First Three Chapters of Iron Cyclone

Chapter One

Anastasia

               From the time I was a little girl, I yearned for more. More experience. More adventure. More life. Unfortunately, the sleepy coal-miner town I grew up in was severely lacking in all three. 

               That isn’t to say I didn’t love my life. I did. My family brought me so much joy. I loved helping my mom bake her famous chocolate chip cookies on Saturday nights, going hunting with my dad on Sunday mornings, and making up new games with my younger siblings to keep them entertained while Mom cooked dinner. Sometimes I even attended a party thrown by a classmate. It was a good life. A simple life.

               Too simple.

               I come from a stereotypical ungifted family. The women are expected to be homemakers while the men work as coal miners. There is little else for an ungifted person to do in our part of Zoin. 

               Even at five years old, I knew I didn’t want to be a homemaker. Couldn’t be a homemaker. It wasn’t an option for me. I wanted to be someone with influence. Power. Someone who could make a difference for the province. 

               Unfortunately, the only way an ungifted person can do that in Kalyteros is by developing a skill and getting top marks throughout their schooling. Then, if they’re lucky, they might get accepted into an Arete University. There are only three throughout the entire kingdom and they’re the only secondary schooling option for the ungifted. 

               Arete Universities are primarily for gifted students who already have the kingdom at their fingertips. The student body is made up of the children of politicians, high-ranking military personnel, and top province officials who are expected to continue their parents’ legacy. Gifted children who come from lesser families must settle for lower tier colleges.

               Suffice to say, it’s pretty much impossible for the ungifted to get accepted. 

               My dad knew of my desire to go to Arken—the Arete University in Zoin—from a young age and did whatever he could to help me achieve it. He decided early on that I would become an expert in weaponry, fighting, and stealth. He thought my being an ungifted girl meant no one would expect it of me so the school would be more impressed. Me and my dad then spent many late nights and early mornings practicing wielding and throwing weapons, sparring, and learning whatever else my dad deemed important. 

               Honestly, I think he just wanted to know I could protect myself. I always got the feeling he hated the idea of me going to Arken but didn’t want to deny me my only chance to do something with my life. 

               During the first half of my senior year, my dad would take me to every open house and college visit that Arken held. Despite his exhaustion from work and the hour drive to the school, he always made sure we were there. A few times, my mom and siblings even joined. It was so exciting to see where I might spend my next four years. Nerve-wracking too. It made my dream tangible, and I was scared it would slip through my fingers.

               When Arken began accepting applications, my dad helped me fill mine out and videotaped me demonstrating my skills. He was my biggest supporter and there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t appreciate everything he did for me. I knew if I was accepted, I would owe it all to him.

               He never got the chance to see my dream come true. There was an explosion last December in the coal mines where he worked that killed him and seventeen other men. They say it was one of the worst explosions the kingdom had ever seen. They say there were no signs one was imminent. They say he’s in a better place now. They say he loved us all dearly. 

               They say. They say. They say.

               I might punch the next person who tries to console me with another empty platitude.

               My family was completely heartbroken when we learned of my dad’s death. We were numb. I think, even months later, we still are. A piece of our family was gone in an instant. The heart of our family was gone.

               My mom couldn’t leave her bed for weeks. I couldn’t imagine what she was going through. I’d never seen her laugh with anyone else as hard as she did with my dad. He loved to push her buttons, then kiss her right when she was about to snap at him. He would come up to her while she was making dinner, spin her around, and slow dance with her while singing their song. They were my definition of love, but now I’m not sure what it means anymore. 

               I never want to know what it’s like to lose a love like that.

               My siblings struggled as well. They’d never experienced a loss of this magnitude. They didn’t know how to cope. My sister Daphne would bawl at the slightest inconvenience, my brother DJ’s pre-teen angst was now amplified, and he lashed out constantly, and my youngest brother Christos started sleeping with me at night because he was afraid to be alone. 

