upside down those first few days.”
Brienne steps closer, fixing the intricate braid that circles my head. “You’re going to take everyone’s breath away. Especially Prince Rylan’s.” She gives me a sly grin, but before I can respond, there’s a knock on the door.
My heart leaps. The man himself. We hadn’t had a chance to speak after the trial. After I had crossed the finish line and Selene had been taken to the healers, King Halford had come down from the balcony to announce me as the victor. And then all chaos had ensued, with me being surrounded by people, each wanting to ask a hundred questions and tell me what was next for me.
Finally, Mathis and Grellor had pushed through the crowd and made sure I got back to my room safely. But only after asking me their own spate of questions. Finally, Brienne hadshown up and none-too-discreetly started taking my clothes off and then pointedly asked if they were going to hang around while I disrobed and climbed into the hot bath. Grellor hadn’t needed any other prompting and was out the door before Brienne could even finish her threats. Mathis, though, had stopped to give me a tight hug and tell me how proud he was of me. And then gave me one more hug, saying that it was from Doran.
I jump from my chair, my own excitement spilling over as I rush to the door and throw it open—only to be met with a familiar grin that isn’t Rylan’s.
“Caelum!” I exclaim, a delighted laugh escaping my lips. His mischievous grin widens as he steps into the room, his presence as effortless and commanding as always. I can’t help but throw my arms around him, the tension in my shoulders easing in an instant. “I wasn’t expecting you!”
