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If the week before the preliminary competition seemed to drag by, the week before the Gods’ Challenge itself seemed to zip past in the blink of an eye.
On the day we were set to leave for the godly realm, I did everything in my power to push thoughts of nervousness and doubt out of my mind as I stood at the top of the steps leading to the first floor of the academy. There were dozens of people milling around in the large space—I still didn’t know most of their names, but they would all be coming to watch us depart for the challenge.
“How are you feeling?” Eden’s voice behind me made me start, but I quickly wrestled my heartbeat back under control. She came to stand beside me, worry radiating from her like streams of magic.
“I can’t even imagine what you’re going through,” she continued. “The preliminary competition was so hard, and I didn’t even make it anywhere near the goal. I would be freaking out right now.”
I chuckled and turned toward her. “You’ve never really done this whole supportive friend thing, have you?”
She smiled, her gray eyes turning a little sad. “No, I guess not. After my mom died, I spent years taking care of my dad, and I didn’t really get to meet new people. So my friend pool is kind of small.”
I shrugged, nudging her shoulder. “Well, it’s bigger by one now.”
She surprised the shit out of me by turning and wrapping her arms around me. At first, I froze, not used to people hugging me… but it was kind of nice. Slowly, I released the tension in my shoulders and hugged her back. She looked down the stairs behind me. “They’re all here. They’ve come to watch you go through the portals. It’s probably time to go down there.”
I dragged in a deep breath and nodded. “I know. Will you walk out with me?”
“Of course.” Then she leaned closer and whispered. “Don’t look now, but your three favorite people are right behind us.”
Godsdammit. I didn’t even have to ask who she was talking about. As soon as she said the words, my nostril
s caught a hint of bergamot and the hairs on the back of my neck rose. I’d become weirdly attuned to all three of the men who’d made it their mission to make my life miserable here.
I liked to pretend it was just a survival instinct, like an animal’s ability to sense danger, but that didn’t quite explain why my pulse picked up and my panties grew slick at the sound of Merrick’s smooth voice, Lachlan’s thick Irish brogue, or Trace’s gruff, almost raspy sound.
I had figured out a few weeks ago why he’d looked so familiar when I had first met him. It was for the same reason he looked like a rock star—because he was one. Before coming to Magic Blessed, he’d been the lead vocalist for a band called Twisted Roses, whose music I was embarrassed to admit I’d actually liked.
“Fuck,” I muttered, slipping my arm into Eden’s and starting down the steps. “Come on. Let’s go.”
The three men had been extra insufferable over the past week, basking in the awe of impressionable first and second-years, and even some third-years I was convinced should’ve known better.
“Those guys act like they’re gods.” I glanced up over my shoulder as we reached the first floor. “And they’re in serious need of someone who’ll remind them they’re not.”
“Be smart, Aria. Don’t get sucked into some petty game with them. Focus on staying alive and trying to win the challenge. That’ll be hard enough.”
The students who hadn’t already left for The Hill, the place where we would find our portals, parted to let us walk through the entry hall. The sound of whispers and murmurs filled my ears, but I tried to ignore it.
When we stepped outside, we turned left, heading in the opposite direction of the stadium where the preliminaries had been held. I cleared my throat nervously as a large hill loomed ahead of us. Dozens of people were already gathered at the top to watch our departure.
“What should I expect to happen?” I murmured under my breath. “Have you heard anything about how this goes?”
Even Eden had nerves in her voice. “Once all the challengers have arrived, there will be a portal for each one of you. Kind of like the ones that brought us to the school, except these portals are specially made by the gods. Only you can go through your portal. Just step through, and on the other side, the challenge will begin.”
“Will you be able to watch?” I asked.
Eden nodded. “Parts of it. They’ll put up a big magical screen for anybody who wants to watch, and they’ll broadcast it for other magic users to watch too. We’ll still have to continue our classes and stuff—but it’ll always be playing out here. They don’t broadcast everything. Just the highlights. But they try to catch the most exciting bits, you know?”
“Oh, goody.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ve always wanted to have my life broadcast to thousands of people. No pressure or anything though, right?”
Eden’s gaze flashed back and forth between the three men behind me and the other challengers waiting at the top of the hill before it rested on me. Her voice was quiet and serious when she spoke again.
“Remember, keep your mind focused. The gods will be watching, and so will everyone else. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you stay alive and safe.”
I gave her a stout nod and hugged her one last time before turning and taking my place on the pavilion. Merrick, Lachlan, and Trace were only a few paces behind me as I stepped up next to the other contestants, and the sound of trumpets roared from the sky as we all settled into place.
Everyone went silent and watched as portals began to open in front of each one of us. Each and every challenger waved to the crowd of our fellow students, garnering enormous roars of applause and cheers before stepping through to the other side.
I was the last one to go, and I tried to ignore the way the cheers died out as all the people Merrick had turned against me stopped clapping.
