Page 7 of Courting War
The girls followed suit, and Theo refracted them to their homes one by one. Cecile was last in line.
“Where do you want to go?” Theo asked.
“Theoden,” Cecile said, storms in her little irises.
Theo creased her brow. “Why? Andromeda is your home.”
“Not anymore.” Cecile crossed her arms. “My parents don’t want me, so why should I return to them—to those traitors?”
Theo nodded, not wanting to know any more details. If her parents didn’t want her, that was their business, not Theo’s.
“Alright.” Theo clutched the girl’s wrist too tightly and refracted to the palace in Theoden.
Using her abilities to bend matter, Theo conjured a letter that read,Take care of the child. Give her everything she needs. If you don’t, you will deal with War’s wrath.
Theodra attached the note to the girl’s chest with magic and walked her up the palace steps. In her most terrifying voice, Theo said to the guards, “I trust you to get this child to the king and queen.” She plastered a smile as fierce as fangs on her lips. “I will know if you don’t.”
The guards nodded, fear caking their features.
The kitten still rested on the girl’s shoulder. Theo sighed. Bella would stay with the girl until she felt like leaving. After all, cats did as cats pleased. “Fine, stay with her then,” Theo whispered so low only the cat’s ears picked it up. It flicked its tail and nuzzled back into the girl’s shoulder.
Theo rolled her eyes.
As the guards moved to take Cecile to the royals, Theo grasped her wrist. The goddess turned her gaze to the raven bristling there. “You can use it to call for me. I will come. Be safe; for now, you’re a Servant of War.”
Without another word, the goddess disappeared into a cloud of angry ravens.
Chapter Three
KELLYN
Prince of Theoden
Present
RYFEL PALACE, THEODEN
Aconspiracy of ravens stalked the dawn.
Thousands of birds speckled the skies like a haze of locusts, their ink-black feathers glistening in the rays of the rising sun. A gust of icy wind ruffled the pleats on Kellyn’s tartan vest, highlighting his dark olive skin as he watched the horde forming below. The fog mingled with the bodies cramming together, all eyes fixed on the palace balcony, awaiting the prince’s speech. Camera shutters pounded with the frantic beats of Kellyn’s heart, and gramophones played the Song of War, mixing with the somber croaking of the birds circling above.
Anticipation licked the air.
Kellyn towered above the crowd. Truthfully, he towered above all mortals. He wasn’t a giant, but his height was said to be equal to a god, for on his natal day, he was blessed by both the gods of War and Trickery. One god publicly bestowed him with strength, agility, and wit, while the other secretly graced him with an affliction hindering the latter. He would be Theoden’sperfect warrior, impossibly tall, sculpted, and nearly unbeatable in battle—except he would struggle to read, impeding his wit so much he’d convinced himself of his stupidity. So, despite his commanding looks and stern face, Kellyn’s heart pounded, and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. But he couldn’t let anyone see it because he was known as the handsome prince who made girls and boys alike swoon with his perfection.
And he would cultivate that image until death, his motto being:Never let the world see my weaknesses.
“I cannot do this.” Kellyn stepped off the balcony and ducked back into the safety of the palace walls. Trying to quell his nerves, he pulled a wooden carving block and knife from his pocket—etching calmed him, but it didn’t help today. Nothing was more unsettling than reading aloud, let alone in front of thousands of people. At twenty-four, he should’ve gotten over this fear already.
But he hadn’t.
“You don’t have a choice,” Cecile whispered. She was a girl with the looks of a goddess and the personality of a fox, and she was the only person outside his family who knew about his affliction.
“I can’t,” he said, sucking in a breath. Cecile’s black shadow cat, given to her by the Goddess of War, rubbed its head against his leg in a comforting manner. “I’ll forget the entire speech, and everyone will figure out my secret.”
It was Decision Day, and as the prince, he had to announce his country’s champion for the Sacrifice—a deadly game of tricks, fantasy, and deception that pitted nine human pairs against the gods. The Theoden champion was chosen by the three legislative branches—the Temple of Theodra, the Council of Warriors, and the Council of Scholars—but the Royal House held veto power and the final decision.
As the heir of Theoden, Kellyn confirmed the decision or vetoed it, choosing his own—which he would never do.