               As for me, I just went through the motions. I couldn’t confront what I was feeling out of fear it would break me so badly I could never be fixed. Instead, I did what my mom couldn’t. I got us all up, packed our lunches, and drove us to school. I made dinner when we got home, got everyone ready for bed, and made sure bills were paid. After the explosion, the government gave us a lump sum of money for Dad’s death. It’s the only reason we were able to stay afloat.

               By April, I think we were finally getting out of the haze of our grief. That was, until my acceptance letter from Arken arrived. I went to grab the mail one morning and saw a large envelope from the school. My heart leapt at what that meant, but it sank just as quickly when I realized I couldn’t tell the one person I wanted to: Dad. 

               Everything I ever dreamed of was held within the contents of that envelope. I should’ve been excited. I should’ve been jumping for joy and thanking my dad for everything he did to make it happen. Instead, I felt hollow. 

               How could I go to Arken now? My family’s still functioning on autopilot. They need me. How could I walk those halls again when all I can remember of them was my dad’s booming laugh echoing off its walls? 

               Would my dad still be proud of me if I didn’t go?

               I went to my mom with my concerns, and she immediately shut them down. She reminded me of all the hard work I put in. That my dad put in. She told me that it’d take some time, but our family would learn how to function again. She also told me that I shouldn’t waste an opportunity like the one I’d been given. 

               “We’ll be okay, Annie,” she said as she pulled me in for a hug. “You need to do this. For all of us.” 

               I wept in her arms after that. She was right, but it didn’t make the choice any easier. I’d still be going to a place haunted with my dad’s memory.

               That was a couple months ago and my feelings regarding the matter haven’t changed. If anything, I think I’ve only grown more worried.

               Will Mom be overwhelmed without my assistance? She just started getting better. After everything, will Daphne fall in with the wrong crowd? Sophomore year is hard enough for a teenager. What if she makes a bad choice? And I can’t even begin to wrap my head around all the worries I should have for DJ and Christos. Have I made a mistake in deciding to go to Arken after all?

               “We’ll be fine, sis. Stop worrying.” Daphne’s voice cuts through my anxious spiral. “You’re going to give yourself frown lines if you keep scowling like that.” She sits down next to me on my bed and crosses her legs underneath her.

               “Who says I’m worrying about you guys?” I ask, trying to appear calm and collected. “I could be worrying about what I’m going to wear tomorrow. Or what sort of boys will be there. You know, normal stuff.”

               “Unless you and I switched bodies without my knowing, I highly doubt that,” my sister replies with a snort. “You’re too responsible to worry about stuff like that. Knowing you, you’re probably worrying about who’ll take Christos to his third-grade art fair on Thursday or DJ to his karate class on Saturday mornings.”

               “Well, now that you mention it...”

               Daphne nudges me with her elbow. “We’ll be fine. You just try to live a little now that you’re going to Arken. Flirt with cute boys. Meet some friends and go to a party. Do something other than study. I can’t be the only one having fun in this family.” 

               She glances around our tiny room. Our matching twin beds are shoved against opposite walls and a small dresser occupies the space between them. An even smaller closet makes up the opposite wall. “I am looking forward to having my own room now,” she says. “I might be able to hang up all my clothes finally.”

               “Take good care of it,” I respond with a smile. “But remember, I’ll be back for winter and summer break so don’t change it too much. I do have to use it again at some point.”

               “Yeah. Yeah. How could I forget?” She waves me off. “Anyway...Mom says dinner’s almost ready. She wants you to pry yourself from packing and join us. Get some human interaction.”

               Had I been packing that long already? “Okay. Tell her I’ll be right there. I want to do one last check to make sure I have everything.” 

               “Yeah. I know the drill. I’ll tell her you’ll be joining us in fifteen minutes.” 

               I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out at her, but say, “Tell her twenty.”

Chapter Two

Anastasia

               My mom seems back to her usual self this morning. Or she’s putting on a very convincing show for my sake. 

               She woke us all up, fed us breakfast, and got us out the door in time for move in. My move in time is 8:30 and we live almost an hour away from the school, so what she accomplished is no small feat. I’m hoping this morning is just the beginning of my mom’s comeback. I’ll feel much better about leaving if it is.

