LOGIN“Told you,” she said.“Show-off,” I replied as I clapped her on the back. Zane produced a single rose from behind his back, which Mia accepted with a squeal and tucked behind her ear. I shot him a look that he pretended not to notice as he draped an arm around her shoulders.We stuck around to watch
Liora’s POVThe tournament grounds had been set up on the far side of campus, sprawling across the open fields where the rugby games were usually held. Today, the space was practically unrecognizable beneath the sea of tents, students, and guests who had come from near and far to watch the royal tou
Liora’s POVThe training center was empty by the time I got there, given the fact that it was well past midnight. The tournament was tomorrow, and I knew I should have been resting if I was going to make it through the initial rounds with enough energy left to fight Bianca, but I couldn’t sleep.Eve
“Does she know that?” I asked, looking at my aunt.She shrugged. “Would it matter if she did or didn’t? All she’d have to do is shed your blood. Whether she does it knowingly or not is neither here nor there.”I bit my lip. If Liora got her wolf back, everything would fall apart. The King might scen
Bianca’s POVI shoved through the door and let it slam behind me. For a moment, I paused, exhaling slowly.Liora had almost beaten me and taken my pride with her.After everything I had worked for, that was the last thing I needed.“What was that, girl?!”The low voice made me look up. Sure enough,
Liora’s POVThe tournament was all anyone could talk about for the next three days.Everywhere I went, students were discussing which disciplines they had signed up for, who they thought would win the combat rounds, and whether anyone actually stood a chance against Bianca in combat.The betting poo
. “My date ditched me.”Date? She had a real date? Wonder when that happened.“It was probably just a prank when he asked last minute,” she added quickly, fiddling with the edge of her cup. “Still… it felt nice.”“Well,” I shrugged, stretching out my legs beneath the table, “his loss.”Mia looked li
Callum didn’t respond. Just pressed his lips together like he was holding in something that tasted bitter.I leaned back, eyes drifting to the mirror across from us.My hair curled perfectly today, soft waves pinned with gold clips like little crowns running down my part. My outfit hugged every curv
“Callum!” Bianca’s voice sliced through the air, rising above the music and soft conversation below. “Where did you go?!”And just like that, the spell broke.The tension in my shoulders returned. The weight. The roles.Who was I kidding?Liora was done with me. Done with the silence, the empty glan
And then, in the middle of my last class of the week, a note arrived—folded neatly, passed from hand to hand from the front until it landed on my desk with a kind of delicate finality.The principal would like to see you immediately after class.My heart didn’t race, not at first. I wasn’t that naiv







