Chapter 73

The rest of the day passes lazily and well. Ben and Luca come back to the room with us, and we light a cozy fire. Ben stretches out in front of the hearth with his head buried in a pillow, and even though I insist that he go sleep in my little nook for a bit he protests that he’s fine. So I settle for spreading my pretty green blanket over him to keep him cozy.

Ben murmurs his thanks, and the rest of us get to work.

Well, the unhungover amongst us get to work, Rafe and Jesse settling into their chairs with books. Luca just lays his long body out on the couch, his open textbook resting on his chest, his eyes closed as he breathes peacefully.

“Budge over, couch hog.” I say, smacking at Luca’s foot.

“No,” he murmurs.

I laugh, hitting him harder, and he sighs as he cracks one eye at me, his dimples deepening as he pulls his legs up to make just enough room for me, groaning like it’s the hardest thing he’s ever done. I laugh harder as I sit down in my spot.

“How did you ever become a championship boxer,” Jesse murmurs, one eye on Luca, “when you’re such a baby?”

“Sheer talent,” Luca mutters. “Also, meaner friends you guys are really letting me go soft.”

–

“Don’t blame us for not being your jailers and your coaches,” Rafe murmurs, his eyes still on his work, “we have to do enough of that with Ari –”

“Hey!” I protest, glaring at him. He raises his eyes to me, quirking an eyebrow, and I just scowl. Because he’s…right.

As soon as I get settled on the couch Luca stretches out his legs again, draping them over my lap this time. I protest, but he ignores me, so eventually I just prop my chemistry book up on his shins and get to work.

Because honestly, I don’t mind it – I like the nearness of him, the casual touch. Joy thrums through me and I know that it’s half mine, half his. Because even though he’s sick as a dog.

there’s clearly no place either of us would be than on this couch together, casually touching. just…living our lives together.

I can’t keep the smile off of my face the whole time I study.

When Jesse gets up a few hours later to stretch and take a break, he frowns at Luca anew. “Seriously, Luc,” he says, clasping his hands above his head and bending back and forth to stretch out his arms. “I’m not trying to pry, but are you keeping in shape? Especially with this prize fight coming up over winter break –”

“What?” I ask, shocked.

“Prize fight,” Jesse says, shifting his eyes to me. “You didn’t read about it before we left?”

“I was a little distracted before we left,” I say, my voice dripping with understatement, and Jesse grins, remembering how frantic I was before planning my wedding. Plus I stayed completely away from news and tabloids, which all spent many pages speculating on what I was going to wear.

“It was conditional upon me getting accepted to the Academy as a cadet,” Luca says, opening his eyes and pushing himself up a little so that he can look at me. “But yeah I just got word that it’s going

through.”

“It’s…kind of a big deal,” Jesse says, looking at me with a little worry now. “I thought you. knew about it, Ari.”

“Do you…all know about this?” I ask, looking around at the four of them.

Rafe meets my eyes now and nods. I shift my eyes to Ben, who doesn’t sit up but shoots met a thumbs–up to let me know he, too, was aware.

“Well, what is it?” I ask, suddenly anxious.

“It’s kind of a…champion thing,” Luca replies with a shrug, “I’m representing Moon Valley, as both the highest–ranking boxer and, now, a member of the military. I mean, I have to get through the Examination, but I’m not super worried about that

–

“Wait, stop

I say, throwing out a hand, a little frantic now. “Why are you representing Moon Valley? Who who are you fighting?”

Luca hesitates, so Rafe answers for him. “He’s fighting the Atalaxian champion, Ari,” he says softly. “He’s coming over as part of a delegation. It’s part cultural connection, part display of military prowess, part…peace talks.”

“Are you serious!?” I shout, appalled. Because this this is a way bigger deal than they were making it out to be.

“It’s fine,” Luca says, shrugging. “I’m happy to do it proud, even ”

–

“Luca,” I say, leaning forward and staring at him, “the Atalaxian military is brutal

“I mean, I’m going to win,” he says with a confident shrug, a little smug but also a little offended that I’m doubting him.

