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Fuck.
My back stiffens, and for some reason, my attention is drawn back to Leila, who remains at her father’s side with her head bowed.
Head. Bowed.
She didn’t…
Did she?
But how else would he have known? There’s no other reason for it. Not one.
My heart shreds into a million pieces in my chest.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I’m angry with myself more than anyone. What a fool I am. I should have listened to my doubts and refrained from trusting her. The pain clinging to my every fiber makes it clear I should have kept her at arm's length. But more so, I’m angry that the hope that was blossoming to full fruition inside of me has been quickly squandered at Erikel’s hands again.
“Everybody make your way to the Gauntlet arena, where we will have multiple gateways set up, ready for the mission,” Erikel declares.
“What mission?” one of the guys from Shadowgrim Institute beside us asks, and before I can even blink, magic is blasted in his direction, setting him alight in an instant, until nothing remains but black burn marks where he stood moments earlier.
What. The. Fuck?
“Any more questions?” Erikel glances around the courtyard with a smug look firmly in place. My fingers twitch, wishing like hell I had the strength and ability to tear this man down on the spot.
With a reaction like that, he made sure no one dares open their mouth now. When he’s certain no one else is going to have an outburst, he waves his hand dismissively.
The crowd starts to move without further question, but I’m heading in the opposite direction.
Shouldering through the crowd, I hear Eldon call out my name, but my sights are set and anger burns in my gut. I grab hold of her arm and shake her.
“Did you do this?” I snarl, not caring if Fitch sees or not. My attention is solely fixed on Leila.
She shakes her head, confusion warring in her eyes, but I’m not falling for that bullshit now. She’s clearly too good of an actor for me and I won’t fall for it anymore.
“Raven, what are you talking about?” she asks, lifting her hands to my chest as I grab her other arm too. My nails dig into her arms but she doesn’t flinch.
“The Monarchy. I want to hear you say it. Tell me. Was. It. You?”
She pushes against my chest and I release my hold on her as she frowns at me with what almost looks like disappointment in her eyes.
“Are you joking with me right now? Of course not. Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know, you tell me,” I bite, stepping closer, but I manage to keep my hands to myself this time.
“Raven, I didn’t do this,” she says calmly, and I scoff.
“Let’s go, Dove,” Zane murmurs, putting his arm around me and pulling me back against his chest.
I glance over my shoulder at him and spot Creed, Brax, and Eldon all right there too.
Fuck.
I exhale harshly, looking away from my so-called friend.
“Get me out of here,” I rasp, looking at Zane pleadingly. He spins me on the spot and starts to follow the remaining members of the crowd heading toward the arena. We don’t make it ten steps before a flash of gold stops before us.
Fuck my life right now. How can hurdle after hurdle continue to fall in place before us? I don’t want it.
