Chapter 230 Aria Is A Cheat

No sooner had Brittney’s Chibun crossed the finish line than Bunbun, who was still being relentlessly pursued by Lucifer, finally decided she’d had enough.

The sandy-brown Chibun bolted.

Unfortunately for Lucifer, she bolted in exactly the right direction. Bunbun shot down the remaining stretch of the course with Lucifer bounding eagerly after her, but she reached the finish line first, securing third place for Aetheris.

Charlotte threw a fist into the air.

“Yes!”

It wasn’t the placement she’d wanted, but one point was better than nothing. She still kicked herself for losing first place to Aria again, although the sight of Karen standing at the starting line with absolutely nothing to show for the round made the defeat considerably easier to swallow.

For once, karma was giving that bitch exactly what she deserved.

But the loudest celebration belonged to House Therion.

Eight points.

They had dominated both rounds so completely that victory already seemed inevitable. Even if Aria failed to take first place in the final race, Therion had three competitors and only needed to secure another placement to put the competition firmly beyond everyone else’s reach.

The Therion students were convinced it was already over. Their cheers filled the Outer Ring, with the students embracing, shouting and arguing excitedly over their winnings while several beasts were already boasting about Therion’s victory as if the third round were merely a formality.

Karen could barely stand listening to it. Every cheer grated against her nerves. She looked at Karios, who had suddenly found the motivation to hop around now that the race was over, then toward the finish line where her former chestnut Chibun was happily eating after winning for Aria.

Something inside her snapped.

“Aria is cheating!”

The accusation cut straight through the celebration. Aria’s laughter faltered as she turned away from Maverick.

“What?” For a moment, she genuinely wondered whether she’d heard correctly. “Excuse me?”

Nearby conversations began dying out as students turned toward the commotion. It didn’t take long before the drama had captured the attention of practically everyone around them.

Karen marched forward. “You heard me. You’re cheating.”

Aria stared at her as though she’d lost her mind. “And how exactly am I doing that?”

“That!” Karen pointed furiously toward the chestnut Chibun. “I had him in the first round. He wouldn’t listen to anything I said. Then you get him and suddenly he races straight to the finish line?”

Aria opened her mouth, but Karen wasn’t finished.

“And Karios won the first round for you. Now I get him and he doesn’t move at all until the race is over.” She gestured toward the mottled Chibun. “How does that make any sense?”

The accusation planted a seed. Murmurs began spreading through the crowd as students glanced between Aria and the two Chibuns. Even some who hadn’t thought much of her consecutive victories seemed to reconsider.

Aria’s stomach sank. She didn’t like where this was going.

“Maybe Karios just doesn’t like you,” Charlotte offered.

Laughter broke out.

Karen whipped toward her. “Nobody asked you, slut!”

Charlotte’s expression darkened. “I’m only saying what everyone else is thinking, idiot.”

“Enough,” Aria cut in before the two could launch into another argument. “I don’t know why they behaved differently with me. Maybe I got lucky.”

“Twice?” Karen scoffed. “With two different Chibuns?”

“That’s generally how luck works, Karen. Sometimes you get it more than once.”

“You’re doing something to them.”

The amusement disappeared from Aria’s face. She lifted her chin, refusing to give Karen the reaction she wanted.

“What exactly are you accusing me of?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Then perhaps you should figure that out before opening your mouth.”

Several Therion students loudly agreed.

Karen’s cheeks reddened, but she refused to back down. “You think nobody finds this suspicious? You win with Karios, then he becomes completely useless for me. The Chibun that was useless for me suddenly wins the second you touch him. That’s not normal.”

Not normal.

The words struck harder than they should have. Aria kept her expression composed, but coldness settled in her stomach. She knew those words. Or at least different versions of them.

Why do birds always gather around you? What’s wrong with you? Freak.

Maverick moved closer, his hand settling against the small of her back. Aria knew immediately that he’d noticed the change in her.

Karen hadn’t. She said to the audience, “There has to be something wrong with her, or she’s using some kind of trick. She’s definitely not innocent!”

A growl rolled through the air and Karen fell silent.

Maverick’s eyes glowed gold.

“Choose your next words very carefully.”His voice was low enough to make the warning worse.

“Maverick.” Aria caught his arm.

His gaze shifted to her, and she gave a small shake of her head. She could handle this.

This wasn’t home. She wasn’t that girl anymore, and she didn’t need someone fighting every battle for her.

