Vera’s chest rumbled as an uncontrolled growl slipped past her lips.

Taeral’s face snapped back to hers. “What? You don’t like being called a human?”

She didn’t bother responding. She just glared at her, hoping she could feel her hatred boring into her head.

Taeral held the blade out, letting Suki come reclaim her weapon before replying to Vera’s silent loathing.

“You sound like them, you move like them, you fight like them. So, until you prove otherwise, you haven’t earned any other title.” She lifted her chin, the unvoiced dig loud between them. Magyki wasn’t the title she was insinuating, and they both knew it.

Vera’s face and neck flamed, the stares of the surrounding Magyki burning off the last protective layer of her pride. She lowered her head, fighting back tears. This had been the only thing she’d wanted, and it’d just been thrown in her face.

She stared at the ground, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze, least of all Jaren’s. Her own shame was too strong to sense his, but she didn’t doubt it was probably there. Maybe if she sat there long enough, everyone would magically disperse so she could crawl away to mope in private.

Something shot out in front of her face, and she instinctively threw her arm up to block the strike. But the attacking hand stopped a few inches from her face, its owner releasing a loud snort.

“Embarrassment doesn’t suit you, Daughter to the Throne.”

She looked up from the outstretched hand to find Reniya standing before her, wearing a wide-ass smile on her face.

Chapter 19

VERA

After the taunts and shit she’d just pulled during their fight, Vera didn’t at all trust Reniya not to humiliate her further, but she couldn’t exactly ignore her either. Not without simultaneously looking like a bitch and a sore loser.

And the last thing she needed was for the whispers that were still spreading through the Magyki around them to state she was unskilled and a fucking asshole.

Taking a deep breath, and hoping for the best, she reached her arm out, accepting the offer of help.

Reniya wrapped her hand around hers in a firm grip and yanked her up so fast, she lost balance, falling into her like a lover seeking an embrace. Mortified, she shoved back, hissing from the throbbing pain in her chest at the impact.

The cut wasn’t deep enough to warrant immediate attention, but fuck, it hurt.

Her ears were raging infernos on the sides of her head as she righted herself. It was going to take time before she was used to everyone around her being so gods damn strong.

Reniya just laughed, reaching out to brush off bits of gravel that still covered Vera’s tunic. “I like you, Daughter to the Throne. You need a lot of work,” she said, running her eyes down Vera’s form and back up, “but I respect your fire.”

“Thanks,” she muttered, putting more space between them and wondering how she’d known who she was.