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I shut my eyes, willing my nausea to settle. It continued to swing underneath me, creaking with each movement.
The moment my feet touched solid land, I collapsed to my knees and kissed the lime green grass in gratitude. If making it across that bridge was any testament to how the trial was going to go, I was going to need to step up my game. My training sessions had improved, and I was feeling more confident than ever defending myself—a perk of repressed sexual desires. Although, I’d think Talon would disagree, having threatened me on more than one occasion to keep my attitude in check.
I needed to hone that. If I could, I’d be okay.
“Welcome back, humans. You all are looking morenourished since the last time we saw each other.” King Harkin cackled, provoking the bloodthirsty fae court that howled their amusement, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “Settle down, settle down,” he went on, sitting back in his throne. “We have an interesting trial ahead of us today. One with much higher stakes than the ones before. Today, competitors, your patience will be challenged. Your morality threatened. Four of you stand before us, but only three may leave.”
I turned around to find the dilapidated bridge gone, surrounded only by clouds and the faerie court above.
Calandra gave me a somber smile as she tipped her pointed chin to the board—her name in dead last.
I sucked in a breath, hoping it wasn’t a premonition to come, before sending her a reassuring but subtle shake of my head.
It had been a week since the potion trial. A week since Breana walked into this very arena never to come back out. Somehow it felt like it was merely hours ago. In other ways, it felt like years. Yet there we were again, destined to relive the same ending. Our lives once again, dangling in the king’s hands.
I swallowed—not daring to wish for anything this time.
“Four competitors. Two swords. The bridge to the exit will reappear when one of you has died. Good luck.”
My eyes darted to Talon as the veil shimmered to life, my heart pounding against my rib cage. “Whatever means necessary,” he mouthed before the bright blue sky enveloped him and the rest of the court.
A second passed, and no one moved, the swords in the center of the plateau glistening under the sunlight, taunting us.
Aeron and I watched each other, gauging one another’s next move when he broke from his spot, running full speed toward the swords. I didn’t waste any time as I took off after him, refusing to be a sitting duck—not when we were this close to the end. If he could, I knew he would take both weapons and anoint himself the bringer of our deaths.
Kelvin trailed close behind me, attempting to outrun Calandra, who was on his heels. It was a recipe for a dog pile—a game of chicken to see who’d skid to a stop first.
Aeron and I reached the swords first, each of us grabbing one at the same time, narrowly avoiding one other as we halted to a stop. I extended my sword out in front of me—readying for his attack—and its weight strained my arm as I backed up to where Calandra stood.
Whatever means necessary.
I held my ground, Aeron closing the distance between us with stealth-like ease.
“You don’t think you stand a chance, do you?” He thrust his sword toward my stomach.
I leaped back, and he laughed, turning his attention to Kelvin, who flanked his side.
“Look at her, man. I almost feel bad about how easy this will be.” He swung his sword at my legs, and I tried to block, but I wasn’t quick enough. The tip nicked my pants, drawing blood, and I stumbled back, catching my balance before I fell onto my back.
I spat at his feet. “Go to hell.”
“Aw, we’re only playing.” Kelvin smirked, his brown eyes almost black.
Aeron clicked his teeth. “You like to play games, don’t you, sweetheart?” He jabbed his sword at me again, but this time I blocked it, the sound of metal on metal piercing the air. Aeron gave me a sleazy smile before adding, “It’ll be fun. We’ll take it easy on you, I promise.”
“And when you’re done bleeding out, we’ll move on to you, princess”—Kelvin pointed to Calandra, who stood behind me—“I wonder how far that fall is? A thousand?”
“I’d guess two,” Aeron answered. “Your mangled body will look like a drop of blood from up here.” He used the tip of the sword to scratch his scalp.
I launched toward him while his guard was down, my blade catching his thigh before he could position his sword to block, ripping into his flesh.
“You fucking bitch!” He seethed, swinging his sword through the air.
I rotated out of the way before it could make contact, wielding my blade out in front of me, readying to block.
His counterattack never came.
Instead, he laughed, resting his blade behind his neck as he strolled toward me. “You’ve got nerve, I’ll admit. But you’re only making this harder on yourself, sweetheart. Keep pissing me off.”
