Chapter 7

Making decisions.

Whispers and rumours move through the crowd. Some people obviously try to talk quietly and others don't seem to care.

"It's that girl with the scar? Did you know she was taking part?"

"She works with a witch ..."

"What is she even doing here?"

I chew my bottom lip, trying to stay calm. People are finally recognising me-I'm not invisible anymore, but in a way it brings no relief. I thought I'd feel more...excited, nervous, but instead I feel numb.

My Pixies start flying around and the crowd begins talking even louder, noticing them too.

"Lenin, behave," I hiss when I notice he's sticking his tongue out at Sebastian. Heat rushes to my cheeks when the duke, his entire entourage, and the other contestants stare at me in uncomfortable silence. I smile weakly, telling myself I have to stop feeling inadequate. I left the old me in the forest and returned with hemlock root-I deserve to go to the next round-I earned it. I move my gaze over to the duke, finding it hard to breathe. A shocking expression ripples through his handsome face and the curve of his jaw clinches. My heart stops and buzzing starts in my ears, as I'm afraid he finally recognises who I am. The scar-he couldn't have forgotten my fire spell.

"You're a girl," Elijah points out, and I glance at him. Yep, he looks seriously disturbed with the fact he lost to a female. "How are you even here? This contest is for-"

"Actually, Elijah, I didn't specify only men were able to participate in the contest. Astri returned with the root as the task required, meaning she'll be going through to the next round," Jorgen finally says, his voice uneven.

"You can't be serious, my lord. She's a woman and-"

"Well, Captain Reynolds, I hope you aren't afraid she's going to beat you in this game?" the duke asks, cutting off a shifter who glares at me, looking pretty pissed off.

"No, of course not. I was just saying that this ..."

"I think you've said enough. Astri is one of the selected contestants and that's final," Jorgen says, raising his voice and a similar warmth travels down my body when he approaches us. I don't understand why he's defending me. Maybe he doesn't remember me, only time will tell.

"Yeah, you suckers, the duke didn't specify the conditions. Astri found the plant and she's going to stay in the castle, tralalalala!"

"Lenin!" I hiss again, trying to grab the mischievous Pixie, but he keeps making faces at the other contestants. The atmosphere changes, becoming silent and strained. I'm furious and sad a few shifters are injured and one lost his sight, yet everyone else here is more disturbed with the fact I'm a woman.

"Are they Welsh Pixies? I've never come across them before. Are they yours?" Jorgen asks, staring at Lenin and Jetli who are now sitting on my shoulders, glaring at him. I feel warmth tingling along my neck and my heartbeat picks up. This isn't exactly how I imagined our first meeting or conversation.

The duke's energy licks mine slowly and I take a deep breath, trying hard to remain indifferent. I can't lose it now. This isn't the plan.

"Yes, they're mine. I found them in the forest a few years ago and they've been living with me ever since," I explain, surprised he doesn't stare at my scar like others have in the past. The duke's most likely convinced he killed me all those years ago.

"It's a playground. I can't believe I have to compete against some scarred girl," that arsehole Sebastian adds, loudly enough for me to hear him.

Lenin shoots in the air and starts tossing tiny stones at him, cursing him with words that can put even the biggest scum bag to shame. And Jetli starts waving her tiny hands, backing her brother up.

"No one is forcing you to stay, Sebastian. Astri has proven to us she has the necessary skills to become my assistant," the duke adds and a little bit of anger flashes in his voice.

I want to laugh, but I can't let my guard down. The duke isn't a good man; I need to remember that.

Sebastian bites his tongue and doesn't say another word.

"My advisors will discuss the details with all of you. We'll meet tomorrow in the main chamber of the castle. The first part of the contest has concluded. I offer my gratitude and thanks to all who participated," the duke says, nodding to me as he returns to the scene. I start breathing again, realising that I'm in-I made it.

"Yeah, sucker. In your face! Astri's moving in!" Lenin squeaks, showing the middle finger to Sebastian. I grab him and shove his little body inside my pocket.

My hands are shaking with anticipation and I no longer care the whole town's going to be talking about me for the next several weeks.

The duke's either a great actor or he has a hidden agenda. The trouble is, I have no idea what happened after my magic turned against me, but I'm going to find out one way or another.

"We've selected the main contestants and amongst all these brave shifters within the city, our first female contestant has risen above the many, proving great strength and the skill necessary to compete. Her name is Astri Harald and she's the huntsman ..."

Other contestants are staring at me. They're still apprehensive, but that's it. The most difficult part is behind me now. I just have to break the news to my aunt and uncle that I'm moving out.

The duke finishes today's event with some general information and the crowd starts leaving the tribunes.

The other mages follow him out and the same one who collected the root earlier on approaches slowly.

"All of you are expected to be at the castle gate after sunset. You've officially been selected and any of you have the opportunity to become the duke's assistant. You may have to speak to your employer about arranging time off," the mage informs us, then leans over to me and adds, "the duke said you can bring your Pixies. He's rather intrigued and, I must say, you made quite an impression on him."

"Yes, I'll be there," I say, ignoring his statement. I don't want him to favour me in any way.

Other shifters are approaching, most of them are families of other contestants. The medics are taking injured shifters to the ambulance. I see Megan holding the hand of her husband who seems conscious now, but still very pale.

"Astri! I can't believe you didn't tell me you were going to compete."

Emilia's rushing towards me, looking radiant and happy. I really didn't expect that kind of reaction from her. I thought she would be angry that I lied to her. Lenin and Jetli are still glaring at Sebastian, who's watching me, talking to a long-legged brunette.

