Don is absolutely testing every one of Nova’s limits.

And he knows it, which makes it even more infuriating. The nice guy act isn’t working on her.

Of course the king and queen have him doing the training for today. It’s supposed to be Nova teaching a lesson, showing the guards that witches can be trusted.

She was making progress, but she isn’t so sure now.

This royal advisor has more credibility, so even though he is also a magic user, he doesn’t face the same discrimination that Haze has.

“Hello! I am happy to be back,” he greets, much too cheerful for Nova’s taste. She has to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

As if he can read her mind, Ward nudges her with his shoulder to get her to listen. Faira, on Ward’s other side, has a stoic expression on her face but is clearly giving her attention to Don.

Nova still is getting used to trusting Faira.

“This lesson will be on calculating risk.”

Interesting. She wonders how he will approach this lesson. It’s not inherently a bad thing to learn. He may be plotting something sinister but maybe he can teach well.

“Who can you trust? In a battle, this is crucial information to have. Can you trust who is next to you?” Don is standing unnaturally rigid with his hands clasped behind his back.

Everything about him makes her uncomfortable.

Nova doesn’t like the tone in his voice. He’s leading the conversation in a certain way, and she’s positive she won’t like where it lands.

She glances to Ward and Faira and they also are looking at her with concern. Like they know something that she doesn’t.

“Let’s see who we can trust.” Sounds very ominous. An undertone of sinister.

“Any voltuneers?”

“Don’t,” Ward mutters under his breath. It’s too late because Nova already is walking forward. She isn’t scared. Not of him anyway.

Even though there are many knights with their hands in the air to go, Nova is the only one to approach the training circle. Don is tense for the briefest of moments before he nods at her, almost impressed.

The eager chatter reduces when she’s the opponent. He notices it. “Who wants to go against Nova?”

No one says a peep.

“Ward, why don’t you come up?” Don directs. To anyone else, it would be a suggestion, implying an option, but Nova can feel the command.

Ward must too since he doesn’t object and joins her in the circle.

They are side by side, but there’s this danger in the air. It smells foul and tastes bitter. It makes ever hair on Nova stand up.

Things between them are never like this, but they aren’t the ones in control.

Don smiles at them, which Nova immediately clocks at fake. It’s the way the corners of his lips stretch too much. It’s unnatural.

“Ward and Nova, do you trust each other in battle?”

“Yes,” they both say simultaneously. Her heart swells when with how quickly he answered. She wants to take his hand, smile, anything to show her appreciation, but she can’t.

They are being tested and judged.

“In battle indicates that you fight for the same cause. And if you are knights for Oreza, you are loyal to the royal and their cause.”

Nova doesn’t like where this is going. Because deep in her heart, she knows they don’t fight for the same thing. That she isn’t entirely loyal to the Oreza loyalty.

She’s loyal to Haze, Ward, the Wild Thicket, Princess Aziza, and Faira. In that order.

Don probably figured this out and wants to exploit it.

“Our kingdom’s cause is the safety of its people. If witches are the threat, then can you both say that you are loyal to the crown?”

Nova will not back down. He’s discrediting her in front of the other guards. Showing to them that she isn’t reliable when it comes down to it.

“I am loyal to the people who are loyal to me,” Nova says. Shrugging, she attempts to appear unbothered, “Why fight for someone who wouldn’t do the same for you?”

That gets people murmuring, looking between her and Don. His jaw clenches at the sight of them taking in her words.

“Let’s test that loyalty,” he commands firmly. The way he says ‘loyalty’ sends a chill up her spine.

“Fight.”

The one word makes both her and Ward pause. “What are the terms?” Ward questions, not drawing his weapon.

“There are no terms. If the crown wishes for it, then you do it.” Nova can see from the intense expressions that of everyone else that they are invested, taking in every word of Don. He expects them to tap out and prove his point that she can’t be trusted and anyone that associates with her can’t be. The guards will believe him too.

She will not let her progress be taken from her. Everything she built will not be destroyed by this man. And she can’t tank Ward’s reputation. This affects them both.

Unsheathing her blade, she spins it around. “If it’s a fight that the royals want, then they’ll get one.”

Ward’s eyes study her for a second, silently asking her if she’s sure. He follows her lead when she gives the slightest of nods. Getting his sword out, they face one another.

This isn’t like when they first fought one another in one of her lessons.

She has to beat Don’s game. She has to display that they’re all the same underneath the frilly clothes or the body armour or the plain clothes her and Haze wear.

Even under that frilly clothing Don wears. They are all people at the end of the day.