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Ican’t breathe. My body is coiled so tight with tension I think I’m going to pass out. I might be the first to die from justwatchingthe Gauntlet. I’m sure of it. Sweat beads at my temple as I watch Zane enter the pit, taking a piece of me with him.
One minute he’s trying to channel his magic; the next, the siren is sinking her heinous teeth into his shoulder. I choke on my breath, my hands dropping from my ears as horror consumes me. And then he’s gone.
Just…gone.
Invisible. He went in-fucking-visible.
I’m almost one hundred percent sure that I’ve imagined the whole thing until the boulder sweeps through the air and claims the siren’s life. Time stands still, my world spinning as the pit starts to reset itself. The water slowly recedes, the siren defeated, and just as quickly as he disappeared, Zane reappears before everyone.
A roar of shock, surprise, and triumph echoes through the crowd. The tense look on Zane’s face as he looks at the spectators tells me he’s not happy and I get the feeling it has nothing to do with the gaping wound on his arm. Blood trails down his body, his t-shirt torn at the sleeve and crimson droplets dripping from his fingertips.
His eyes lock on mine and I finally manage a short, sharp breath. I’m out of my seat and taking the steps down to the pit two at a time before I can consider my actions. Not that I care. My only priority is getting to him.
I clamber down the steps in a flurry, the rest of the world a blur around Zane as I near him. He steps through the iridescent barrier and I stop just short of launching myself at him.
“Are you okay?” he asks, concern flitting in his hazel eyes as he reaches out with his good arm to grab mine.
“Fuck that. Areyouokay?” My gaze drifts to his bleeding arm. Instinctively, I reach out to touch it before quickly dropping my hand.Fuck.
“We need to take care of this,” Creed announces, moving to my side, and a quick glance over my shoulder reveals both Eldon and Brax aren’t far behind.
“Notthe medical center,” Zane states with a wince.
“Why not?”
Eldon rolls his eyes. “Because he’s adamant the medical center staff can’t be trusted.”
Frowning, I glance between the five of them, expecting to see humor, but he’s not joking.
“It’s a pity our housemate, who claimed to be a healer, doesn’t actually have the ability,” Brax muses, quietly, and I glare at him.
What an asshole.
Before I can snap at him, Creed steps between us. I’m sure we’re causing a scene right now but Zane is the first person to be attacked by the siren and make it out alive.
“Thank you, students. The final day of the Gauntlet will commence tomorrow. Then there will be celebrations aplenty. Follow the sun, destroy the shadows, and survive another dawn.” Relief washes over me at the professor’s announcement and I lean into Zane.
Banding my arm around his back, I encourage him to drape his arm over my shoulder and we take the steps one at a time. I’m almost certain he smells my hair as we ascend the arena but when I turn to look at him, he’s looking off into the distance.
When we make it to the exit, the late afternoon sun cascades over us and I’m relieved to still be standing for another day. Tomorrow could be entirely different but that’s not a problem for right now.
“Let’s get him out of here.” Eldon takes charge, walking to Zane’s other side without touching the injured area.
“Where to?” I ask, still confused with where we can get him help.
“Back to the house,” Zane states, and the others nod in agreement.
Instead of following the crowd down the usual pathway, Eldon steers us all behind the arena where it’s completely dead, only stopping when we’re hidden behind a tree line. Zane leans heavier against me as the others do a triple glance around us. Before I can ask what they’re doing, Brax presses his palm into the bark of the closest tree.
“Let’s go,” he grunts, nodding toward the gaping black hole that now fills the space.
Creed steps through without a backward glance but none of the others move, waiting for me to follow after him. Pursing my lips, I consider my options but decide they wouldn’t do anything to put Zane at risk right now, so I approach the abyss.
Zane remains with me, his body getting heavier with every step we take. Worry consumes me but when I give myself over to the swirling darkness, I startle when I realize the other side of the abyss leads us straight home.
“What the…” Creed is already searching through the drawers in the kitchen as Brax and Eldon step through behind us. “Is that your ability?” I ask, glancing at Brax, but I don’t get to hear his response as Zane slumps in my hold. He’s a dead weight at my side and the others have to help me guide him down onto the sofa.
The second his back is against the cushions, he shakes his head. “No. No. I want Raven,” he slurs, each word elongated more than necessary. My eyebrows pinch as I glance at Eldon and he shrugs his shoulders.
