Page 237 of Interion

“No. Ambrose and Lorenzo always invited me, but I never wanted to expose myself to all of Jupiter like that.” I was afraid of being judged or mistreated because of my ancestry, I added mentally. Being judged by people I already knew—people aware of Zion's protection over me—was one thing. Facing the stares of foreigners who came to the walls this time of year to watch the test and the passage of the spirits was something else entirely. They could be hostile since they didn't know Zion's last name. I'd learned that during my first Lúmiran inside the walls. A group of Vinturians had spit on me on my way to the hospital. Ambrose saw and intervened before anything worse happened. After that, I started avoiding going out alone during that time of year.

“You've never seen the yonsais arrive or the aurora borealis stretch across the sky?”

“I watched the aurora from home, but this will be my first time with the spirits,” I replied happily, caressing his hand, which was warm compared to mine. The dress was beautiful, but those off-the-shoulder sleeves were going to freeze me to death. The things a woman wouldn't do in the name of beauty.

“In that case, I'm taking you somewhere with the best view.” He rubbed his hands over mine to warm me up. “I need to handle the armies' entrance and make sure the king arrives safely. I'll leave you with the students and see you when the presentation begins, all right?” Zion guided me to the end of the walkway, where a tent of billowing white fabric stood. All the students were seated with their parents.

“Do you have to be at the king's disposal the whole party?” I asked, a little sad. I wanted to spend more time with him.

“No, he'll retire after the last student presents, so I'll escort him out and then we can enjoy the Lúmiran.” Zion caressed my cheek. “The rest of the night is ours, my little ray of sunshine.”

“I can't wait!” I murmured, gazing into his blue eyes, which sparkled back at me. He guided us to the middle of the well-lit tent, finally tearing his gaze from mine.

I noticed stares in our direction. This was the first time we'd appeared together as a couple. Most of the parents didn't know whether to look at me with disgust or simply avoid me. Zion, to my surprise, walked by my side, glaring at anyone who dared look at us sideways, as if publicly declaring that he was with me and anyone who mistreated me would answer to him.

“Fae males and their enormous urinary incontinence,” I joked in Zion's mind while smiling at him.

“What?” he asked, still maintaining his authoritative posture toward anyone who dared stare at me with contempt.

“Looks like you're marking your territory.”

His stern facade cracked, and an amused smile slipped through. Before leaving, he kissed my temple and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone among my academy companions.

I walked to the table with my name on it, but it was empty, and even though Zion was just a call away, I felt a pang of sadness with each step toward the solitary table. Only family members and people of power could enter that area. Ambrose and Lorenzo had tried to get in, but they'd been turned away.

“I'm sorry, Kay. I promise I'll be back as soon as I can,” Zion whispered through the bond.

“Hey, Kyller.” I looked around and saw Hiro calling me. He was sitting next to an older woman—around 700 years old—and beside her sat an even older, wrinkled gentleman holding her hands. “Come here, I want you to meet my grandparents.”

His grandmother was the only person besides Hiro, Breno, and Aish who smiled when she saw me, and that encouraged me to approach. Hiro introduced me as a classmate, and they introduced themselves as Aurora and Joseph. They spent the first few minutes gushing about how happy they were to see Hiro graduating.

“Thanks for lending me the clothes,” he said after his grandparents left to get food. Hiro looked at me with that innocent smile that showed off the dimple in his cheek. “I felt like the poorest of the poor in Jupiter, but I'm grateful for the charity. My clothing options were pretty bad.”

A laugh escaped my lips, and I squeezed his arm playfully.

“You don't have anything to thank me for. Did they fit?”

“Only the pants, but Zion bought me brand-new military boots and threw in thermal socks. The jacket didn't fit, but we made it work since we couldn't order one in my size.” Hiro flexed his muscular arms, showing off. “Being a big guy has its disadvantages. I don't fit into most Interian clothes.”

Hiro, like all the other students, wore a tuxedo, but each person wore a different color. His was dark blue, and it looked tight across his shoulders. When I asked why he'd decided to request the blessing of the God of Intelligence, his smile widened in amusement and he told me his Goddess had already given him strength and skill in battle, but he needed a little intelligence to balance everything out. I laughed with him and found myself relaxing a bit by his side.

Breno was at the table next to ours, wearing dark green—the color representing the God of Life and Power—but his expression was that of someone barely holding back from flipping the table and kicking everything in his path. His younger brother clung to him, gripping his arm like a life preserver and openly avoiding their mother. Lady Natali Lutieve seemed to be scolding them both, judging by the hard look she fixed on Breno and the way she gestured with her hands. He'd told me she was controlling and cranky, but I'd never seen her in person. I wished dinner would end soon. Breno looked ready to explode.

Aish stood in the far corner, wearing an elegant yellow dress with gold accents, her braids swept up into an enormous bun threaded with gold. Golden bracelets lined the Amperian's arms—a signature accessory of her nation. Amperian women adored metallic ornaments because they represented their mineral wealth of sinil, a source of great pride. Looking at my friend, I was completely dazzled. Just when I thought Aish couldn't get any more beautiful, she surprised me. Her parents sat at the table; her mother smiled throughout dinner, while her father, serious as he was, always gazed at Aish with deep affection.

I was the only one wearing red, and my confidence started to waver under all the speculative glances thrown my way. I felt out of place, different, strange in my own skin. I smoothed my hair—it was beautiful, but deep down, I wished it were less red, a little more... normal.

I heard a horn sound from the king's platform and rose to my feet, along with all the other guests. I was too far away to see clearly, but a large side screen was focused on the royal platform. Up there sat a throne with four chairs beside it. Zion materialized with a large, powerfully built, dark-skinned man, depositing him in the leftmost chair, then vanished and reappeared with a blonde woman who took the seat beside him. He did the same with Serguei and then an older man. Finally, he transported the king.

I had never seen him in person. Like all Interians, he was blond, but his hair was cropped so short you could barely make out the color. He wore a uniform like Zion's, but in moss green. He surveyed his subjects with unmistakable disdain; beneath that gaze, everyone present struck their fists against their hearts and knelt, eyes fixed on the ground.

This was the leader who, instead of reaching out to my people suffering on the other side of the continent, had cowered and ordered the extermination of all women and descendants. This was the man who sent squadron after squadron beyond Interion's borders, never caring how many would return—or whether any would. I bowed because I had to, but I didn't lower my gaze. That man didn't have my respect. He never would.

“Beautiful thoughts, but let me teach you something about battles: never start a fight you can't win. Better to bow with all your teeth than to stand tall with none.”

A genuine smile spread across my face when I heard Serguei's voice in my mind. He was watching me from beside the king. Finally, I lowered my head—not out of reverence, but to hide a laugh.

“I'm not starting a fight, just being true to my feelings.”