               I glance out my window and watch as fields of green pass by our car. We’re now only fifteen minutes away from Arken and my nerves are shot. Today is going to be a whirlwind of changes for me. I’m both excited and afraid of what it holds.

               I look down at the outfit I threw on of jeans and an old, faded blue mathletes T-shirt and wonder if it’s too simple. I hadn’t put much thought into my attire, caring more for practicality than looking cute. My hair quickly thrown into a loose bun emphasizes how little effort I made. I sure hope the other students don’t show up well dressed and put together. I’m not ready to stand out just yet.

               My mom glances at me from the driver’s seat, her strawberry blonde curls bouncing with the movement. “Are you getting excited, Annie? I know how much you can get in your head. I want to make sure you’re taking the time to revel in what’s happening today.”

               I smile. “I am, Mom. I promise. I’m just wondering who I’ll be living with. I never got any information about them. I’m hoping they won’t be blasting music at all hours of the day or constantly having friends over.”

               “I’m hoping it’s someone who’ll drag your butt out to parties for once,” Daphne chimes in from her spot behind Mom. 

               Mom smiles at me. “You’ll meet her soon enough, sweetie. No sense in worrying about it. I know you and you’ll find a way to make even the worst of roommates work to your benefit.” She reaches behind her seat and squeezes Daphne’s knee. “And I don’t want you getting any ideas about joining in on these parties, Daph. Your sister knows I strictly forbid it.” 

               Daphne crosses her arms and huffs from the backseat while I grin at her. My wild child sister. I don’t know how two people so different could come from the same parents. 

               But I guess that could be said for my whole family. Other than the strawberry blonde hair that adorns our heads, there’s very little we have in common. Despite our differences, my family is extremely close. I think my dad played a huge part in that. He made sure love was the cornerstone of our home.

               My thoughts stall. Thinking about my dad brings back that familiar pang in my chest. I tell myself to fight the tears that now threaten to make an appearance. The last thing I want is to show up for my first day at Arken with red-rimmed eyes and a blotchy face.

               All too quickly, the iron gates of Arken University come into view and my breath catches in my throat. This is really happening. My mom’s rusty sedan enters through them and creeps slowly by evergreen trees that line the drive up to the main building of the school. 

               Thankfully, she finds an open parking spot between a sports car and an oversized SUV and pulls into it. We all pile out of the car and seem to gawk in unison at the buildings that surround us. Their beauty rivals that of Old America universities such as Harvard and Princeton. Universities that now serve as museums for America pre-Kalyteros takeover. 

               I take a deep breath and make my way toward the check in table in front of us.

               Here goes nothing. 

               I quickly check in, get my room key, and gesture for my family to follow me as I head in the direction of my dorm. It doesn’t take me long to find it. It’s one of only two dorms on campus that’s strictly for first-year students. The Kopela Building is the female dormitory, and the Agori Building is the male. Both are three stories tall and clearly inspired by Old America gothic architecture because of their arched roofs and stained-glass windows. The two buildings frame a large white fountain that’s the focal point of the campus.

               My family follows me into my dorm while I look for my room. We end up finding it on the second floor. It’s at the end of the hall and overlooks the fountain. Its location should be perfect. I’ll only have to contend with noise coming from one shared wall which is no small blessing. 

               As I unlock my door and enter my room, I quickly take in the space and the enormity of the moment. This is where I’m going to be living for the next nine months. Who knows what’ll happen in here or the memories I’ll make. Butterflies flutter around in my stomach in response.

               My room is roughly the same size as the one I have back home. There are two twin beds, two large wardrobes, two small dressers, and two desks with chairs that are to be split between me and my roommate. 

               I unpack while my mom takes my brothers out to the quad to expend some energy. Daphne leaves a few minutes later to find ‘the good coffee.’ I much prefer to settle in alone and my family knows that. The act of organizing a new space with only my thoughts to occupy me is so satisfying. 

