“Now would be a good time to stand,” Theodon commented.
“Fine,” Helaina gritted out. One foot after the other, she forced herself upright.
“Choose a weapon if you know how to wield one. I would suggest something bigger than a dagger.” He walked off, joining the circle beside Manos.
She realized how pivotal this was. Make a stand or forever be a target here.
She made it over to the stacks of armor and weaponry. She saw the shelves of swords and found one that fit her grip nicely with a wieldable weight. She didn’t bother with the armor. The heaviness would irritate her injury more and slow her down.
Murmurs and laughter were audible as she tested the blade.
“I bet she doesn’t last a minute.”
“I bet she doesn’t leave the yard with all her limbs.”
The soldiers of the Divine were making this some sort of game.
“I’m waiting, bitch,” Breyer singsonged from the far end of the arena. The crowd cheered and hollered for her.
Lovely.
Helaina examined the sword, taking her sweet time. Breyer was clearly impatient. Maybe if she got her good and irritated, she’d make a mistake.
“I knew I heard your name before,” Breyer shouted. The voices dimmed as they listened. “I know exactly why they brought you here.”
Helaina turned, letting the sword hang at her side. She let a single glance slide over to that behemoth of a captain. She wondered if he would shut Breyer up. He remained mute, letting her continue.
“I didn’t think it was true back then, the faint whispers in Azaros. When we picked up our provisions that season, everyone was paranoid from the attacks. Still, I recall the stories. How King Matthias left our lands and came back with news of a weapon. A mortal, marked by Valhoor. His council begged him to strike it down, while it was weak and powerless.”
It—nother. She was a thing to them, an item. She walked slowly toward the circle.
“His lords and lady pleaded with the king to end the prophecy before it could begin. Being the righteous ruler that he is, he refused. He wouldn’t cut down a pitiful little girl.”
Helaina’s face was blank as she stopped before her opponent.
“He helped sweep the problem under the rug, didn’t he? Cloaking it just like he cloaks Azaros. So no one could sniff it out, sniffyouout.”
The crowd gathered closer, whispering and leaning in for more. Theodon remained stone-faced.
“It’s not just a story, is it?Youare the reason many of the Divine have gone missing.Youare the reason this threat cannot be contained and mortals are being taken from their homes. They have been looking for you!”
Helaina’s vision overflowed with that red fog, the fury in her stirring like a caged animal. Her hands trembled. Not from fear but from restraint.
Breyer smiled, twirling her twin axes. “I’m going to do what he should have done back then. I’m going to make you bleed, Princess.”
Helaina lifted her sword with a flourish. The movement indicated she was no novice. Adriel had made sure of that.
“What are you waiting for?” Helaina goaded.
Then she reached for her wrist and tossed the bracelet to the ground.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
Although his expression appeared unfazed, Theo’s mind was overrun with the emotions that had violated his senses tonight.
He wanted her to commit to this. He wanted to see her force past the fear that restrained her, a fear he understood all too well. He wanted her to reach for that raw power again, to embrace it.
She brandished her sword with familiarity.