Aria faced Karen again.

“You want to know how I’m cheating? Fine. Tell me.”

Karen faltered. “What?”

“Tell everyone what I’m supposedly doing.” Aria spread her hands. “I’m standing behind the same line as you. I’m not touching my Chibun after the race starts. I’m not crossing the boundary. I’m not interfering with anyone else’s animal or touching the bait. So explain exactly how I’m cheating.”

Karen’s mouth opened but nothing came out.

Aria’s lips curved wickedly. “That’s what I thought.”

“The fact that I don’t know how you’re doing it doesn’t mean you’re not!”

“Perhaps,” Caelis interrupted, “we should allow the person overseeing the competition to decide whether it has been compromised.”

Heads turned towards the serpent prince.

Caelis remained where he’d been standing, one hand casually tucked into the pocket of his overcoat.

Karen’s eyes immediately brightened. Caelis was the Prince of her House, and if there was one thing she knew about him, it was that he had little patience for dishonesty.

“Yes, Prince Caelis.” Hope crept into her voice. “You saw what happened. Tell me I’m wrong. Tell me you don’t find any of this suspicious.”

“You’re right. I did see what happened.”

Karen’s confidence soared while Caelis’s gaze drifted toward Aria. For the briefest moment, she had the uncomfortable sensation that he could see straight through her.

“And I find many things suspicious.”

Aria’s heart skipped before picking up speed.

“Then disqualify her!” Karen demanded.

“No.”

Her face fell.

“What?”

“Miss Aspen has broken none of the rules.”

“But—”

“You were all informed before the competition began that Chibuns are notoriously unpredictable. One refusing to cooperate with you does not constitute evidence that another contestant cheated.”

“Ha! Take that, sucker!” Brittney laughed from nearby.

Karen shot her a glare.

Caelis continued before she could respond. “Unless you can provide evidence that Miss Aspen violated an actual rule, the results stand. Being unusually successful is not grounds for disqualification.”

Karen’s jaw clenched. She glared at Aria, but anger wasn’t going to prove anything. She needed evidence. Something that would expose whatever trick Aria was using and finally wipe that smug look off her face.

Then an idea struck her.

“Fine.” Karen pointed toward Lucifer. “Give her my black Chibun in the final round. Let’s see if she maintains that successful streak with him.”

Brittney’s head snapped around. “Excuse me?”

Karen barely glanced at her. “Everyone has seen how useless that ugly thing is—”

“Don’t you dare call my baby ugly, you overbleached, bargain-bin Barbie with the personality of a wet sock!”

Karen gasped. Even a few Therion students went quiet before laughter broke out around them.

Brittney folded her arms. “Yeah. I said it.”

Karen looked ready to explode, but Caelis spoke before she could retaliate.

“Fine.”

The laughter subsided.

“Miss Aspen will receive the black Chibun for the final round.” Caelis turned toward Aria. “Provided you have no objection.”

Aria stared at him.

She didn’t particularly appreciate him entertaining Karen’s ridiculous accusation, especially after he’d just admitted there was no evidence she’d cheated. But backing down now would only give Karen exactly what she wanted.

Besides, there was something deeply satisfying about the thought of winning with the Chibun everyone had already written off.

“It’s fine.” Aria looked directly at Karen. “I’ll take Lucifer.”

A satisfied smile spread across Karen’s face.

Perfect.

Everyone had seen what Lucifer was like. He’d spent most of the competition chasing Bunbun instead of the finish line, and practically every contestant dreaded ending up with him.

She’d see Aria Aspen maintain her perfect record now.

“Good.”

House Therion was considerably less pleased.

Boos and jeers immediately rose from their section, several students accusing Caelis of deliberately handicapping their best competitor. Even around the betting tables, uncertainty spread. Some who had been ready to put their money on Aria began reconsidering after watching Lucifer’s performance in the first two rounds.

Caelis couldn’t have cared less.

“The final round will proceed as planned.” With that, he turned away.

Handlers moved onto the course, gathering the Chibuns and preparing them for the last race.

Karen lingered.

“This isn’t over.”

Aria sighed. “It never is with you.”

The bitch scoffed and walked away. Aria watched her go before glancing toward Lucifer.

The black Chibun was sitting innocently in a handler’s arms as though he hadn’t spent the better part of two races sexually harassing Bunbun.

Aria narrowed her eyes at him. Lucifer stared back.

“Well,” she murmured, “I suppose it’s you and me now.”