"I'm sorry, but this was a spur of a moment decision. I heard the town crier and thought I could do this," I say, rubbing my deformed cheek. I spot the butcher and his wife, other shifter ladies from the knitting club, and the girls I went to school with. They're all staring at me. I hate this new attention, but I have to get used to it. It's only the start of what's about to happen. Now I have to head home and confront my aunt and uncle.

I should've moved out when I turned eighteen, but I let them bully me into believing I couldn't be on my own.

"Oh, child, this is a happy time," Emilia says, taking my hand. "You're finally standing up for yourself-finally grabbing the opportunity. I've known you since you were fifteen years old when you showed up in the shop begging me to give you a chance. You let those humans use you for too long."

"I'm a little worried about their reaction. The debt-"

"Forget about the money and that silly debt. This is your chance to stop hiding behind your scar and start living your life the way you want. Richard and Beatrice have never looked after you properly."

She wraps her arm around me and I begin to feel emotional. I'm so lucky to have her in my life, and she's right-I need to let them go. My aunt and uncle aren't good people. There are reporters waiting on the street, and I spot a shifter who's filming me from Lupus broadcasting station. My aunt and uncle watch the channel occasionally. Of course they would never admit it to their perfect, rich, human friends, but I've seen them engrossed in all sorts of television programs late at night.

"My uncle won't be happy. I've been giving him a lot of money every month," I say, still worried my good luck will turn against me.

"Astri, you can't let that man use you. It was their duty to take care of you. This is the perfect time for you to walk away. And all those other shifters will be in the castle with you. Maybe you'll finally fall in love," Emilia adds, giggling as we walk towards the store.

"I won't have time to worry about boys, and most of the contestants are already taken," I say, thinking about my carefully prepared plan. I'll bring the duke down-I don't care how. This whole thing won't be easy. Emilia doesn't know what happened to my parents. She thinks they died in a car accident.

That's what my aunt and uncle have told me since I was ten, but then the nightmares started and I began to figure out what really happened.

"The duke's single and he should've settled down a long time ago," she hints, and I grab her hand.

"He's royalty and I'm no one, Emilia. Besides he's much older than me. It could never work," I say, disturbed she's even suggesting something like that. I want him dead, but a little game of seduction would make him look weak and if that's how I can break him, then I should really consider it.

"Yes, maybe you're right. He's a lot older than you," Emilia agrees as we walk inside the store and start discussing my replacement. I'll be living and training in the castle for several weeks, and Emilia still needs help around the shop.

Lenin and Jetli are flying around; they seem excited about the competition.

I feel a little guilty leaving her alone with the business, but she's right. This is my chance to start over-to face an unknown past and a shifter who caused so much pain in my life.

Emilia taught me everything I know about magic and potions. Her late husband, Jared was a great man. He took me to the forest with him and we hunted together. His death nearly broke me. It was a tough time and it took Emilia months to pick herself back up.

I change my clothes and help Emilia with the rest of the inventory. More customers come in and out, and suspiciously everyone's interested in me. I stay in the back, not wanting to talk to anyone. They're only interested in talking to me now because I'm a final contestant in the duke's competition to become his assistant. Any other time, they'd either ignore me or talk about me when my back's turned. No, thank you.

A couple of hours later, I say goodbye to Emilia and head home to collect all my stuff and talk to my aunt and uncle.

"Lenin, again this is serious. Don't do anything silly. I know my aunt and uncle haven't been very supportive over the years, but I want to be out of there without any trouble," I say, feeling a little nervous about facing people who never treated me like a family member.

"I behaved yesterday and didn't even let out gas when your aunt insulted you," Lenin says, rolling his eyes, and his sister agrees.

"I mean it, Lenin. Leave this to me. I don't want any stress before the big day tomorrow. I know they think I'm an embarrassment to them, but no one in town knows I live there. It's better if it stays that way. This competition is fierce and the press will be looking over my background," I say when I sneak into the large, posh neighbourhood where I've been living since I was a little girl.

"All right, fine. I'll behave, but I had beans for dinner and I can feel I'll have gas later on," he says and then giggles to himself. I sigh, standing in front of the back entrance, contemplating what to do. The cook and the maids have already left. I'm glad we'll have this conversation without any witnesses.

The truth is, apart from my aunt and uncle, I have no one. My other family from my father's side have never contacted me and I don't know where they live. Emilia's my employer, but I've never made any friends in town. School was difficult; everyone kept away from me because I looked different. Most of the children were scared of me. I always felt lonely, until I found Lenin and Jetli-they became my true friends.

I put what I can inside my black bag, and after twenty-one years, it's surprising I really don't have much to call my own. My Pixies seem a little on edge, and I tell them to hide in my pocket. I don't want to take any chances before I show up at the castle.

"You just have to get on with it, Astri. Richard must realise you won't be living with them forever," I say to myself, and then knock on his office door.

"Come in," his voice barks and I swallow hard, resigning myself to his bad mood. It doesn't matter.

My uncle sits at his desk, writing something. He automatically frowns when he sees me.

"I'm very busy, girl," he growls.

"I'm leaving, Uncle. I came back today to pick up my stuff. Last night was the final instalment of the loan. I won't be paying you anymore. I'm twenty-one now and I've decided it's time to move out."

There I said it and now I just have to wait for him to digest it. It's been a long time coming, and it's time to change my life for the better.