Page 22 of Severed Heir

He rested his chin in his hand, head tilted as he studied me. “What realm are you from? A flame like that doesn’t come from nowhere. You must be true-blooded.”

“You’ll never guess,” I said.

“Let me try.” There was a playful glint in his eyes, like he wanted this to become a guessing game. “Ravensla? Most of them have green or hazel eyes. Rumor is they used to lure soldiers into the southern dunes with a single look.”

“I wasn’t born in Ravensla.”

“Well, you’re clearly Summer-born,” he continued, “There are what—eight Summer lands? Gives me about a twelve percent chance. Based on your reaction to Ravensla, I’d say... six more tries, seeing as I have never seen you in my country.”

“Who says I’m Summer?” I challenged.

He grinned. “Then give me a hint.”

“I don’t think even a hint would help.”

Across the training circle, Myla raised her hand and pointed at a tall, broad-shouldered male whose face drained of color.

“Fraser,” she called.

“Shit,” he muttered, unsheathing a dagger. “I just wanted to win one round.”

The male beside me chuckled, his voice dipping low. “So, where are you really from?”

“North Colindale.”

His brows lifted. “A Frozen valley? Damn. Must’ve been fun explaining the flame to your family.”

“Listen, I’m not here to make friends. And I can’t help you with your flame.”

He smirked. “Then let’s be mortal enemies. Could be fun.”

I scoffed. “Mortal enemies? What are you, twelve?” I wasn’t sure why I was being so harsh—maybe because he was too easygoing, or maybe because today wasn’t the day to be friendly.

Before he could answer, Rok’s voice sliced through the field. “Keep your foot grounded, Myla! Everyone else, find a partner. First to draw blood or break a bone wins.”

From the crowd, Antonia stepped forward, her gaze locking on mine. “Severyn,” she purred. “Care to gamble at dueling again?”

The male raised a brow. “You two know each other? Are you a Serpent haul?”

Antonia rolled her eyes. “If you were smart, you’d stop flirting with Severyn.”

He ran a hand through his curls, grinning. “I never said I was smart.” Then, with a wink, “Honestly, I’m quite dumb.”

“I can tell,” Antonia muttered, and before I could blink, a shadow swept beneath my feet. The ground vanished, and I landed hard on my ass.

“Get up, Blanche,” she sneered. “Didn’t expect you to fold that fast.”

I gritted my teeth, swallowing the sharp flare of pain in my palm. I pushed myself upright, hands slick with sweat, eyes burning. They weren’t looking at me as the Serpent’s daughter anymore. Now I was just a guard’s sister—and expectations? They landed harder than fists.

I raised my relic again, smoke curling from my fingers. But she was faster. Shadows surged like a wall, swallowing the flame before it could spark. Then, behind me a sharp crack split the air.

I turned, just in time to see Cully freeze mid-note, his quill slipping from his fingers. He hadn’t known about my flame. The way his fingers scrambled for another quill said enough. But I didn’t have time to mourn whatever belief had just shattered in him—because Antonia struck again.

“I’m the hot, silver-haired shadow-wielder, and you’re just… helpless.” Her voice rang out, but the shadows she hurled lacked their usual sharpness.

Something was off.

But whatever it was, she shook it off. Her shadowed fist slammed into my cheekbone, snapping my head to the side. I hit the ground hard. A drop of blood slipped from my lip, and she’d won.

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