Page 178 of The Forsaken Heir
Turning back to Bastien, I said, “Well, little brother? Are you scared to fight me?”
He sneered, which only made him look even more like a spoiled brat than he was. “I’m not scared of anyone, much less a pathetic, broken thing like you. Take a moment to say goodbye to your prince. It’ll be the last time you get to see him.”
I didn’t bother responding. Instead, I marched over to Aurelius.
“What does this mean? What’s happening?” Aurelius asked as he put an arm around me.
Delphine patted his arm and gave me a worried look. “It means she’s legally requested the chance to fight Bastien for leadership of House Laurent. It’s an ancient and legally binding ceremony. One will come out the winner, with all rights and privileges tothe great house, as well as access and total command of their fortunes, staff, and holdings. The other…”
“A fight to the death, then?” Aurelius asked me. The panic and fear in his face was even greater than what I saw in Delphine’s. He shook his head. “No. Not a chance. We’ll fight him together. Let him add a second. That will make it more fair. I can help you.”
“You can’t,” Delphine said. “No weapons, no assistance from anyone, just two shifters going head-to-head. If you were to interfere in any way, Elle would forfeit. The only thing we have in our favor is all these witnesses. The Laurents can’t possibly do anything to help Bastien. This is a deep and ancient tradition. Hell, many of the House Laurent servants would turn on them if they thought they would try to renege or alter the fight. Ithasto be Elle against Bastien. Nothing more.”
Aurelius didn’t look like he could accept that answer. His arm tightened around me. I could practically feel his heart thundering as I pressed into him.
“It’ll be fine,” I said, reaching up to touch his cheek.
Sahalie pushed through the crowd, reaching us a moment before I turned to face my brother.
“Take this,” she said, slipping something into my hands.
“No weapons,” I said, shaking my head, trying to hand it back without looking.
“It’s not a weapon,” she said. “It’s more than that.”
Glancing down, I opened my hand, and found a small vial filled with an ephemeral glowing substance.
“Wellspring magic?” I said, looking up at her with a frown.
She grinned at me. She was so petite and wispy, that she looked more like a child than an adult, but her eyes held a deep well of wisdom and knowledge that belied her youthful looks.
“The same thing Jolon used to induce your dream walk.” Sahalie closed my fingers around the vial again. “I think you’ll know when to use it.”
“Do you think this will work?” I asked, glancing back at my brother, who was whispering with my parents. “I’m not sure he’s the type for self-reflection.”
“Demons are demons,” she said. “It doesn’t matter whether you want to face them or not. Good luck.”
She slipped back into the crowd, and I slid the vial into my pocket. I wasn’t sure I’d actually get the chance to use it. Despite all the training and my righteous fury, Bastien was powerful, and he had the ability to shift. I didn’t. He’d also spent years learning to fight. My few days of training with Delphine, Aurelius, and Freddy weren’t much compared to that. Still, I’d do everything I could to come out on top. But I did have something Bastien didn’t have. An honorable reason to fight. That had to count for something. There was no way I could believe that fate had led me to this exact moment, only to lose to this piece of shit.
“Come on then, Brielle,” Bastien said, strolling out to the center of the circle. “Let’s get this over with. No reason to delay the inevitable.”
“Becareful,” Aurelius said, pulling me in for a kiss.
With my lips tingling, I looked him dead in the eyes. “Do not interfere, Aurelius. Do you hear me? I know what I’m doing.”
His face twisted with some internal agony. “You can’t ask that of me. If you’re in trouble, Iwillhelp you. Trial by combat be damned.”
I touched his cheek. “Trust me, Aurelius. Trust fate.”
He only hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Okay. I love you.”
“I love you too.” I turned from him before I could lose my will to do so.
As I walked toward Bastien, the crowd around us spread out farther, giving us room to fight. In the distance, above the heads of some of the fae, I spotted Sophia and Collette emerging from the forest. Both locked their eyes on me, understanding dawning on their faces. Collette gave me a slight nod and pulled Sophia to her side. My little sister looked terrified and clung to my aunt, her eyes darting between Bastien and me.
Be careful, she mouthed at me.
I nodded and tore my gaze away. I had to focus on Bastien. I had to put a stop to this once and for all.
