When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

AERYN'S POV

My entire face flooded a dark crimson and I slammed the door shut, sputtering, "I didn't invite you here! I don't even know how you found my room!"

Zoran shrugged. "Don't worry about that. We have more important matters to discuss," he said, morphing his expression into one of stern concern. "I attended the war strategy meeting with my mother today. As the Commander of the Ice Force, she thought it would be important for me to get some firsthand experience before graduation which, by the way, has been moved forward."

"What're you talking about?" Apprehension made my stomach flip as I recalled my father mentioning the possibility of having to push graduation to an earlier date to replenish the Elemental Forces if they continued to lose Champions at such high rates.

"The Ravos Kingdom is not abiding by the ceasefire. They think you're not going to acquire a power which would null the treaty since the prince won't marry you without an Insignia. They're still launching their forces at us full throttle and we can't keep it up much longer. We are more likely to surrender sooner than you are to develop a possible power."

The war was still raging in the Voltant Isles, and it was only a matter of time before we were overtaken, and they made their way to the Wrexial Mountains.

"The emperor said graduation will be two weeks from now."

I gaped at him, disbelief and shock making my eyes widen. "That's just after our midterm evaluations!"

He nodded, flipping the chair around as he adjusted himself on the backwards seat. Folding his forearms along the top of it, he spread his legs on either side of the back of the chair and dropped his chin on his arms, explaining, "Like Bayer said, the emperor is taking the top fifteen percent of our class for his Elemental Forces. I'm going to be in the Ice Force."

That didn't come as much of a surprise to me, but the fact he already knew what his Duty would be before the final challenge or midterm evaluations was unheard of.

"Only the shifters who earned a rank in the top percentage of our class have already been assigned to a specific Force depending on where their skills can be the most successfully utilized. Since the summoners' dragons choose who their rider's Champion will be, they are still in limbo."

"So, you know which pupils in our class are going to be in the Force?"

Lifting his chin from his arms, he said, "Yes, princess. Would you like the good news or the bad news first?"

Dread crawled its way up my throat. "Good."

"Good news is you ranked dead last."

My heart sunk. I hadn't landed a spot in the Fire Force.

"Bad news is you ranked last...in the top fifteen percent."

If my jaw dropped any lower, it would be on the ground. "I'm going to be in the Force?"

Zoran's eyes darkened and his lips thinned. "Do not tell anyone in our class yet. I think they are making a grave mistake sticking you in the war. You will be a liability to your Champion and your dragon."

"I'm sure my father echoed that opinion," I grouched. "I can't believe he's allowing it when he still wants me to marry and kill the demon prince."

"He didn't seem overly happy about it and was just as thrown off by your class status as everyone in the meeting, including myself."

Ever since I'd entered the academy, I'd been overlooked and underestimated. My overall intelligence, battle strategy knowledge, hand-to-hand combat, and weapon wielding skills were all formidable, but the absence of my power overshadowed the skills I did possess.

"So, is he going to let me join the Force?"

"It is not his decision to make. He needs you more than he wants to admit."

I collapsed on my bed with a long sigh, blowing at the hair strewn across my face. Intertwining my hands together over my stomach, I kept my eyes on the ceiling as a million thoughts fought in my mind. The bed dipped under an additional weight, and I swiveled my head to find Zoran sitting at the foot of the mattress.

"And so do I," he said, flashing his emerald eyes to mine.

I couldn't speak. I wasn't sure if I had even heard him correctly or if the blood roaring in my ears had distorted his words.

"If you agree to help me, I will train you for the Force," Zoran vowed, "If you aren't unstoppable by the end of the training I provide, then I've failed."

"I thought you never fail."

"Exactly," he said as he held out a gloved hand. "So, do we have ourselves a deal?"

I sat up and reached my own gloved hand out to his, then paused. "You haven't told me what you need help with."

"You were right to call me Mr. Hot then Cold. I can breathe frost fire, but I need to restrain it. You helped Serene control her frost fire breathing abilities, so I'm expecting you to do the same with me."

"I knew it! I thought you could breathe frost fire," I said, holding up a finger. "Before you ask, I saw it spark at the back of your mouth during your matches, but I wasn't sure."

"I don't know how it's possible. I've never seen nor heard of a shifter being able to breathe it."

"Neither have I."

"So, what do you say to our proposal?"

I sat up and took his hand in mine, giving it a solid shake as a grin spread across my face. "I do," I agreed, his fiery touch scolding my skin.

"The next time you'll be saying those words, it'll be to the Ravos Prince," he grunted, removing his hand to rake it through his hair as he stood.

And just like that, his frigidity pushed ice through my veins, and I shivered.

"Thanks for the reminder," I snapped, falling back on the fluffy comforter as he made his way over to the door.

"Do well tomorrow, princess. Or don't, it doesn't matter to me, but you're still in last so anyone can take your spot after the challenge. Don't get too smug just yet."

"Says the one who thinks he has the ability to make me unstoppable," I returned as the door creaked open, "in just two weeks, might I add."

"And may I add, we don't have much of a choice."

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