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"Fine, you win," he hissed, barely louder than a whisper.

I tutted. "Those aren't the words I'm looking for. You know, the ones I want to hear." I pressed my blade into his throat. "Loudly, please. So everyone can hear."

The nostrils of his now healed nose flared, and he swallowed. "I am nothing. I am trash, and I submit to you to rule over my pitiful existence."

I let him feel my cheeks contract. "Very good. If you ever try to lay a hand on my friend again, I will cut it off. And make sure you tell big brother what happened here. I'll be happy to accept a challenge from him too." I released my hold so quickly he fell forward onto his hands.

Professor Windstorm was at our sides in a flash. "Winner, Miss Summerfall."

A smattering of claps came from the winters and springs, but my other cousin looked ready to string me up, which was to be expected. His opinion of me had been tainted by his parents and my own family. Sometimes I wondered why my mother hadn't killed me in the womb. Dragons miscarried occasionally, and it wouldn't have been difficult for her to make it seem natural. Or maybe she'd kept me so the Queen wouldn't rope her into an arranged marriage. I doubt I'd ever know why.

I just had to suffer through one more year with these nobles, which was, by the looks of it, going to be one of the worse yet, then I would be considered an adult and could move to the human realm permanently, and never have anything to do with the courts again.

Professor Stormfall waved me over. I kept checking over my shoulder to make sure Henry was not going to stab me in the back, but it seemed like Professor Windstorm was herding him off to the side.

"How's the arm?"

"It'll heal." The cut was deep, but the bleeding had slowed. I'd barely felt it during the heat of battle, but now it throbbed like a bitch.

"Interesting surrender speech Summerflare made. Is it a summer court thing?"

I shrugged. "Just a game the cousins and I used to play when we were little."

Her piercing silver eyes peered down at me and I knew she was putting two and two together, but I couldn't let it bother me. Now that Henry and my other cousin were here, I was sure some of the sordid details of my past would come out. At least Will didn't know the worst ones, but I'd have to have another chat with Henry and make sure his tongue didn't waggle. Although maybe, Raven and Roan's reaction had been a precursor to what the other courts might think too. So, Henry might keep his mouth shut, to save face.

Raven had once told me, be proud that you are a survivor. And I was. I wasn't that weak little eleven-year-old anymore.

Alexis shouted, "Angie, she's a summer."

"So, it's not like they're jumping to claim her." Angie rounded my side. "That was epic. Henry is an arrogant arse. I'm glad someone finally knocked him down a notch." She shuffled forward. "Here, let me ice your arm. It'll numb the pain until you heal."

I glanced at Professor Stormfall, and she gave me a slight shrug.

"Okay." I turned to give her better access.

She held her hand above my bicep, and a blue glow emanated from her palm. Icy tendrils danced across my arm and the pain vanished.

"Oh! I didn't expect my magic to heal you." She leaned forward.

I raised my arm for a better look, and found the wound had closed, leaving behind a pink line that would fade in a few weeks.

Angie turned to Professor Stormfall. "I thought we couldn't heal summer and spring court?"

Stormfall bent in for a look and raised her eyebrows. "Maybe her human blood responded."

I poked my flesh. Only a faint tenderness remained. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

"All right," called Professor Windstorm. "Pair up, we're starting class."

Angie smiled. "Would you like to—"

"Angie!" One of the spring girls yelled. "Come on."

"Drat," Angie muttered. "I forgot, I promised Zara yesterday. Next class?"

"Sure."

Angie flicked her long burgundy braid over her shoulder and glided away.

"So, does that mean I get to partner with you?" I grinned at Professor Stormfall.

We'd partnered a lot over the years. Stormfall said it was because she needed the exercise, but I thought it was because she just liked to push me.

"There's an opponent for you over there." She pointed over my shoulder.

I groaned. "The summers won't partner with me."

Stormfall smirked. "He's not a summer. And try not to swoon. I've seen at least ten girls do so since he arrived."

My eyebrows shot up. I glanced back and spotted the winter prince standing alone, staring at me. Shit. I'd take a summer any day over him.

"Run along." Stormfall gave me a gentle push.

I trudged over to join the Prince, who wasn't looking at me anymore. His gaze was on Professor Windstorm in the centre of the arena.

"After that spectacular display of physical ability a moment ago from Miss Summerfall, it has come to my attention that many of your hand to hand combat skills, without the aid of magic or weapon, are lacking. So, today we will spend the lesson revisiting some basics."

A few moans echoed through the grounds.

"It is not wise to rely heavily on your magic. In a battle, it can be depleted, leaving you with only your physical prowess. So, find some space, and get sparring." He whirled and marched toward Zara and Angie.

I shuffled over to the edge and propped my sword against the barricade, and Sasha placed his next to mine.

"Isn't it customary to greet someone upon meeting them again?" he asked.

I glanced up, met his violet eyes, and looked away. "What's stopping you, then?"

One side of his mouth curled up. "Hello, Briana."

A shiver feathered up my spine. I hated the way he said my name. "Prince Winters."

"Oh, we're using titles? My apologies, Princess Summerfall."

"I'm not a princess, Winters."

"By law and by birth, you are a Summer princess, even if your mother fails to recognise you, the other courts have."

A sharp twinge flared across my chest, but I disguised it by rolling my shoulders. "Are we going to spar or talk all day?"

"Can't we do both?"

"I'd rather not."

He smiled, and I hated that I found it sexy. Why couldn't he have turned out ugly? Like the trolls that lived in the fire mountains.

