Whipping around the boulder, I press my trigger and blast three lasers at Sederick. One hits him in the leg, burning his pants and the top layer of his skin. Trained to take an increased amount of pain, he grimaces and shoots back. The laser beam of his gun contacts my side, and I hiss in a breath from the pain, quickly hiding behind the boulder. Taking two breaths, I collect myself, then get on the move, knowing he’ll head right for me.
Continuing in the direction of my vantage point, I run fast and hard, rolling under the wooden platform. Stairs underneath give me access to the four walls above. Setting my gun on the edge of the wall facing the direction I believe Sederick to be, I quickly find him moving behind the boulders, coming toward my vantage point. Pulling the trigger, I release three beams in his direction. The advantage of the trident laser gun is for moving targets. At least one beam has a good chance of making contact and one does. His movement slows, and he buckles, touching his stomach.
Above me, the heat of the sun is making my protective jacket uncomfortable. It’s a risk to remove it, but with it on, I’ll overheat. Removing it, I lay it up against the wall to fake my presence once I’m gone from the wooden platform. Checking to see where Sederick is, I see him racing toward the platform. Going down the stairs isn’t an option, he’d catch me at the bottom. Moving to the opposite wall, I climb atop the edge of the wall and jump. When I land, I bend my knees, go down, and roll, alleviating the pressure on my body. On my back, I aim the gun in Sederick’s direction and blast.
Sederick dodges the beams by jumping to the stairs. A beam comes toward me, and I roll away from it. Sand bursts into the air, making a cloud from his blast. He’s no longer playing nice. Up and on my feet, I run toward the wooden wall where I first saw him. The heat of a laser scorches my back and I drop to my knees. That’s my fault for taking my jacket off. Matheas will have something to say about that, I know it.
Spitting into the sand, I try to stand, but the pain is still debilitating. Laying on my back, I aim the gun toward Sederick. Dropping to the ground, he dodges my beams. Lowering it further, I hit his shoulder and see the anger form on his face. Aiming his gun at me, he rises to his feet.
“If you shoot, I shoot, Princess, and my gun is much more painful as you’ve already tasted.”
“I can’t argue that.”
Lowering mine, I place it next to me. Sederick kicks it out of reach.
“I’m sorry for defeating my future Queen. You battled well today. Everyone will be proud.”
“You’re right, they will be.”
Sweeping my leg, I knock his leg out from under him, and he drops to the ground, gun flying through the air. Leaping on top of him, I pull the blade from my sheath and hold it against his throat.
“Never assume you’ve won before the battle is over. Surrender now and I won’t punish you later.”
With thick brown hair and our shared cerulean blue eyes, he looks up at me, a grin pulling at his thin lips. “You truly are a woman fit to rule.”
Sederick raises his arm, giving the signal of surrender.
CHAPTER TWO
FIORA
Returning to my preparation room, I hear voices just above a whisper and stop when I recognize them. Matheas and Alayna are inside arguing.
“Did I mean anything to you?”
“This isn’t the time to discuss this.” Tone harsh, Matheas’s heavy footsteps move across the room.
“When will it be time? You’ve avoided me long enough. I want to know. Do I mean anything to you?”
“Alayna, I’m sorry, I don’t care for you the way you want me to.”
“Did you think of her when you laid with me?” Her tone cuts sharp with anger. “Tell me the truth.”
“Yes.”
“That’s all I was, wasn’t I? A substitute for the woman you truly want.”
Matheas is silent. Standing completely still, I remain outside, nervously awaiting his answer.
“It doesn’t matter how much I try, there’s no one I care for more than her.”
“You’ll never be able to have her.”
“I know. Your reminder isn’t needed.”
Gut tightening, I limp away to the healing chamber before either discover me. Mixed emotions tumble through my stomach. Things are changing. Too much, too fast. What I want and what I have to do are becoming a daily battle. Every woman in Anauka I see, I look at with envy. They’re free to do and go as they please while I live in a royal cage, my choices and my freedom limited.
In the healing chamber, I remove all my clothing. A hole in my top indicates how bad the burn on my back is. In front of a full figure mirror, I twist my body and discover the red, blistering flesh. Stepping into the vertical healing booth, I hold my breath at the familiar pinch of the therapeutic medicine and pain relief injected into my arm. Next, the sting of the laser scans my body, finding the open wounds, sealing them. Any flesh wounds too thin to be sealed are coated with a cream that once heated forms to your body like new skin. Stepping out, my body is completely healed on the outside, but inside my muscles are sore.
Preparing a bath, I light several candles and lower the switch on the wall, turning down all lights. Leaning back in the tub, I relax in the soothing water. The door behind me opens, and Nina enters. She sweeps the room, her mouth lowering into a frown.
“Where’s Matheas?”
“He’ll be here any moment.”
“You were a true warrior today. You should be proud.”
“It’s a game, Nina. A game for entertainment and to prove I’m strong enough to lead.”
“What’s wrong, darling?”
“Everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everything is changing. I’m changing.”
“You know you can speak with me about anything, don’t you?”
“I do, but right now, I’m not sure what to say. I’m feeling too much.”
“I understand. The trials, becoming Queen, it’s a lot for a woman to take in, but you’re not alone. You have me and Matheas to share your burdens with.”
When I say nothing, she continues.
“I’ll leave you to relax, but don’t be long. The Royal families and ours will be waiting for you to attend dinner. Everyone is eager to see you.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there soon.”
Nina walks toward the exit, but I stop her.
“Nina, one more thing.”
“Yes, darling?”
“I’m removing Alayna from my staff. Tell father, please.”
“Of course, darling. I’ll tell him.”
As soon as the door closes, it opens again. The familiar sound of Matheas’s boots cross the floor.
“The shot to your back must’ve been worse than I thought since you came straight here.”
Lowering next to the tub, he tilts his head, worry in his eyes.
“I did come to the preparation room.”
With movement of his Adam’s apple, he swallows, revealing his uneasiness.
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough.”
“Do you want to talk about what you heard?”
“There’s no need to explain. I’ve known for years you’ve laid with women.”