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“Ooh. What do you think, Aeron? Should I let her go? What a beautiful irony that would be. Friend killing friend. You’d know about that, right, Elowyn?”
“I think you’re a pussy who wouldn’t have made it this far if it weren’t for me,” Aeron spat. “So why don’t you shut your damn mouth so I can fucking think for once!”
I slowly backed away from them, swallowing hard. There was venom in those sprites’ bites. Venom that turned them vile.
Angry.
Wrathful.
Running a hand down my face, I contemplated my options. There was no escaping. I needed to face this head-on.
Luck wasn’t coming to help this time, and I was going to kill or be killed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Aeron demanded, stalking over to where I stood.
“Ugh, cut the shit, and kill her already. It’s pathetic,” Calandra said, Kelvin’s blade still at her throat. She didn’t seem to mind—in fact, she looked amused as she watched with delight—and eagerness in her eyes I’d only seen in the king’s. The glee radiating from her made her lean into the blade, the edge cutting into her skin.
I swallowed and tried to wet my dry mouth. “Yeah, Aeron, kill me. Unless, of course, you’re all talk.”
He cursed under his breath and lunged for me. Rage filled dead eyes.
There was no time for fear as I blocked his attack, and his next, my arms straining to keep up with his hasty movements. There was no room for mistakes. One wrong move and he’d overpower and disarm me.
I cursed as I whirled to the right, thrusting my blade toward his knee, but he leaped out of the way, coming back with even greater force.
“She almost took out your kneecap.” Kelvin laughed and sounded deranged. “And you call me a pussy!”
Aeron whipped around. “What did you call me?” he yelled, charging at Kelvin like a bull.
Everything happened in a blur—Kelvin shoved Calandra to the ground, using her as a decoy to trip him as his sword came slashing down.
Aaron leaped out of the way, avoiding Kelvin’s blade. But he crashed into the ground, scrambling to get to his feet as soon as he made impact.
“Calandra, behind you!”
“Go to hell, Elowyn,” she seethed, ignorant of Kelvin as he swung his blade back.
I lunged toward them—toward Calandra—plunging my sword into Kelvin’s side. Then I ripped it out, exposing his meaty insides.
His eyes widened as he stumbled back, and back. His arm falling to his side as blood sprayed from his ribs.
I stabbed him again.
And again.
“What did you do?” Aeron screamed as he raced over to Kelvin to save him, but he wasn’t quick enough.
Kelvin stepped off the edge—his body weightless for a moment—and tumbled toward the ravine below.
I knew I should feel bad. Guilty, even. But I was numb, and he deserved it. He was going to kill my friend. Even though she continued to look at me as if she wanted to kill me, I knew it was the trial. It wasn’t the real Calandra I’d grown to call a friend.
The bridge appeared to our right, and I grabbed her hand, forcing her along despite her protest as Aeron picked up the sword and made a beeline toward us. The planks ached and whined under each step—Aeron hot on our heels.
There wasn’t time to feel the tremble in my knees as the bridge shook. Or the fear that’d gripped me in the beginning.
“What’s going on?” Calandra panicked. “Is the trial over? Who died? No! Is it me? Am I dead?” Her grip tightened around my hand, and I peeked over my shoulder at her, relieved to find hazel eyes that’d returned to their normal size.
“No, you’re not dead. But if we don’t get off this bridge in two seconds, we will be.”