               I set my things down on the left side of the room and start the process of moving in by making my bed first. I’d chosen a gray comforter with yellow detailing that looks like daisies with matching yellow sheets. I love the simplicity of it. After that’s done, I move on to unpacking my clothes, then to organizing my books on my desk. Before long, my room feels like a living space. The lights I hang above my bed give it a cozy feeling I adore. 

               As I’m admiring my work and wondering if I should add some of Christos’s art to the wall, the door creaks open behind me. I turn to find a tan-skinned girl walking into the room. She has long, dark brown hair and she wears a red sundress that drags across the floor. She’s gorgeous.

               The girl notices me and exclaims, “Ah! You must be my roommate!” She rushes in for a hug. “Hi! I’m Emilia!” 

               I smile as I hug her back. At least she seems friendly. “Hi, my name’s Anastasia, but you can call me Ana.”

               When my roommate pulls away from me, her smile is genuine and her eyes gleam with excitement. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Ana. It was torture not knowing who I’d be living with.”

               A knock sounds on our door, interrupting our introduction, and a male voice says, “Mills! A little assistance, please.”

               “Oh shoot! I forgot I was supposed to be holding the door for him.” She rushes to the door and flings it open. A tank of a man shuffles into the room after that, his arms filled with boxes and pieces of luggage. 

               He gently places the items on Emilia’s bed before he turns to her. There’s no sign of exhaustion on his face despite how heavy the boxes look. “I didn’t realize being your boyfriend meant I was also your pack mule.”

               My roommate gives him a teasing smile as she looks up at the man who towers over her. “You didn’t? Well, shoot. I guess I better cancel all the furniture I ordered. I wouldn’t want to put you out any further.”

               “I know you’re joking about the furniture,” Emilia’s boyfriend says after he plants a quick kiss on her lips, “but I’m always happy to help. You know that.”

               “I do,” Emilia responds with a smile before gesturing toward me. “Nik, this is my roommate Ana.” Her boyfriend extends his hand to me and his large muscles flex with the motion. “And Ana, this is my boyfriend, Nikolai.”

               Nikolai runs his honey-colored fingers through his short, dark hair as he smiles at me. When I shake his hand, I feel raw strength emanating from him and it catches me off guard. He must notice my shocked expression because he says, “I’m super strong. It’s my gift. Hence why my girlfriend loves to use me as her one-man moving company.” He looks at my roommate and smiles, his stubbled jaw and sharp eyes noticeably softening. The love I see in that look makes me instantly like him. 

               “I should probably get going, though,” he sighs. “I want to make sure I get to the room before Harvey does. He’s insistent that we should have bunk beds, and I worry I’ll be forced into the arrangement if I don’t beat him there.”

               “Yes. Go,” Emilia states with a wave of her hand. “The last thing I want is to be banging my head on your ceiling all semester.”

               They kiss goodbye and Nikolai smiles at me again. “It was nice to meet you, Ana.”

               “You, too,” I say as he hurries out the door.

               After he leaves, Emilia gives me an apologetic look. “Sorry about that. I probably should’ve warned you about the whole boyfriend thing. We’ll likely spend most of our time in his room so hopefully we won’t bother you too much.”

               I wave off her concern. “Don’t worry about it. He’s welcome whenever. I’ll probably spend most of my time in the library anyway.”

               My roommate grins at me and I find myself thinking we could be friends.

               When she turns toward the boxes piled on top of her bed and sighs, I decide to give her space so she can unpack and get settled in without me in the way.

               “I’ll leave you be,” I say as I make my way toward the door. “I need to find my family and say goodbye to them.”

               “Do you want to meet back here around 1:00 so we can grab lunch before orientation?”

               My heart leaps in excitement.

               “That sounds great, actually. I’ll see you then, Emilia.”

               “Please, call me Millie.”

               I smile in response. “See you then, Millie.”

