This was so not worth it. I thought as I was once again tossed on my ass by Finnea. The onlookers chuckled at the entertainment before them. I glared at the sun deciding not to get up. 

"Come on Jana! Get up, two more sets and you can run it off around the track!" Finnea called out. As if running would do me any better. I thought snidely, I brought myself to a sitting position and crossed my arms across my chest glaring at Finnea as she stood with her hands on her hips. 

"You do know this is pointless right?" I said gesturing to the arena Finnea grinned at me, her light brown hair pulled back into twin-tail braids down her back. She wore her training leathers today. Dark brown pants with a white tank top showed every muscle rippling from her arms as she held out her hand to me. 

"You just have to try harder. You're not projecting enough to draw up your magic. You should feel it humming and static electricity around you. Like this." She demonstrated a light ball of water flowing from her hand, she was a water bearer, one of the few powerful elements. She made a show to the audience surrounding us with her water magic taking different shapes. Water bearers were especially good with healing which is why most are considered healers for the army and the raiders. 

I rolled my eyes at the sight, jealousy burning through me. I'd rather fight through the trials with tooth and nails than show this sparkly shit. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply sensing people's emotions around me. Most had felt amused at the spectacle, some in awe at Finnea, and one held concern and worry. 

But for whom? I opened my eyes and scanned the crowd for them. One stood out, he had copper hair that shone brightly in the sun. Violet eyes that held very little emotion, and yet I could still see right through him anyway. As though he felt eyes on him he glanced my way feeling my stare. 

We stared for a long time I was trying to size him up, trying to see what drew me to him. Something hummed deep down inside me tugging me forward. But I held my ground, but that was before A loud voice boomed through the arena. 

"Rowan told me you'd be here my daughter." The voice boomed, making me flinch away from the violet eyes. And landing them on my father striding in with Kenia and Sam behind him. He must've flown in from Adras today. I frowned at him as I finally stood to dust my pants off. Finnea stopped her show and saluted my father with a fist to her heart. The others were doing the same. 

My father gave them a gentle smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "At ease everyone, I'm only here to see my daughter's progress." He commanded raising his hand as everyone rose at his command. My back straightened as his brown eyes took a look at me. I had put my black hair into a ponytail adorned with a crowned braid at the top. Along with an army green ribbon holding it in place. 

Further along, I had decided to wear a simple black top showing my many tattoos of the constellations that my father greatly disapproved of. With light brown leather pants as my bottoms. I smirked at him as he stared openly and with agitation, "I See you've made little progress Jana." My father started, I rolled my eyes at his tone. Here we go. 

"Instead of spending your time playing with the Raiders, maybe you should join the army as you have the brains and the skills that I've taught you." He huffed out a breath folding his arms behind his back. I bristled at his insult. How dare he, I've been studying my whole life for this exam and he still won't see reason! 

"Knowing that you do, you could indeed be useful to our king as an advisor. And yet you waste them on the Raiders." He sneered at the name his strong dislike for them was apparent. 

"And What use would I be as an advisor? I'm sure our king has enough already. He doesn't need anymore." I hissed out, but continued on before he can get another insult in. 

"And why bother disliking the raiders dad, you know as much as everyone else that they help keep the peace in Adras, they are the ones protecting us. I wouldn't want to be stuck in a castle all day like the king is." I argued, fixing a glare at him while murmurs of agreement followed from the crowd. I stood my ground as my father took another assessment of me. 

"She indeed makes great points commander Wyn, if she was chosen or she chose it for herself the it is her own path to make." Another deep voice seemed to ripple through the arena. Anyone who was smart enough would bow down to the man who strode forward, he seemed to also be wearing training leathers. One that showed off his strong muscles and his eyes were a golden brown color along with his copper brown hair that shone in the sun making him one of the most beautiful man I saw and a striking familiarity towards the man I saw earlier. 

Before us stood King Gayel along with a few guards. No sign of the prince, everyone before him bowed except me as I gaped at him wide eyed. Once again something hummed deep inside me, nudging me towards him. I tried to ignore it because it seemed to grow louder. But before I could act on it, Sam nudged me to bow to him. Gayel saw the action and smiled. 

"All rise, Jana if you don't mind I would love to see your training." He said gently his smile going away and his golden eyes shining with a challenge. I choked out a noise at the request and stuttered out excuses, King Gayel held up a hand. 

"No need for excuses Jana, I'd just like to oversee your progress. I hear you are quick in sword fighting, but struggle with magic." He smirked at me. I narrowed my eyes at him, and glanced at Sam who nodded to me encouragingly. 

I sighed and beckoned to Finnea, we once again stepped into the ring and I took my stance. Something about the king standing there set my magic on edge. Making it hum even more than before, answering to his commands. I furrowed my brow but I managed to gain some confidence as I gathered my power. As I felt more power flow through my veins, I managed to summon vines of light that wrapped around my wrist. While doing so I had looked up to see Finnea had gathered her magic into a water spear, to which she threw it at me and my vines snapped forward to block the spear. Making the spear burst into water. 

