Chapter 2

Annora:

"Wait for me!" That's Ellie.

She's one of my two closest friends.

Me, Ellie, and Chiara. The three musketeers- thick as thieves, father always said.

We grew up together in the Iron Throne region. Both of Ellie's and Chiara's fathers were close to mine as the second and third in command.

From what I've been told, their mothers were close to mine before she passed away.

A small heart locket with her picture was all I really had of her. I had no past times, memories, or advice from her to miss.

A woman whom I only knew from stories, but she sounded wonderful. 

Father says I look just like her in her younger years, aside from the icy white hair I got from him.

"I'm waiting," I roll my eyes and glance back at Ellie, whose short legs are struggling to keep up.

Or rather, catch up. I think sometimes she forgets she has wings.

I'm the youngest of the three. Both of them have already gotten their wings, but my 21st birthday isn't too far away.

As the heir of the Iron Throne, my coming of age was no small ordeal, and while I wasn't the biggest fan of being in the spotlight, I knew it was something I would have to get used to.

"Are you excited for the tournament? I'm so jealous!" Chiara mutters.

My fathers idea. Four Fae males, competing for my heart through a series of challenges.

Men that my dad considered to be worthy of me and worthy of taking the throne with me.

"A bunch of sexy men fighting for their place by my side? I'd die to trade you places, Nora!" Ellie swoons.

I know they don't mean what they say; they're only trying to cheer me up. 

Would anyone really want to be told who to marry? I wasn't even being given an opportunity to find my Fae mate.

Father found it irresponsible to wait too long after my coming of age for such "childish" things.

I guess over the years, he forgot about the love he and my mom had.

"I'm ready to get it over with. Maybe we could create a potion to switch places?" I say jokingly.

Except, I'm not really joking, and for a split moment, I'm actually considering this quest.

Neither Chiara nor Ellie is aware of my affair, if you can even call it that. At least, it wasn't an affair yet.

I knew that this day would come, and so did he. Therefore, we've always kept our relationship a secret—something for only us to enjoy and cherish while we could.

"I heard there's a witch in the Shadow Throne region that can practically make anything a reality, but it would come at a cost," Chiara chimes in.

She must recognize that I'm actually half tempted to switch places with someone if it were a possibility.

"Chi, you know even if I wanted to, I couldn't possibly follow through with that." Even though I mean this, the thought doesn't leave my mind, but instead sends a thrill through me.

We arrive at the Fae Academy just as the first bell rings, signaling that the first period will start in five minutes. 

Fae and witches of different ages and sizes zipping around the lush courtyard. 

We lived harmoniously with witches, something my father, the King, had worked his entire life to achieve and was proud of.

Flowers of all colors bloom along the side of the old red brick building.

The giant clock tower looming from the top of the school rang far and wide, practically letting the entire region know studies were commencing shortly.

Big bushes trimmed into different animals line the front walkway, leading up to the doors where everyone is now crowded, trying to rush in to make it to class on time.

The Academy was very prestigious. 

For the most part, you had to be somebody or know somebody to get in. 

Fae from all different regions travel here to attend, as we hire only the most suitable professors and offer a variety of advanced studies that weren't offered elsewhere.

I had to beg my father to let me attend, as he had me study with private tutors through my primary schooling and originally had no intentions of allowing me to pursue my studies in any other fashion.

It wouldn't be considered normal for a Royal to attend a public academy, even one with such high rankings amongst the Fae regions, so I stuck out like a sore thumb amongst my peers. 

I was often talked about in whispers or stared at like I had two heads.

It didn't help that my features were rare and unlike most others.

"We'll see you at lunch!" Both Chia and El shout back at me, scurrying into the crowd of people bustling through the front entrance.

I'd normally be sad that we didn't share every class together, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thankful to have this particular class to myself.

I grab out my phone, well, not really my phone per se, but the burner phone Chia had her 'up to no good' brother get for me in secret.

He didn't know the phone was for me, but I'm sure he could guess correctly if his life depended on it.

My girls assumed I wanted to be able to be active on social media, even if I used a fake account so that my father wouldn't have any idea what I was up to, but that wasn't the real reason I wanted the phone.

I send a quick text to my love before shoving the secret phone into my bag and jogging up to the entrance.

The sun was warm against my pale, glittering skin, a reminder of my fate and the tournament that would be starting in a few short days.

A fate I would do anything to escape.

I quickly opened the door to the classroom, doing my best to enter quietly. 

Not to my surprise, the entire class turned to look at me as the door clicked behind me and the final bell rang.

"Miss Nightingale," Professor Darin bows with respect before making eye contact with me and pointing to an open seat.

"Princess or not, you are to abide by all of the same rules as your peers. You're to be seated when the last bell rings." Professor Darin goes on and on, but there's a glimmer in his eye and a playfulness in his tone that only I would recognize.

A story that could only be told in hushed voices when no one else was around.

We both knew why I was late.

Sneaking into my bedroom at two in the morning and getting only a few hours of sleep certainly contributed to this.

I steal one more glance in his direction as I get seated, quickly pulling out my dark magic text.

While most professors had "gotten with the times," Darin was different. He appreciated the beauty in tradition and was obsessed with the way the old paper pages smelled as you turned them.

"Miss Nightingale, please stay after class," Darin's voice sent chills down my spine as he spoke to me firmly while the rest of the students shuffled out of class.