After the dance, the party went on to continue throughout the whole evening. The queen, my mother and the other members of the Quartet were nowhere to be seen. At this moment, perhaps they were meeting to talk about the success of the marriage and thinking of other plans to move forward. Because let's admit it, they wouldn't leave "Erilyn" and "August" with nothing to do as they assume their new roles in high society.
As Niko and I made our way back to the dais, he ceased on his tracks. "Let's talk outside."
I nodded subtly. It was about time. We had to think of something before they whisk us to our new home tomorrow. The queen had gifted us a house just a few blocks down the Varemont estate. There could be another way out of this. There had to be, living with Nikolas in a huge manor and sharing a room with him would be the last thing I'd be doing in this lifetime.
Since everyone was busy reveling and drinking, certainly they wouldn't notice us if we snuck to the gardens.
Distracted from my thoughts, I failed to see Niko's back in front of me and bumped into him. "Hey, watch it. Can't you see I'm right behind you—"
I was cut off when he quickly held my wrist. I raised a brow at the contact. The kiss and the dancing earlier were compulsory but why was he touching me so casually now?
He gave me a gentle squeeze and bowed, "Lieutenant Mayers."
My heart skipped a beat. With Niko's figure out of sight, I could finally see her. I straightened, yanked my wrist from his grip and curtsied abruptly.
"Lieutenant," I smiled, cold sweat trickling down my back as her dark eyes loomed over me. "To what do we owe this honor?"
"Lovers' quarrel?" She asked.
Niko laughed emptily. "No, dear Eri here is a bit hotheaded. I think she's just sleepy."
I gave him an equally empty smile. "August my love, your jokes are so bad I advise you not to make any ever again."
Lieutenant Catalina inclined her head, as though scrutinizing me. An unreadable expression briefly passed over her features, gone as fast as it came. I cursed secretly, she couldn't have found me out, had she? I made sure to imitate Erilyn's elegance and gracefulness no matter how stiff and rigid my body was.
To my relief she merely smiled, her scar stretching due to the act. "I wanted to offer my sincerest congratulations. I haven't had the chance to do so earlier, you see."
I fought so hard to search for words. "Ah, w-well…"
Nikolas butted in. "It is an honor, Lieutenant. Your greetings are much appreciated."
She made a small dip of her chin and stalked away, marching to the center of the ballroom and disappearing within the crowd.
I released a breath, standing straighter. That was too tense for me to handle. It had only been a day yet I was having doubts on whether I could keep up this façade or not.
"Come on," I said. "We're going to the gardens."
Nikolas walked beside me and as we reached the garden gates, he said, "You really look up to her, huh?"
"What're you talking about?" I asked as I pushed the metals bars, hefting the enormous skirt of this monstrosity of a wedding gown while stepping in.
"Nothing," said Niko. "Do you need help with that?"
He was pointing at my gown, blue eyes twinkling with delight under a star-flecked sky. Why does this idiot look prettier at night? Was it because the bluish grey of the moonlight softened his features even more? Or was it just his suit?
I clicked my tongue at such thoughts, looked away and went on to follow the pavement. "Yes, I do. But certainly not from you, Kore."
He chuckled, his voice reverberating against the chilly breeze. "Goddesses, how much do you hate me?"
I paused. "You'd never deem to grasp something that big."
We were both silent until we reached the fountain at the end. I sat on the concrete, the water splashing and rippling behind me as I shucked off my heels.
I sighed, "Now that feels better."
Niko stood across me, hands on his hips. He was gazing at me funnily.
"What?"
He shook his head, grinning. "You look funny."
I smirked. "Not as funny as you are."
"What could you possibly mean?" He shrugged. "I'm impeccable."
"Your big head will be the death of you."
He only replied with a laugh and sat next to me. I guess I could let him do that.
As I unfastened the pins on my head, I started talking. "Don't you think we should tell them? That we already know? No, we should definitely tell them."
"That," he said with a warning tone. "Is the last thing we should do."
I scrunched my brows. "Why the hell not? Kore, we could call them out. They'll set us free and we can go back to our lives in the academy. They'll continue the search for my sister and August. And we won't have to be forced to continue with this ruse!"
He did a harsh flick of his head. "Absolutely not. You're going to let both sides know that either of them dared to trick the other? That'll herald disaster, Russels!"
"What do I care if those old guys get angry at one another? I want to go back to being a student!" I crossed my arms. "Besides, they'll probably forget about this and get it over with."
"How are you so tactless?" Niko blew out a breath, frustrated. "Ten years of peace so carefully maintained, treated so fragile and delicately. You can't ruin it by exposing both sides, Lilibeth!"
I narrowed my eyes, "You Varemont people with your logic and reason and rationality. Too much of your analyzing is called overthinking the simplest of things!"
He inhaled. "You Russels people and your stubbornness and love of danger! Lily, you're only being selfish, you're not getting the whole picture here! If the queen knows that Erilyn and August ran off and went against her orders, what do you think will happen?"
I scoffed. "Why would the queen know?"
"Because word will spread eventually!" he finally shouted. "Because August and Erilyn won't appear if the queen calls for them, because Nikolas and Lilibeth are both attending the academy while trying to kill each other at the same time!"
His reminder that we were enemies to begin with made me realize something.
I got to my feet, preparing to leave. "Why am I even arguing with you? I could have just gone ahead and stick to my own plan."
"You're not doing that," Niko said, voice low.
"I am doing exactly that," I spat, turning my back on him.
"You better stop right there, Lily." The shuffling on the ground meant that he was on his feet now, too.
I didn't listen to him. "Make me."
"All right, fine."
I stopped, unable to move my foot. When my eyes fell to the earth and as I lifted my skirt, I saw that half of my leg was stuck on a block of ice.
I swiveled to Nikolas, anger raging inside me. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
A devilish smile was playing on his lips. "You said it yourself. You told me to make you stop."
I closed my eyes for a bit. "Oh, I see. So that's what it is."
I eyed the torch nearby and shot my arm toward it.
The flame ignited brighter and with one swift motion of my hand, the fire brushed off the ice hugging my leg, melting it completely.
I straightened my shoulders as I burned my skirt. "You started this, Kore."
When the fire had finished consuming my skirt up until my thighs, I could have sworn Niko's ears went red.
I didn't waste any more precious seconds. I attacked, shooting a hundred arrows toward him. Niko's hands flew upward, deflecting them with a shield of ice and water.
He rolled his neck, a wide grin on his lips. "A change of venue for battle isn't so bad."
The adrenaline cracked a smile on my face. "You bet."
I advanced to him, fire balls all around me like a dozen meteors. They dove to him and while he dodged I took my chance to hit a punch. I grazed his cheek, but his feet were as agile as ever as he sidestepped, ducked down and attempted to kick my ankles. I managed to hop back in time to avoid losing my balance.
Niko giggled almost excitedly. "Come closer, Lily."
I beamed sweetly, seeing the fireball at his back that he didn't know was coming. "Oh, be patient, Niko. I will."
But then the ball of flame was snuffed by a gust of wind, leaving a hiss of smoke in the air.
I turned to where the gust came from but it was too late. The ground rumbled and gave off, causing both Niko and me to lose our footholds.
When we were completely lying on the damp earth, eliciting groans and curses, sounds of footsteps were nearing to us.
"Nikolas Kore and Lilibeth Rusells," said a woman's voice. "Do you mind explaining this mess?"
I gawked at Lieutenant Catalina Mayers who had put us to the ground. At her Wind-Wielder assistant right beside her—the one who had extinguished my flame.
We're doomed.