Chapter Three

Anastasia

               I find my family occupying four Adirondack chairs by the fountain, so I grab a fifth and settle in beside them. We spend the next hour reminiscing and watching the other first-year students move in. 

               It’s nice, but it passes by far too quickly. 

               Before I know it, my mom is standing up and announcing that it’s time to go. She hollers for my brothers, who are tossing a ball back and forth on the other side of the quad. They come running over as Daphne hugs me goodbye.

               As my sister pulls away, she grabs my shoulders and looks at me, her bright green eyes rimmed with tears. “I know I’ve joked about it a lot, but please promise me you’ll have some fun while you’re here. All you’ve done for the past eight months is take care of us. I hate to think that you won’t relax and let loose. You’re one of the smartest people I know, but you can be fun too. You deserve to have fun.”

               Tears prick the corners of my own eyes. “Oh Daph, I’m going to miss you so much. You know you guys were always more important than any stupid dance or party my classmates threw. Taking care of you guys was all that mattered.” She gives me a look that says, “That’s not the point,” and I laugh. “Okay. Yes. I promise to have fun.”

               She smiles that beautiful smile of hers and says, “Good,” while I hug her again.

               Gosh, when did my scrawny, obnoxious little sister become such an eloquent young woman? I hope high school is kind to her this year. I’m going to hate not being there for her every step of the way. My tears threaten to fall, so I pull away from her.

               My brothers rush to my side next, nearly knocking me over as they do. “Man, am I going to miss you guys,” I laugh as I catch myself and give them both a squeeze. “Now, you have to promise me that you’ll be good for Mom, alright? And try to help out around the house some.”

               “Okay,” they say in unison but in a noncommittal way.

               I kiss them both on the head, then turn toward my mom, whose arms are already open and waiting for me. I hurry to her and collapse into her warmth. “Oh sweetie, I’m so proud of you,” she whispers into my ear. “I hope this experience is everything you wanted.” 

               My throat feels raw, and I urge myself to keep it together. I really don’t want to cry in the middle of the quad. My mom pulls out of our hug and places a hand on my cheek. “Your father would be so proud of you.” 

               Whatever control I had slips after that and tears trail down my cheeks. My mom brushes them away but keeps her composure somehow as she pulls me in for one final hug. She then gathers everyone’s things and turns toward the car. “We’ll see you at family weekend next month, Annie. Remember to call us and update us on how things are going, okay?”

               “I will. I love you guys!” I hear a chorus of “love you” in return.

               I wipe at my eyes as I watch them until they disappear. When I can no longer see them, I blow out a long breath and head back to my dorm. It should almost be time to meet Millie for lunch.

               By the time I return to our room, Millie has finished unpacking and is arranging a few flowerpots containing what look like succulents on the windowsill.

               “Your side looks great, Millie. I love all the greenery.” Vines hang from multiple spots on the ceiling, complementing her white comforter with vine-like detailing. I’m surprised by how real they look.

               “Thank you! You’re sure it’s not too much?” she asks over her shoulder. 

               “No. I think it’s perfect. I already can’t wait to settle in and watch movies at some point.”

               “Awesome! That’s the vibe I was going for.” She finishes adjusting the pot that was giving her trouble and turns around, putting her fists on her hips while examining her work. With a grin that splits her face, it’s obvious she’s satisfied with what she sees.

               “Are you ready for lunch?” I ask.

               “Yeah!” She grabs her wallet and ushers me toward the door. “Let’s go. I’m starving!”

               As we’re walking down the stairs, heading toward the student center, a few girls pass us. Their white-blonde hair and dark blue eyes tell me they’re water benders. Likely children from the Aeras or Hydor families—the only prominent water bending families in Zoin. 

               Most water bending families, especially the strong ones, remain in Nero. That’s where Sister Nerine ruled the first twenty-five years after Kalyteros was formed. Those families stay there because they’re hoping for a chance at being elected Grand Leader. 

               Each province has their own Grand Leader who implements and enforces laws created by parliament. They also choose key members of the governing body. It’s a very important position—probably the most important position.

