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Prince Bowen sat beside him, bored and uninterested as he polished the buttons on his sleeve. However, he looked up when he felt me staring and winked—a sleazy grin taking over his face.
Fidgeting under the weight of his gaze, I averted my eyes to the king, who stared back unblinkingly.
“This trial is all about perseverance and commitment, a simple virtue most of you filthy humans cannot grasp. Today, you will discover what that truly means or die from indolence. The Wintercrest Highlands behind you are of the steepest in the realm, and at the top lies a vial of unicorn elixir that will rejuvenate your body and mind, providing you an advantage for the last trial…” he trailed off, almost appearing lost in his mind. “I’d warn you of the obstacles ahead, but that would ruin the crux of the endeavor.” He grinned. “Good luck, humans. And remember, those who submit to diligence will reap the benefits of self-sacrifice.”
Aeron walked backward toward the mountain with his hands behind his head. “Don’t try to keep up, ladies. I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself.” He winked, letting out a venomous cackle before focusing on me. “Although I have a special surprise planned for you, sweetheart. Retribution, if you will.”
Bile sloshed in my stomach as he swiveled on his foot, turning his back to us as he continued toward the mountain.
A wet, thunderous sound pulsated through the air, vibrating my eardrums—growing louder and meatier with each beat. I craned my neck in every direction, looking for the source, when a copper wyvern flew into view, flanking the side of the Ashgate Mountains. Its scales glistened in the sunlight, making it appear like liquid gold as its leathery, membranous wings carried it through the sky. Its shadow below was the size of a small building as it barreled toward us, stealing the breath from my lungs.
Calandra and I ducked for cover as it flew over Aeron’s head and shook up dust and rocks all around us.
Aeron’s eyes were wide with panic as the wyvern turned around, its sights set on him as it darted back, swooping closer than it did the first time.
My heart hammered in my chest.
I scurried to my feet and raced for the mountains, my shoes slipping on the gravel.
I skidded to a stop at the base of a boulder, wedging myself between two rocks as the wyvern darted behind me—the gust of air that followed burning my eyes and spraying my body with loose dirt.
My vision remained blurry no matter how hard I tried to blink it into focus, and I lost track of where Calandra and Aeron went.
There was no time to worry about that, though, unless I intended to be a wyvern snack. I needed to get to that vial of unicorn elixir before Aeron did.
Rubbing my palms into my eyes, I attempted to dislodge some of the grit that remained before starting up the mountain.
My nails dug into the limestone.
One foot after the other, I climbed further and further, breathless and aching, until my calluses bled and my knees ached.
I stopped to rest for a few minutes on a narrow ledge, my heart beating erratically against my ribcage as I laid on my back, queasy and lightheaded from the height. Keeping my focus on the clear blue sky, I ran my hands along my face, wiping away the beads of sweat. There wasn’t much further to go—the tip was within view and was likely a couple of yards away.
I questioned every single moment that’d led me there. Floating on a questionable slab that balanced hundreds of feet in the air, my legs threatened to give out.
My arms burned.
I was next to empty.
The ominous beating of wings drummed from somewhere below, and the blood drained from my face.
I kept as still as possible, moving closer to the mountain until my back was flush against the cool rock.
Aeron emerged to my right, balancing on a crag a few feet above me, oblivious to my position. However, there was still no sign of Calandra. I hoped she was somewhere below, but I didn’t dare look down to check.
The ear-piercing shrill of the wyvern’s roar sent small rocks tumbling down the mountainside, and I held on for dear life as the ledge rattled beneath me. As soon as the dust settled, I found a small notch in the mountain to stick my foot in and held onto the edge of the landing above.
My hands—slick with moisture—couldn’t get a good grip on the stone.
And my foot slipped.
Not able to find another spot to place it, I clung onto the edge by my fingertips. There was no way I was going to make it, and with the wyvern circling back, I'd tumble down with the rest of the debris.
Shit. I was stuck. I couldn’t hop down—the ledge was too small.
“Hey, grab my hand!” a voice sounded above, and I peered up, squinting from the sun.
Pulling her black hair out of her face as she crouched down, Calandra extended her hands in my direction.