I raised my arms to chest level and squeezed my fists. "Ready?"

"At your leisure, Princess."

"Don't call me Princess." I lunged, jabbing my fist at his face. Maybe I could break his nose?

He dodged. I followed up with a barrage of strikes, and the smirk slipped from his lips. He took on a harder expression, concentrating on blocking my moves. I increased my speed, but he countered. I kicked and ducked. His fist flew out, clipping my ribs, but we didn't stop. It was amazing. I pushed myself to my limits and I could sense that he could move faster, still, so I pushed even harder, until the cuff on my right wrist cooled. I bobbed under his strike, springing up with an uppercut. His punch came out of nowhere, slamming into my solar plexus. Air fled my lungs and my feet lifted off the ground. I flew backwards, skidding across the sandy floor until I thumped into the barricade.

Professor Stormfall jogged over. "You all right, Briana?"

I gasped, raising my hand. "Fine."

"Sacha, are you trying to kill her?" Angie darted to my side. "You're supposed to hold back against everyone."

"To hold back against another royal would have been dishonourable," he said.

"Very true, Prince Winters. But perhaps, exercise a touch more control next time." Professor Stormfall helped me up.

"Of course. My apologies." He dipped his head. "I lost myself for a moment."

"Understandable in the heat of battle." Stormfall waved him off. "Change partners. Professor Windstorm, if you could fill in the missing student."

"But I—" A cough bubbled up. Sharp pain stabbed through my chest. I covered my mouth and liquid hit my palm. I looked down and discovered a bright red splotch.

Professor Firefall put an arm around me. "Come on, to the healer's hut with you."

I took a step, and my knee folded. A cool hand grasped my other elbow.

"Are you okay?" Sasha's concerned tone sent warm waves to my core.

I closed my eyes, annoyed at my reaction. It had been this way, even when we were children.

I shrugged him off, causing more pain to sear through my ribs. "I'm fine."

Amusement danced in Stormfall's eyes.

I glared at her. "Hello, dying patient here. Shouldn't we be going?"

Sacha winced. "I can take her." He reached for me.

I recoiled, stumbling into Stormfall. Burning stakes jabbed into my lungs and I suppressed a groan. "Absolutely not. You can't let him take me." My voice rose an octave. "He probably wants to finish the job on the way there."

His expression hardened, and he gave a shallow bow. "I regret my actions. Next time, I will hold back."

I scoffed. "Don't you fuc—" I coughed again. Blood splattered across the pale floor, soaking into the sand. "Ow." I held my ribs.

"You've likely punctured a lung." Stormfall hoisted me up, taking on most of my weight, and began moving me away.

I looked over my shoulder. "Don't you dare hold back!"

His eyebrows shot up.

And I turned away before I was tempted to do something childish, like stick my tongue out. Bloody realms, what was wrong with me?

We exited the arena at a snail's pace.

My chest throbbed. "Sorry about this."

"Don't worry. You aren't the first student I've helped to the healer's hut, and you won't be the last. And I suspect you might frequent the hut a bit this year if you plan on partnering the Winter Prince again."

I groaned. "I should stay well away from him."

"His power is a league above yours, but I wouldn't think you, of all people, would back down from something as insignificant as that."

"Insignificant? Ha! He's like ten levels above me. That's hardly insignificant."

"Not ten, maybe five."

I blew a raspberry. "And that makes so much difference."

Stormfall chuckled. "You remind me of her."

"Who?"

"Your mother."

I went cold.

"I don't know if you knew, but I was at school with her. We were in the same year, and how I hated her." Stormfall shook her head. "She was a magnificent warrior, and the only one that could best her was my prince."

That caught my attention. "Autumn's Crown Prince?"

"Yes, those two were like fire and ice. Seeing you and the Winter Prince fight reminded me of them."

I smirked. "So my mother used to get trounced by the Autumn Prince?"

"Yes, frequently. But she never stopped trying to beat him."

Call me vindictive, but the idea of my mother getting beaten daily warmed my belly.

"Briana, many of the Blood teachers realise this year will be particularly difficult for you, but know that we are all here for you."

"Um. Thank you."

"Your mother nor the Queen made no effort to hide how the Summer Court treated you as a child, and many of us who thought we knew your mother." Her midnight eyebrows furrowed together. "I never thought her possible of such cruelty."

My chest went numb and not from the injury.

She led us along the sakura path. "My prince especially was very disturbed by the tales of your youth."

My organs shrivelled up. "Does everyone know?"

"It wasn't common knowledge amongst all the nobles, but the other kings and queens like to keep an eye of other heirs and their spares. So most of the royal families know."

"And Prince Sacha?"

"He probably didn't hear all the details, since he was a child at the time."

I let out a soft sigh as we passed the main buildings.

"I heard you plan to live in the human world after graduation."

"Yes."

"If you need any help with that, you let me know."

"Thank you, Professor."

We rounded the Auditorium, and I noticed that all the lists had already been removed.

"Leila. I've known you since you were eleven and you are practically an adult. Please, in private, call me Leila."

A flood of warmth crashed through my torso, and moisture pooled in my eyes. "I think I can make it from here. You should probably get back to the others." The green slate roof of the healer's hut came into view.

She stopped when we were a few meters from the large ornate wood door. "I'll see you next lesson."

"Thanks, Leila," I whispered.

She inclined her head and swept away.

I wheezed and trudged the last few steps to the healer's hut, rubbing my eyes. Her offer had threatened the icy chains around my heart, and with the winter prince here, I couldn't afford to let them be.

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