Chapter 101

Rowena

I could only stand there, frozen in place as Heather and Adrian were hauled away by the guards. Their hateful glares burned into me until the very last moment when they disappeared into the tunnels.

And then they were gone. It was over… For now, at least.

A sudden cacophony of sound slammed back into me all at once—the roaring of the crowd, shouts and exclamations from students and spectators alike. I flinched as hands grabbed at me from all sides, my parents’ frantic faces appearing like a lifeline through the throng of people.

“Rowena! Oh god, are you alright?” My mother clutched at me desperately and drew me toward her, tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked me over for injuries. “We were so worried, we thought… We thought…”

She trailed off, unable to put her worst fears into words as she smoothed my hair back from my ears, checking me over as if I were made of glass. My father wasn’t much better, one large hand cupping the side of my face while his eyes bored into me.

“You’re not hurt, are you? Say something!” he pleaded gruffly.

Shaking my head, I tried to push their hands away gently. “I’m okay,” I rasped out, my throat raw from the shock and terror of what had just happened. “I’m okay, really. Eric… Eric saved me.”

Eric. I whipped around to see him standing there, his body rigid and his eyes wild. Our gazes met, and in that moment, it felt as if there was nothing else except for us—no roars of the crowd, no fear, no arena. Just… Us.

And then, a few of the nearby warriors clapped Eric firmly on the back, and I saw him wince as the movement jostled his injured shoulder. He tried to hide the pain, but I could see it on his face.

Wordlessly, I strode over to him and rifled through the med-pack on my hip for some gauze. Eric shot me a confused look as I began to dab at his wound.

“Rowena, you should be worrying about yourself.”

I pursed my lips at him. “You’re hurt. Let me take care of this.”

“It’s just a cut…”

I ignored him and continued dabbing at the wound. How ironic, for him to take an arrow in the shoulder in the same spot where he had been hit all those years ago—back when we were just kids, and he carried me through that blizzard.

My hero.

Once I was finished, I took a step back. By now, several guards in Northern uniforms had surrounded us. Eric’s lips twitched as he instinctively stepped in front of me like a shield, but I placed a hand on his arm to reassure him.

“Your Grace,” one of the guards murmured, dropping to one knee in front of me and bowing his head. “We’ve been searching for you for so long… The King thought you might be here today, but…”

“Stand, please,” I said, feeling a bit awkward amidst the formalities.

The guard nodded and rose, adjusting his sword on his hip. “We’ll escort you out of here, Princess. To safety—”

“No!” I cut him off sharply, my voice reverberating through the crowd. Around us, the audience fell nearly silent.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I turned to face the audience. “No, I won’t be going anywhere,” I declared firmly. “The threat has passed. Heather and Adrian are the only ones who wished me harm, and they’ve been apprehended. The tournament will continue as scheduled.”

A buzz of shock rippled through the onlookers at my words. My parents gaped at me, their protests written clearly across their faces. Eric pushed a bit closer, his brow furrowed.

“Rowena, are you sure?” he asked lowly. “We can’t take any more risks with your safety. Not after—”

“I’m sure.”

My expression was resolute; this was my moment. My first act as Princess. I would not be swayed by others, not anymore. Not when I knew who I was and what I needed to do.

Straightening my back, I returned my gaze to the guards. “I’m not going with you. Not until the tournament is finished.”

“Rowena, this is madness!” My mother blurted out, scurrying up to me and gripping my hands in hers. “You were nearly killed just minutes ago! How can you even think about allowing this competition to proceed?!”

“Because… I am the Princess,” I said, pulling my shoulders back. “This tournament used to be symbolic of my family’s strength; I won’t let it be canceled.”

The crowd seemed pleased. Before my parents, Eric, or the guards could protest, the stands suddenly swelled with excitement again—cheers and applause rising into the high ceilings of the arena.

“Eric? You have to talk some sense into her!” I heard my mother plead with him beneath the din. But Eric’s lips just twitched upwards into a slight smile, and he bowed his head.

“If the Princess decrees it, then the tournament will go on,” he said.

My parents exchanged nervous glances, their faces still white as sheets—but I could see them wavering now, the fight slowly leaving their eyes. Turning back to the announcer still hovering nearby, I inclined my head toward him.

“Please proceed,” I said simply.

The small, balding announcer swallowed hard and cleared his throat before speaking into the microphone. “A-Alright then! As per the Princess’s decree, the tournament will resume immediately!”

Hushed whispers rippled through the arena. The announcer cast me a nervous look and I gave him an encouraging nod. Squaring his shoulders, he continued on in a slightly stronger voice.

“Due to the… recent disqualifications, we will now move into a two-versus-two round to decide our champion! Combatants and managers, take your places!”

Eric turned to me then. “I guess this is it,” he murmured, his thumb running across my chin. “Am I still getting that kiss when I win?”

I threw him a smirk. “That was never off the table.”

On cue, two attendants escorted Darius and Eric out toward the center of the sandy arena. They strode to their positions facing one another, a healthy distance apart. I saw Darius grin broadly at Eric and say something, eliciting a chuckle from Eric.

Eric shrugged out of his cloak, tossing it carelessly aside to the raucous cheers of the crowd. He rolled his broad shoulders, sending me a heated look that somehow still managed to smolder despite the fiery pain, fear and adrenaline I could see simmering behind his eyes in the aftermath of that horrifying attack.

My heart lodged in my throat as I stared back into those bright blue eyes I loved so much. Eric could have lost his life today because of me… But he had saved me. My hero. My mate.

Swallowing hard, I tore my gaze away, trying to focus on the impending match. My parents seemed to have finally accepted my decree, although they wore twin expressions of worry and resignation.

“You’re as stubborn as you are insane,” my father said, drawing me into his arms and shaking his head.

My mother snorted beside him. “She turned out far too much like us,” she added.

I couldn’t help but grin. Kissing them each on the cheek, I said my farewells and strode over to the edge of the fighting pit, where I could act as Eric’s combat manager during his fight.

Around me, the excited murmurs built to a dull roar once more—the crowd was practically vibrating with excitement, the two shirtless warriors stretching out their rippling chest muscles in the center of the arena.

Finally, the announcer raised his hand to call for silence. When the rumbling finally died down, his high voice rang out across the stands.

“Let the tournament… begin!”