Non-Heir (The Black Mage 0.5)(29)
And despite the smell—she must have been mucking the stables, because it was something foul—the girl wasn’t nearly so ragged when she was fighting back a smile.
She might even be pretty.
What in the gods’ name is wrong with you? Darren scowled as he realized he had helped the lowborn despite all desire for the contrary.
“The last thing I need is for you to get caught and make it harder for me to come here at night,” he snapped.
The girl’s smile faded back to a glower of her own. “My furthest intention.” Her tone stated very clearly she shared his sentiment… for whatever this was.
Darren watched her go.
There was something about this girl. He wasn’t sure what it was, but every single time they crossed paths, she had found a way to get under his skin.
She’ll be gone by the end of the month. He had seen how she clutched her books. She was terrified of failure, and she was lowborn.
He was caught between admiration and distaste.
But she snuck out like you. Of all the first-years, she’s the only one who cared enough to risk her neck. She might not be the best, but she’s resilient.
Not even Eve or Priscilla had thought to go to the library. But this girl, whoever she was, had. She was going to fight for her place at the Academy. He had seen it in her eyes.
Something told Darren she would pick Combat. Not just any girl would challenge a prince.
And tonight, the girl hadn’t backed away.
She hadn’t shown fear.
She might be reckless, naive, and stubborn even, but she was a fighter.
And something told him he would want to know her name.
Ryiah and Darren’s story continues in First Year, Book 1 of The Black Mage series.
Author’s Note
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Acknowledgments
This book would’ve never been written without the FANS. You guys are the ones who begged and wheedled for Darren, so thank you for finally convincing me to write this book.
Thank you very much to my awesome sauce beta reader SAKINA MADRAS for giving me the honest truth and your invaluable feedback on this (and also advocating for the fans and begging me to write this in the first place).
I’d also like to give a big thank you to my lovely PROOFERS who helped me in a last-minute crunch. You guys are much better at spotting those pesky typos than me: MIRANDA STEED, SANDRA DEEB, MEGAN MCGORRY, and ASHLEY CHEESMAN.
Special shout-out again to MEGAN. Thank you for cheering me on throughout the writing process (also teasing me with all of her yet-to-be-written story ideas and Fletchy!) and your (and Monica’s) lovable loathing of my favorite non-heir. You took a chance on my books from the very beginning, and I’ll never forget all your support. Can’t wait to read your finished books one day!
As always, my career therapist, best friend, and partner-in-crime, R.L. BLALOCK, I owe you an acknowledgement in every book I write. You’ve literally seen my writing at its worst (Cat-Sand-Rain, enough said) and I’m so proud of you for publishing your first book. We’ve been inseparable since seventh grade, and here we are still sharing the same dreams and hopes together over a decade later. Let’s make it until we are crusty and old, shall we?
My EDITORS (Hot Tree Editing) and my amazing COVER ARTIST (Milo) who have been with this series from start to end!
And finally, my HUSBAND. You let me take a part-time job and sell my car to write the first draft of The Black Mage series when I realized I needed to follow my dreams. I’m sure everyone else thought I was crazy to give up everything for a chance to write, but you’ve stuck by me through every trial and turn, and look how far we’ve come in just a couple of years. We’ll never fall; we’ll never fade. No matter what, until the bitter end, we’re going to be the last ones standing. I love you with every part of my soul. Nice guys do finish first in real life.