               The strongest water bending families remain in Nero because of our kingdom’s constitution. It states that an individual can only be elected to the role of Grand Leader if they have the gift of the province’s founding sister. Both Nero and Fotia still have several water-bending and fire-bending families. That means the Grand Leader is constantly changing for both provinces, allowing for new ideas and different points of view. And they are all the better for it.

               Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Zoin. There’s only one family that remains that are storm benders—the Thyellas family. They’ve been in power for longer than I’ve been alive, which has allowed them to go unchecked and make decisions that have risked our province unnecessarily. They’ve also created a lot of tension with the other provinces, specifically Fotia. I don’t know of any ungifted in my hometown of Wellington who like the Theyllas family because of it. 

               Most of the coal mines, where the men of Wellington work, are in or near Fotia.  

               My dad told me one morning, while we were hunting, that working in the mines used to be a lot better. That the people of Fotia would allow them to eat in their restaurants for lunch or go to their bars after their shift ended for a drink. That all changed after some of the decisions Grand Leader Thyellas made. The Fotians no longer trusted our people and banished them from frequenting any of their establishments. Dad said that people who were once kind now spit at his feet. I knew then how desperately things needed to change for Zoin. 

               It’s my understanding, though, that things have only gotten worse between the two provinces since Grand Leader Thyellas was assassinated in his office last December. His Vice Grand Leader came out and said the assassination was committed by a Fotian. With the rising tension, I imagine it won’t be long before fighting breaks out between them, if not a full-blown war. 

               Only the gods can save us if that happens.

               “So, how did your family like Arken?” Millie asks as we exit our building and head toward the student center. It’s located only a few feet from the first-year dorms.

               “They liked it, but it wasn’t their first time here,” I explain as we descend the stairs that lead to the cafeteria. “We came a handful of times before for college visits.”

               “Wow. That’s awesome. I wish I could get my parents to care that much about my interests. Most of the time they just throw money at me to get me out of their hair.”

               My eyes widen. I can’t imagine a parent not caring about their kid’s interests. My parents always wanted to know what my siblings and I were into.

                “I’m sorry to hear that. That has to be frustrating.”

               “Yep” is Millie’s clipped response. “But that’s why I spend most of my time out of the house with my friends. No sense in staying somewhere I’m clearly a bother.”

               Our conversation dies out as we enter the cafeteria. I glance around the space and am once again awestruck by its beauty. It was designed to look like the inside of a medieval castle. School awards hang from the balusters in a similar manner to how a castle would hang its sigils. It’s beautiful and old-timey. I find myself speechless every time I come in here. 

               I quickly grab my food and find a table in the middle of the seating area. The food selection is slimmer than it was during my college visits. They must’ve been showing off or something. I didn’t know what to choose so I grabbed what looked the most appetizing: two slices of cheese pizza. As I settle in at the table, Millie arrives with an overflowing salad. 

               “So, I have to know. Do you have a boyfriend?” she asks as soon as she sits down. She pauses, then quickly adds, “Or girlfriend? Or whatever you’re into?” 

               “No. I don’t have a boyfriend,” I specify. “I dated a few guys in high school but none of them stuck. They couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to stay home popping out babies for them after I graduated high school.”

               “Yikes. Well, that’s their loss, then.”

               “I’ll cheers to that!” I say with a smile, raising my glass. “What about you? How did you and Nikolai meet?”

               “We met a few months ago, actually. The capital has a send-off party every summer for its local high school graduates. The whole point is to connect students who are pursuing the same specialties and give them a chance to get to know each other. Well, Nik and I might not be in the same specialty, but we definitely got to know each other.” She waggles her eyebrows, the meaning loud and clear. “We’ve been inseparable since.”

               “You guys seem cute together. I look forward to getting to know him.”

               “Be careful what you wish for, roomie,” she responds with a devious smile. She then leans forward and gives me a sheepish look, “I’m obviously a nosy busybody. You’ll hopefully learn to love that about me. But I’m curious, what’s your gift? Anything cool?”

