When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER EIGHT

AERYN'S POV

Professor Bayer decided another match, saying, "On the mat next to them, Caldwell and Lexton."

Penn gave Racquel's shoulder a strong squeeze and she nodded. "You got this," she cheered as he stepped onto the mat.

His opponent took her spot across from him. Her green eyes popped against her dark complexion, and they seemed to dance as she beamed at him. Tying back her thick, teal braids, Misty beamed and said, "May the best Draconian from Eaton win."

Racquel reached out his hand and she clasped it in a firm shake. Misty's eyes sparkled as she bounced on the balls of her feet and beckoned him forward. Instructor Bayer rattled off the remaining fights of the first round and started our matches.

Bastion unsheathed the two longswords strapped across his back and rotated his wrists, whirling them in confidence. In a flash of movement, he crossed the mat and slashed the first sword in a wide arc at my head. I bowed backwards as the sword crossed over me and righted myself just for the second sword to connect with the ankles of my boots and sweep me off my feet. My back smacked against the mat, and I rolled out of the way as he jabbed a sword at the spot I'd just occupied. Jumping to my feet, I withdrew the throwing stars from my belt and flicked them at him. His swords clanged against the metal stars, knocking them out of the air with ease.

I withdrew my ruben-infused dagger from its thigh sheath and launched across the mat, ducking under Bastion's sword as he struck it at my head again. Anticipating his next move, I leapt over the second sword and grabbed his wrist, forcing my thumb on the pressure point in the hollow spot between his tendons. His hand spasmed and he dropped the sword. I kicked it off the mat and used my free hand to bring my dagger to his throat.

Bastion arched his neck, straining to avoid the poison budding from the top of the blade that would cause temporary paralysis.

"Release your sword," I demanded, pressing the dagger against his neck, careful not to puncture his skin. The muscle in his jaw ticked as he bared his fangs.

The door to the training room burst open, startling me as the wood splintered and the entire plank fell from the hinges. A strong gust of wind hurled my hair back and rocked the weapons on the wall, causing a few to fall. Bastion took advantage of the distraction and knocked the dagger from my grip. It scattered towards Racquel's mat and I met his brown eyes when it hit his booted foot. All color drained from his face as his gaze rose to focus on something over my shoulder. I twisted to find Bastion's eyes widen in shock as he glanced down at the arrow made of obsidian protruding from his chest. His sword clattered to the ground, and he flattened his hand against the thin stream of blood leaking from the wound.

"Bastion Washburne, you are sentenced to be exiled and stripped of your Insignia for espionage and collaboration with the enemy," my father commanded, letting the bow fall to his side.

Bastion's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed.

I threw myself at him, stretching my arms out to catch him. My attempt was thwarted when a rumble shook the ground and a ten-foot wall of ice emerged, tearing through the mat. I stumbled into the wall and smacked my cheek against the solid enclosure, wincing when the cold bit my fair skin. Stumbling back a few steps, my back collied with the other side of the ice trap, and I slid down it in defeat.

Emperor Nepheus' palm glowed neon blue as he wielded it out in front of him, shouldering the bow. His Insignia displayed four balls of color that matched the gemstones on his crown, one for each element he could summon at will. The light emanating from his palm casted an ominous glint off his crown as it bled to a vibrant yellow and he cupped his palm, forming obsidian rocks that floated above his hand.