My eyes widened at the action. The audience clapped and wooped and a new boost of confidence renewed me as I grinned proudly. "Is that all she has? Is that all she spent training with you?"  Kenia snarled out with anger storming forward, the ground breaking underneath her stomps. 

My eyes widened in fear, "Kenia! Stop!" Sam yelled at her, yet she didn't yield, she continued on her warpath towards me and herEarth magic hummed around the air as she took a step forward and many rock pillars shot up towards me. In my desperate attempt to scramble away, I was caught up in a pillar that launched me into the sky, a yelp sounded from me as I felt myself falling, the impact from the pillar managed to brusie my sides. I looked towards the ground and found myself plummeting ten feet from the air down to earth. 

Not before King Gayel called on his wings and flew upward to catch me. Rarely any fae would show their wings to anyone unless in battle or to their mates. And only the mates can touch a males wing. King Gayel caught me with ease, my body shivered with his touch around me and my magic hummed in a pleased response. I breathed out a sigh of relief, as I let my hand rest on his chest. I winced once I breathed out, and Gayel's golden brown eyes shot to mine and his anger spiked through my empathic abilities. "Are you hurt lux mea?" 

"Only my sides." I admitted, I glanced at his black wings, which shone in the sun that was gleaming brightly in the afternoon. Everything about him seemed to shine, yet his wings were black as night, but beautiful as ever. 

Gayel chuckled lightly. "You might want  to see Finnea then to help you."  I nodded in agreement not saying anything else but staring up at him as we floated gently down to the ground. Sam and Finnea ran towards us while my father was yelling at Kenia for her poor actions.  Sam and Finnea fretted at me as I watched the engagement. 

"Are you hurt anywhere?" Finnea asked with concern lacing her brown eyes, as Gayel set me down on my own two feet, I waved Finnea " I'm fine Finnea, nothing a little rest won't do."  Finnea nodded and backed away as Sam assessed me with a careful look, I rolled my eyes at him. He knows me well enough that I don't like healers. My attention was more focused on my father and Kenia, who were still arguing, we all shuffled forward to witness it. 

"I don't know what has gotten into Kenia today, she seemed to be fine in our meeting earlier. But it seems like something has gotten under her skin." Sam grumbled and I sighed rolling my eyes at him. 

"It's nothing new Sam, it's just Kenia being a bitch." I muttered, Gayel and Sam chuckled at my comment. It's true, ever since we were little Kenia had always been the problem child, blaming everything on us and our parents punishing us for her antics when we did nothing wrong. I tuned into the argument. 

"Apologize to King Gayel and your sister Kenia, that was seriously out of line. King Gayel should see to your punishment for disrespect." My father rumbled out the order, Sam and I both know that there was no room for argument in that tone. Even though mother was the General of the army, our father had the final say in most arguments and conflicts between the siblings. 

Kenia huffed out an annoyed breath, like it was the hardest thing to do for her. Gayel rumbeled with displeasure at her attitude. 

"My deepest apologies King Gayel, I do hope you forgive me for my actions." Kenia said with a mocking undertone, Gayel cleared his throat and nodded towards me and Kenia sighed, agitation clearly showing through, what was her problem today? 

"Fine, my advice sister, is to stay in the library with the scholars where you belong. You don't deserve to be a raider. Not like Rowan." Kenia snarked at me giving me a sneering look. I bristled at her insult, how dare she? 

"You know what Kenia- I worked damn well hard to be placed in the Raiders academy after Rowan got admitted a year earlier than me! We were supposed to be in there together but somehow I had a major setback when that happened and wasn't chosen until next year. But if anything you were there when I was at my strongest, I could've beat you then. And I could probably beat you now." I snarled out, baring my teeth at her. Kenia let out a sardonic laugh and crossed her arms over her chest. 

"Yet you are still weak sister. I made a show of you, maybe you should stop taking that damn herb of mothers." Kenia barked back at me, I winced at the mention of the herb and exchanged a worried look at Sam who shook his head. Only our family and Sam knew about the herb that I took that mother made me when I first showed magic.  

"Kenia! That's enough, we don't speak about that here. And it's for Jana's own good." Our father ordered interrupting our squabble. Gayel shot a questioning look my way but I shook my head in response to his look, yet he asked it anyways. "Commander Wyn, what herb is she talking about?" 

my breath hitched at his question my eyes narrowing at him, if he knew then our family would be screwed no matter the position. "I'm deeply sorry about Kenia, your majesty, she's been troubled for quite some time. But the herb she speaks of I cannot tell you. Jana needs to take it for her protection. As well as anyone else's." My father said smoothly, Gayel narrowed his eyes at him as suspicion ran through him. 

A guard ran forward saving us from further questioning. "A message from Prince Alix, he wishes to speak with you urgently." The guard spoke to him quietly, Gayel nodded in response and strode back over to me with a twinkle in his eye, "I do hope to see you again Lux mea." He purred and kissed my hand. Then nodded to my father and Kenia who both saluted him, striding off with his guards.