When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

AERYN'S POV

I caught Misty's eyes across the deck, and she waggled her fingers with a grin, vest zipped up to her chin. Her usual rich, brown skin was ashen and dark circles hung beneath her dull, green eyes as she shifted her weight. Nyaxia stood beside her, aiming a hateful look my way as she examined our exchange.

I felt the pressure of an intense glare and swept my gaze to the culprit. A different set of green eyes fastened on mine as he folded his arms over his chest, lifting his chin as the gentle wind rippled through the sleeveless shirt he wore in spite of the permanent cold. I tried to ignore the way his biceps flexed and the veins that flowed along his muscular arms as he tensed, narrowing his dark brows on me. He'd let his hair grow longer and it curled under his ears and tangled around his horns in the slight gusts.

Zoran dropped his chin in a minuscule dip so quick that I wasn't sure he'd even moved.

Did he want me to choose him?

I scrunched my brows, trying to gauge his unreadable expression.

"Me," he mouthed.

Yup. Zoran wanted to be my partner.

I bit my lip. On one hand, pairing up with him offered high odds of getting to the scale, but on the other, I would be admitting that I needed his help in the challenge. He didn't need a bigger ego than he already had, and he couldn't always get what he wanted. Even if what he wanted was also what I wanted.

"I choose Misty," I said, smug smile spreading across my face as Zoran's lips tilted down in a sour frown and he shook his head.

Misty gave her sister a hug and nearly skipped over to me, braids bouncing against her back. She grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight, saying, "We got this!"

From the look on Zoran's face, I wasn't so sure he'd let that happen. I wouldn't be surprised if he went after the scale and won it just to stick it to me. He didn't need it; he already had a guaranteed spot in the Ice Force, but he could win it so that he could ruin my chance of choosing my Duty. He didn't want me in the Force any more than my father didn't. He could sabotage me during the challenge to guarantee I'd never become a Champion.

And if I didn't win the scale or do well in the challenge today, then my position in the top fifteen percent of the class could drop, prohibiting me from joining the Force.

Zoran wouldn't have to burden himself with training me if that happened.

Immediate regret surfaced as I feigned excitement to match Misty's energy. I felt foolish and ridiculous, especially when no one else paired up with the furious Draconian.

Once everyone was standing next to their partner, Trainer Reishell continued, "War is unkind, and this battle will mimic a real one. Thus, the use of flying, powers, dragons, and fire breathing are all permitted. You must remain airborne for the entire challenge and defeat at least one other pair before you can begin searching for Hyrule's scale. A win is called when both of your opponents tap out, touch the ground, or are killed. Clear Water is the designated 'safe zone' where you can touch the ground and rest."

A resounding silence consumed us, and we shared looks of apprehension. 

Did Reishell just say killed? I understood she was attempting to throw us into a battle-like simulation to prepare us for the frontlines, but we needed more bodies to aid us in the war – not to mention the pupils who would be assigned Duties that would prevent them from ever seeing combat to begin with. 

"This is the most dangerous challenge, and it is your last one before final evaluations and Duty assignment. The weak will be weeded out today or will risk losing their lives to the unforgiving war after graduation," she deadpanned. "Both partners must survive and make it to the scale to win. With that said, the challenge starts...now!"