A Court of Love and Devotion - Novellas

Outsmarted

Sage had always been a studious person. Always wanted to learn more and more until her head hurt from the information she filled it with. Until she could almost feel her brain burst out of her skull.

Still, it didn't help her family realize that she didn't need to be coddled. Especially Callum who was particularly protective of the young girl.

"Don't go easy on me, Cal," Sage complained. "I won't be able to progress if you keep letting me win!"

Sage had seen Callum and his father play chess for hours, trying to outsmart each other. Uncle Azriel usually won, though. But Callum was really good at chess, much better than that pathetic game he'd just played.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Callum replied, feinting innocence.

Even Nyx snorted at the display as he oiled his dagger.

Sage, however, wasn't amused. But if there was one thing she knew about the twins, it was how competitive they were.

She squinted at him and sat forward. "Are you scared? Is that it, Callum?" She asked. "You have to play badly on purpose because if you don't, and I win...that means you can be beaten by a twelve-year-old." Sage laid back in her chair and sighed. "And you would never live that down, now. Would you?"

Callum pursed his lips at his cousin. Nyx chuckled as he looked between the two of them.

"Alright, Sagey," Cal said, his teal eyes darkening in challenge. "Let's see what you really got!"

Sage grinned as they started a new game.

"Well played, little one," Nyx muttered with a kiss on the crown of her head.

She lost, obviously. But at least, she learned and would be able to perfect her game.

Chess wasn't that important, though. The history test she had the next day was and Sage made sure she knew her lesson down to the very comma. She'd taken over the entire table in the private reading area of the House of Wind library. A dozen history books were piled up in front of her for research. Because learning the lesson wasn't enough, Sage needed more detail on the war from 500 years ago.

She had her father's stories, which she made him repeat as she wrote them in her notebook to use on her test. That and the large tomes she's been reading through all week should help get her a good grade.

Fast steps scuffed down the hall until her mother appeared in her vision. "Ah, there you are," she said. "It's almost time for dinner, what are you still doing down here?"

Sage looked up from her book. "My test is tomorrow. I'm studying," she explained. "Is it alright if I eat here tonight? I'm not quite done yet."

Nesta put her fist on her hips. "Sage, you know your lesson by heart. You don't need to do the extra reading. Your test will go fine."

"But I don't want it to be fine, Mom. I need it to be excellent. My grades have to be the best they can be if I want a chance as a researcher on the archeology site of the Montesere Mountains. They're very selective."

Nesta slumped on the bench with a sigh. "The mountains will still be here when you'll be of age to go there. Which won't be for another few years. Besides, your grades are always excellent, honey." She pulled out the book and closed it. "What you need to do is put those books away and clean up before dinner with your family."

Sage was about to retort but her mother put her finger up.

"No, little lady. It isn't up for discussion."

Sage knew better than to anger her mother so she promptly obeyed. The two females put the books back on their shelves and climbed the stairs leading to the House.