                I wince but thankfully she doesn’t notice. I knew the question was bound to come up and dreaded it. Ungifted prejudice is so prevalent, especially in upper society. My lack of a gift could quickly break whatever relationship I’m building with my roommate. “I’m ungifted, actually,” I answer awkwardly. “I was accepted into Arken for my skills in weaponry and stealth.”

               “Oh. That’s interesting,” she responds.

I hold my breath, anticipating a snide remark about how great it is that the ungifted are given a chance at something. It certainly wouldn’t be anything I haven’t heard before. But she doesn’t.

Instead, she says, “I’ve never met an ungifted person before. How cool is it that I now get to live with one?” 

               I let out the breath I was holding. Oh, thank gods. My roommate’s cool. She’s really, really cool. I then ask the question I know she’s waiting for. “What’s your gift?”

               She smiles and I watch in amazement as a yellow daisy sprouts in her hand. She hands it to me and I take the flower while trying to suppress the shocked look I’m sure I’m wearing.

               “I’m phytokinetic, which, in simple terms, means I can grow and manipulate plant life. As you already saw, it won’t take long for my side of our room to be drowning in greenery.” She laughs. “I mainly specialize in poisonous plants, though, so I don’t recommend touching any of them without checking with me first.”

               My eyebrows jump to my hairline. “Good to know,” I say in response to her warning, already worried I’ll somehow end up poisoning myself. “But that’s a cool gift, Millie. I’ve never heard of a phytokinetic before.”

               She smiles wide. “Look at us! Already introducing each other to new things.”

               My smile mirrors hers, but then my eyes are drawn to the front of the cafeteria where a tall guy now enters. He’s muscular but not overly so and his black hair grazes the tops of his eyebrows. He’s frowning, which emphasizes his sharp jawline. He approaches a table where another male whoops and hollers for him. He gives his friend a tight smile as he sits down.

               “Who’s that?” I ask Millie, nodding my head in the guy’s direction. She looks where I direct and gasps.

               “Oh, my gods!” she whispers while turning back to me. “That’s Xander Thyellas! I didn’t think he was actually going to come.”

               “Wait. What? Thyellas? As in Grand Leader Thyellas?” My mouth falls open as I look at the guy with fresh eyes. There’s nothing about him that indicates province royalty. Not in his demeanor or his attire. He’s wearing faded jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt that’s pushed to his elbows. I can see dark tattoos covering his arms that contrast with his ivory skin, but I can’t make out what they are. He seems normal. Average even.

               “The very one. You’re looking at our future Grand Leader over there. Nik told me something about his uncle requiring him to graduate from college before he could take on the role. I thought it was just a rumor. Nik assumed it was so his uncle could have more time as acting Grand Leader.”

               “Is that even safe?” I ask. “His father was assassinated. Wouldn’t he be a target as well?” 

               “You’d think,” she responds with a shrug. “Who knows. But hey, I won’t complain. Not if it means we get that eye candy roaming our halls.” She sneaks another peek behind her. “Gods, he’s gorgeous.”

               I laugh. “Don’t you have a boyfriend?”

               “Well, yeah. I may be off the market, but it doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy some window shopping,” she says with a wink at me.

               I laugh again as my eyes drift back to Xander. Future Grand Leader, huh? Well, if he’s anything like his father was, then I better steer clear of him. 

               I tear my gaze away from Xander as Millie stands. I quickly stand with her, not wanting to be left here alone.

               “Nik should be settled into his room by now so I’m going to check on him before orientation. Save us seats?”

               “Yeah, sure,” I manage to say despite my mind still being occupied by the future Grand Leader and how odd it is that he’s here. I look toward him once more before leaving the cafeteria. He’s intently listening to one of his tablemates talk now, looking like any other student. The only indication that he’s more important than he appears is the way other students keep staring at him and whispering.

               A guy like that is probably used to the attention. Maybe even enjoys it.

               Either way, I need to steer clear of him. I’m sure he’s a jerk just like his father was and I don’t need to be around someone like that.