AllFreeNovel
Share Us
No, I was too close.
Too much was at risk.
I thrashed under its hold once more before rolling over on top of it and kneeing it in the head.
It screeched in response, disarming it long enough to free my hands and wrap them around its head. I winced as I recalled Lewis’s soulless body dropping to the ground and hesitated for a split second before I twisted—snapping its neck.
The vynx twitched.
I scrambled to my feet and darted toward the exit, the light on the other side shrinking with each step.
I was almost there; the fresh air on the other side brushed my face.
Time stood still as I took a sharp breath, dug my boots into the marble… and leaped.
Twelve
My eyes strained as I squeezed them shut—too afraid to find out if I’d failed or not.
There was no other option.
No backup plan.
I needed to be on the other side of that door.
Taking a deep breath, I peeled them open.
Instant relief washed over me. The arena had gone back to its original state. Gone was the moving maze and oak door, and in their place a well-lit coliseum and the thousands of fae observing above. The veil, too, had disappeared, and the sounds of the crowd overpowered my thoughts.
Letting out a sigh, I sat up and searched the crowd for Talon but didn’t see him on the viewing deck. He wasn’t anywhere.
I scanned the group of competitors next as I got to my feet, checking to see who was still with us.
One. Two…
There were only six that I could see, including myself.
Twirling around, I checked the board with our names and tally marks, and my body went cold.
Lewis
Sage
Martell
Jeston
Then, I spotted them.
Their bodies piled over in the arena’s corner, waiting to be tossed out like trash. The visual of Lewis and Sage’s deaths replayed in my head, and I cringed—wiping away the tears that rimmed my eyelids as I rushed over to them.
My body felt miles away.
I collapsed beside him, brushing Lewis’s blond hair from his face, and choked back a sob.
Death had come too early. His pale blue lips. His still chest. He was a kid. Only a kid. They all were. Kids who wanted a chance to go home just like everyone else.
I kissed his forehead, my fingers trembling as I stroked Sage’s porcelain face. I wanted to scream. Curse the king and escape this star-forsaken realm while I still could. Alive.