I sit back a little, half torn by my allegiance and my faith in him and half knowing that his confidence…is not going to be enough to pull him through.

Luca looks around at all of us. “Do you all seriously doubt me?” he says, his feelings obviously hurt.

“We don’t doubt you at all,” Jesse says, frowning. “Ari doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to boxing, he’s just worried about you,” he says, pointing at me.

My mouth falls open in protest, but Rafe speaks before I can say anything. “You don’t know anything about boxing, Ari,” he says on a sigh. And I scowl, shutting my mouth because… well, because again, they’re probably right. But still! My mate, in a prize fight against the champion of a notoriously brutal military force!?

“But,” Rafe continues, lifting his head to look at Luca now, “Jesse’s not wrong. been training-”

“I work out every day! You’re there, you know!”

You haven’t

“I do know,” Rafe says, raising his eyebrows. “So I know that you’re as fit as you’ve ever been, but you aren’t doing boxing workouts. Your uncle is going to be appalled when he gets you back in the gym over midwinter.”

Luca scowls, looking down at the floor, realizing that Rafe’s right.

THE

“We’ll work out with you,” Jesse says, gesturing between him and Rafe. “If that’s what want. I mean, we’re not as good as you, but we’re not crap!

“And I will watch, and encourage from the sidelines,” Ben murmurs from the floor.

“Thanks, guys,” Luca says, frowning around at us. “That’s…really generous of you.”

“Anytime,” Jesse says, sitting back down in his chair.

you

“Quit dicking around with alcohol, though,” Rafe murmurs, his own attention back on his book now. “It’s only going to make you weak, and then you’ll embarrass the nation. And I hate losing, even on a national level.”

Luca laughs, promising that he will, but I’m still frowning at him when he turns his attention back to me.

What? He asks, placing the question directly into my mind.

“Do you have to go to Atalaxia?” I ask, worried. “For the fight?”

“No,” Luca says, his face bursting into a grin. “Ari, the fight is at home, in the city. You’ve – I mean, your whole family has already been invited. You’re going to be there.”

My eyes go wide as I realize what he means- that I won’t be there as Ari Clark, but instead as Princess Ariel.

But…I mean, will I be out of hiding at that time? Will my family have patched things up enough with that horrible Prince I left at the altar, so that I can re–emerge into society?

And…what will it mean to go to the fight? Will I go as Princess? As Luca’s friend’s sister? noveldrama

Or…or as the champion boxer’s mate?

I’m still staring at Luca, confused and pondering the complexities of this when a knock comes at the door. Jesse, always ready for something new, springs out of his chair and strides over to it. We all turn, and my face goes a little pale when the door opens and Jesse reveals Jackson standing there, a note in his hand.

“Hey, Jackson!” Jesse says, ever–friendly. “Come on in!”

“No thanks,” Jackson says instantly, his eyes moving to me on the couch. “Can’t stay – I was just asked to deliver a note.”

“For me?” Jesse asks, eager.

Jackson huffs a laugh, flicking his eyes back to Jesse. “No, for Ari. I just had a meeting with Alvez,” he says, rolling his eyes, “on some….homework stuff.”

I intuit, instantly, that Jackson doesn’t want to share the details of magic class in front of Luca and Ben, and I know that Jesse and Rafe respect that alongside me.

“How did that go?” Rafe asks, his voice low with doubt.

“Precisely as you probably think it did,” Jackson responds in much the same tone, “which is to say…it sucked.”

I laugh, and after a moment Jesse and Rafe do too. Luca stays stonily silent, and Ben just lays on the floor – maybe even fell asleep.

“Anyway,” Jackson says, holding the note out towards me. “He asked me to bring you this.”

“Thanks!” I say, genuinely grateful, and I shove at Luca’s legs, trying to get up.

But Luca?

He doesn’t move an inch, trapping me awkwardly in my seat.