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“One of the women who has been declared to compete in the challenges is Laelia.”
Well, fuck,I curse internally, breaking out in a cold sweat.Not again, I can’t go through that again. Images and memories of what I endured during the werewolf trials flash through my mind, my heart speeding up. I almost lost so many people in those trials, not to mention my own life, and the thought of my loved ones being put in danger like that again is terrifying to me. I have no doubt that the queen will use Nicolai and Syn as leverage against me.
Thanks to our incomplete bond, Atlas can’t feel all of what I’m experiencing or the exact reason for my panic, but he is able to sense my fear and make a pretty good guess from the queen’s words. Stiffening beside me, he reaches out and takes my hand in his, interlocking our fingers tightly and resting them on his knee. It’s a small movement, but it makes a statement to everyone watching, especially the queen, whose eyes are narrowed on us. She wants me to panic, and having Atlas being supportive at my side is ruining that plan.
Now that I’m feeling a little calmer, I expect everything within me to settle down, my heart rate slowing and the pressure in my chest easing. Only instead of calming down, the dark presence in me seems to grow. She’s excited at the chance to prove ourselves now that our magic has been unlocked. Thankfully, she doesn’t try to take over, happy to sit back and watch through my eyes, settling just beneath my skin. It makes me nervous, but since she’s causing no harm, I know it’s safer just to leave her be.
At the other side of the hall, the queen suddenly seems to remember that she’s currently the centre of attention and blinks away her frown, transforming back into her benevolent mask that she uses to hide her true self. “Who better than to help lead us to victory than the woman who belongs both to the wolvesandthe witches?” she continues with a bright smile before moving on to scan the rows of witches up at the top of the seating area as though she’s looking for someone in particular.
Murmurs of agreement meet the queen’s statement, and I hear my name on several lips, whispered like a promise. It makes me nervous. I’m practically being promised as the one to bring her peace, even though I’m still having to compete against others to prove myself. It feels like I’m being set up to fail.
Unable to find whoever she was looking for, the queen makes a thoughtful noise in the back of her throat and shakes her head like she’s shaking off a thought and continues her speech. “Others who are deemed worthy by the goddess will be invited to take part, and the contest will begin in two days’ time. It shall test your magical abilities and control, strength, and fitness, as well as your connection to the goddess.” Pausing to let that information sink in, she smiles, baring too many teeth to be kind, giving her the appearance of a predator. Honestly, that’s the way I feel right now—like prey.
“Of course, no general goes into battle alone, so each chosen female can enter with a group of consorts to help them.” Murmurs fill the room, louder this time, as the witches contemplate who will be assisting the females chosen to compete. However, the queen doesn’t let this stop her, and she addresses me once more. “Laelia, since your circumstances are so different, we have ensured you will have the appropriate support.”
The comment sounds supportive, which I’m sure is exactly how she planned it, but if anything, it just causes me to worry more. The queen has done nothing to benefit me since I’ve been here, her gifts a double-edged sword that only gives her more leverage over me.
Aware of how many people are watching me, I give her a tight smile so I don’t look ungrateful and get accused of anything. Some might be expecting me to give a speech or ask for their support in the challenges ahead, and if I were sensible, that’s what I would do. However, I’m so overwhelmed and close to losing control as the darkness fights against me that the smile is all I’m able to manage.
I can sense her smug satisfaction as she watches my reaction. The panic I’m feeling is exactly what she wants, and I’m giving it to her. The alternative would be dangerous for all of us, so I have to suck in my pride and allow her to see how unsettled this makes me.
Waving her arm towards me, she crooks a finger, beckoning me forward as Ivar steps off the dais and waits expectantly. “Follow Ivar, and he will take you to one of the practice rooms where you can meet your team.”
Swallowing against the lump in my throat, I pray to the goddess for strength as I stand and begin to walk across the hall, acutely aware of all eyes on me. There’s movement behind me, and I can feel my bonds writhing in my chest. Everything feels all twisted up and different, which I assume is because I’m so stressed and everything will settle later once I have a chance to breathe and absorb what’s been said.
“Atlas, Luna, stay where you are. I have a need for both of you.” The queen’s tone is sharp, and my chest tightens as I glance over my shoulder to see the two of them had already begun to follow me.
I shouldn’t be surprised. She’s trying to unsettle me, and separating me from my mate and friend are perfect ways to continue doing this, taking away my support when I need it. However, what does surprise me is that she’s separated me from Atlas. I assumed that he’d be one of my consorts for the challenges. He might still be and she’s just adding more stress and uncertainty to everything, but I can’t help the nerves that twist in my gut.
