Page 19 of The Chosen Fae

"Lolita can join me at any time."

Ondine smiled. "I'm glad you've befriended her. She deserves it.”

After seeing what had happened with the first challenge and the situation between Maeve and Rune, Star Gazer said, "We'll have to choose the winner to bring the warring packs together. They have agreed we have the final say."

"Aye, of course, sister, as it should be," Moon Gazer said.

"We cannot just choose Rune or Stone because we favor them over the others."

"Nay. If they have what it takes to bring the packs together, it will be based on their own merit. We will not interfere with the selection process."

Star Gazer sighed. She thought both wolves stood a chance, but being lone wolves also put them at a disadvantage. She could see the other wolves easily partnering up to eliminate their competition, and the lone wolves faced greater risk. Especially after what Maeve had done to Rune.

6

After breakfast that morning, and once the security video had been shown, displaying Maeve trying to smother Rune, Stone hurried over to speak with her. She appreciated the gesture. Others gasped at what they saw. Specifically, Lolita and Iris. Others looked shocked. Pari, Fang, Vesper, and Xena only smiled.

“I’m okay,” Rune told Stone, who looked so concerned.

“Maybe you should go home. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

She smiled and kissed his cheek, shocking him. “No one is going to threaten me and send me home.”

At least she hoped not. It really was a quagmire. She wanted to return home, sure. But she wanted to be the one who decided it, not some wolf fae who tried to eliminate her from the game.

The Game Master started talking about the new mission. "Eleven of you are still in the competition. For this mission, six rope bridges will be available to cross. I've decided who will pair up with whom, based on strength, to make this more even and competitive. Because we have an uneven number of competitors this time⁠—"

Everyone looked at Rune as if she were at fault.

"Lolita will be on her own," the Game Master said.

Poor Lolita looked worried. Rune felt concerned for her.

Then they were fae-transported to a forest at the edge of a canyon.

Six double A-frame monkey rope bridges, ten feet apart, crossed the river to the other side of the canyon. With a wet roar, the dark river churned thirty-five feet down in dips and swells. The bridges were composed of a triple span of ropes stretching a hundred and fifty feet across—two lines to grip above and one rope underfoot. They were already swaying in the wind before anyone set foot on them.

But then she saw boats down below, waiting to fish out fae competitors who fell off the rope bridges into the river, giving her some sense of relief.

"You must reach the other side as quickly as you can," the Game Master continued. "The first one to find the wolf totem hidden in plain sight will win the challenge. It emits a low humming sound to help you locate it. The game begins…now!”

Everyone raced to the six rope bridges. Rune ended up on the rope bridge parallel to the one Stone was on, with a girl named Pari trying to catch up to her. She had been Maeve's packmate and friend, and Rune knew she had it in for her from comments she’d made to Vesper.

Vesper was behind Stone and trying to shake him off the rope bridge. Stone fell on the bridge, straddling it where it would hurt the most, but managed to get himself back up and looked like he was in pain.

Pari was behind Rune and trying to catch up to her, but she was having trouble balancing on the rope bridge. Rune knew she had to get to the end first, then dash off to find the idol. She couldn’t help but glance at Stone again, who was sluggishly trying to maintain his distance from Vesper.

Suddenly, Pari was behind Rune, closing the gap between them on the twisting, swaying bridge, and reached Rune. Rune couldn’t let her pass her. But Pari was determined to throw Rune off the bridge. She kicked her in the back of the legs, and Rune buckled.

No, no, no, no!

Rune lost her balance and fell but grabbed hold of the foot rope with one hand before she plunged into the frothing river below. Instead of just passing her, Pari ground her boot on Rune’s hand, grinding it, making it hurt like the devil.

“You hurt Maeve and put her out of the game,” Pari accused.

“She tried to kill me.”

Pari already knew all about it. “Too bad she failed. You won’t be the Chosen One.”