Page 136 of The Heart Trials

He doesn’t move, stiff beside me. But Talia almost trips as she watches the subtle, silent exchange as she’s dragged off the stage to be held in restraints.

“As heavy as I am at your failure to find love,” the Benevolent goes on to Kade, “I’ve been moved to a heart of mercy, and there will be two winners chosen today: a truest-love match couple and one other individual. Because there is one prevailing quality worthy of citizenship: patriotism. Someone who believes in the values of Ethyria and embodies them completely.”

Dorian shifts a few feet away, and his chin raises.

Rhythe seethes. But he stands there with his eyes closed, as if waiting for something.

The Benevolent’s hold tightens on Kade. “You’ve proven your loyalty to the Citadel. Long ago, as a Mercyenforcer guard, you resisted the rebels’ recruitment. When we had to remove all lowborn Mercyenforcers from their posts, you were sent back to your district, but your heart did not harden against us. You understood why your sacrifice was necessary, and you have continued to serve us loyally. Your service will no longer go overlooked.”

A Mercyenforcer steps forward, draping a purple robe over Kade’s shoulders. But I don’t understand. Kade has been working with Rhythe, who wants to kill the Benevolent.

“It is my honor to present to the Skyborn our patriot of the Tournament of Hearts and our first new Skyborn,” the Benevolent declares.

The arena erupts in applause. The sound is deafening and unreal.

Rhythe’s jaw ticks, watching now, eyes open. His fists tremble at his sides. Kade lingers with a practiced calm.

He’s known he’d get this. He’s always known. He played Rhythe.

Dorian breaks from the line, lunging toward the platform with a raised fist. We’ve always known there would be only two winners. The love of his life died. Of course he’s pissed. But anger right now is reckless.

“Dorian, wai—” I almost step forward, but Caelus holds me back.

Mercyenforcers converge on Dorian. The crowd’s cheers turn to boos.

“You said,” Dorian shouts, “if I told you about the people she cares about—the little girl—you’d help me!”

My blood turns to ice.

She?

Me.

Serafina.

He sold me out. He told them I cared about Serafina.

Dorian looks at me—with apology or regret, I can’t tell—but when I glare back, he drops his gaze like a coward. I lunge for him, fury igniting in my veins—but again Caelus grabs me tight.

“Not our fight,” Caelus hisses in my ear.

Dorian knew about the patriot winner. He expected to get it. They manipulated him…

Mercyenforcers try to restrain Dorian, but he thrashes wildly, ripping a stinger from a guard’s belt and jamming it into her ribs. The woman convulses, limbs twitching violently before crumpling to the ground—unable to move as the pulses of the stinger’s energy render her muscles unreachable for several moments. Dorian doesn’t stop. He launches again, this time at the Benevolent—pure rage in his eyes.

But Kade moves first.

He snarls, grabs a sharp spear from a nearby Mercyenforcer, and leaps off the stage. His feet slam into dirt. He marches straight to a feral Dorian. No hesitation. No mercy. And drives the spear clean into his gut.

“A name?” Kade spits. “You gave him a few names and you expected favor?”

Dorian gasps, collapsing.

Blood spills between his fingers as he clutches his wound, eyes wide with pain and confusion. And despite everything—despite my fury at what he’s done—a shudder vibrates through me. Because Kade didn’t even blink. When Dorian hits the ground, he doesn’t move. Dead.

The Benevolent welcomes Kade back onto the stage, calm as ever. He redrapes the robe on Kade’s shoulders himself. Then he clears his throat. “Well, now that that’s done, we can move on with the rest of the ceremony.” His gestures at Rhythe. “Let’s hope you and Ivy are much less of a disappointment.”

A cold pit settles in my stomach.