Taking a deep breath, I turn forward and meet Ivar’s gaze, nodding at his silent question, and I follow him from the hall via the side entrance that the queen arrived from. As soon as we leave the hall and the doors shut behind us and I know no one can see us, I stumble to a halt, my shoulders slumped and my eyes squeezed shut. Ivar says nothing, nor does he try to touch me, and I actually find his quiet presence soothing. Once I’ve pulled myself together, and I’m sure I’m not going to have a meltdown, I open my eyes and roll my neck and shoulders, standing upright as I prepare to meet my team.
Now that I’ve been separated from Atlas, who knows who the queen will have selected for me to assist in the challenges? What if they are witches I’ve never met before or they don’t like me? Can I trust someone I don’t know to watch my back?
Then you get to know them and work together,the darkness in me hisses, giving me a dose of tough love.You don’t need to like each other, just trust that they’ll have your back. They won’t want to die in the challenges, so they’ll want you to do well, no matter how they feel about you.
She’s right. I’ve never needed anyone before, I made it through the trials, and I can make it through this. Taking several slow, measured breaths, I replace my trepidation with determination. Whatever I’m about to face, I will find a way to manage. My mates will support me where they can, either in person or through the bond when they are unable to be with me. Not to mention I have the support of my goddess, her love a reassuring presence.
My gaze shifts to the dark witch’s back, and a thought comes to me as I study his figure. “Ivar, you can taste truths and lies.” This is a statement rather than a question. He told me about his gift before and how it makes him so valuable to the queen, so why does my comment cause his shoulders to stiffen. “Was the queen telling the truth?”
Obviously torn by what he can and can’t say, his brow furrows. He continues to walk as he thinks, the darkness seeming to surround him more than it had previously.
“I am loyal to my queen, and I won’t break her confidence.” His response is slow, and I can tell he wants to say more but is either unable to or is worried he may say too much. When we spoke the first time, he told me that his loyalty lies with the queen, so this response isn’t all that much of a surprise to me. However, it also tells me that there’s more behind all of this. If the queen has been telling the truth, then what would be the harm in telling me? By saying nothing, it only makes it seem like he has something to hide.
“Ivar.” I reach out and place my hand on his arm, pulling him to a stop, allowing my need for the truth to show on my face. “We’ve helped each other out before, so I’d like to think that we’re friends. Is this just a way for the queen to make sure that my supporters lose confidence in me if I don’t perform well? Is she creating these challenges to kill me without getting blood on her hands?”
If these challenges are anything like the werewolf trials, then I could be seriously hurt or killed in the process of trying to prove myself worthy. Should I die, she can claim that I obviously wasn’t the chosen one to end the war between the werewolves and witches with no blame at her feet. She could orchestrate the whole thing, acting the part of the benevolent ruler supporting her chosen one, when in reality, this is designed to kill me.
Ivar pauses at my touch, looking down at where my hand rests on his arm, seeming to be lost in thought. With a sharp intake of air, his head jerks up and his black eyes widen with shock. I study his face, my brows pulling together in concern and confusion. What’s caused him to look at me this way? I’m pretty sure it’s not because I’m touching him, my instincts agreeing as the darkness in me hums happily.
His expression slowly morphs into a smile, excitement practically radiating from him. “I can’t wait to see what you’re capable of once you’ve dropped your human manacles.”
Wait. What? I’m so stunned by what he said that I’m still staring at him as he begins to walk once more. If he realises that he’s leaving me behind, then he doesn’t care or slow his pace. Shaking my head to get control of myself, I let out a huff of air and jog down the corridor to catch up with him just as he rounds a corner.
Glancing at me from the corner of his eye, he smiles slightly, back to the Ivar that I’ve come to know. “I’m bound, so I’m unable to say much,” he begins, and my heart drops at once again having next to no information to go on. However, Ivar isn’t quite done. “Just know that everything is not as it seems. Be careful.”
I want to grill him for more information, seeing as he’s left me with more questions than answers. What did he mean about dropping my human manacles? Is he implying that once I learn to embrace my magic, I might finally be able to shift? Hope sparks in my chest so brightly that it makes my breath catch. Trying to stop myself from demanding he tell me more, I follow behind him, organising my thoughts so I don’t get ahead of myself. Before I’m able to ask anything else, though, he stops and gestures to a wooden door.
His expression is serious now, making me more nervous than I was before. “Bond with your team, you’re going to need them,” he warns.
