Page 82 of The Fifth Heir

He released his Frost.

The remaining ice melted fast enough to pull the water level below his knees.

“Go back,” Talia told him.

Leander looked toward the blue gate at the far end.

It was open.

He could reach it before any of us reached ours.

“You’re asking me to abandon a completed path,” he said.

“Yes.”

“For three competitors.”

“For four other heirs.”

His jaw tightened.

The Frost connection dimmed before he answered.

Talia shifted to Shadow. “Sebastian?”

His lamps were relit. The entry to the center stood open behind him.

“I’m returning,” he said.

He reached us first.

Rafe emerged moments later, carried through the Storm entrance by a final gust that sent him stumbling into Sebastian. The two nearly went down together.

Rafe recovered and looked at me.

“You gave up your gate.”

“So did you.”

“Yes, but I intend to complain about it.”

Talia stayed over the Frost channel.

Leander’s path remained visible beneath her hand.

He stood before his open Crown Gate.

One step would complete the Trial.

“Leander,” she said.

The chamber shook. Stone fell from the ceiling and shattered near the Frost door.

“You have to decide now.”

He looked through the connection toward Talia. Water streamed from his hair, and the open gate behind him painted the entire chamber blue-white.

Then he turned his back on the Crown Gate.