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Imani motioned to the screen divider. “Behind there. Hurry.”
I darted behind the screen and changed into the top and matching shorts. The material was soft like cotton, but I sensed a magical quality to it that I assumed allowed for shifting. I didn’t want to risk losing the talisman, so I took it from the pocket of my sweatpants and shoved it into the shorts. It produced a slight bulge that made my hip appear slightly lumpy.
I emerged from behind the screen, and Dr. Edmonds held out a cup that measured about thirty milliliters of clear liquid. “Your elixir, Miss Clay.”
I sniffed the contents. “Candy cane. I’m not going to turn into Santa Claus, am I?”
“I believe the scent you mean is peppermint,” Imani said without humor.
“This isn’t Freyja?”
“Not this time. Drink up,” Dr. Edmonds urged. “It’s almost time and you want the elixir through your system when it starts.”
I really didn’t.
I drank the elixir under his watchful eye and handed him the empty cup. Imani opened the door.
“Make us proud,” Dr. Edmonds said.
It took every ounce of strength not to kick him in the teeth.
Albert patted my back as I started down the corridor. “The crowd will seem intimidating at first, but you’ll get used to it pretty quickly.”
“How long will the match last?”
“Depends. I’ve seen a couple go for hours, but most are finished in under sixty minutes.” He guided me to a small area outside a large set of steel doors. “Consider this the green room.”
“I thought my opponent was green.”
Albert frowned. “No, I mean like in television. Never mind.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m going to check that we’re running on schedule. I’ll be right back.”
I paced the floor, trying to keep my wits about me. I’d suppress the new powers with the same level of control I’d adopted for my own. I had no intention of using them. I could go down early and let my opponent win before either one of us got too banged up. There was nothing about the arrangement that stipulated I had to win, only to compete.
A knock on the wall startled me. My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I saw Kane standing there. “You’ve got to be kidding me. What in the prince of hell are you doing here?”
“Funny. That was my question for you.”
I looked past him for any sign of Albert. “You can’t be here, Kane.”
He held up a golden ticket. “It seems I can.”
I snatched the ticket from his hand. “Where did you get this?”
I bought it off the demon on her way inside the building. “Very pricey affair you’re hosting.”
I laughed. “You think I’m hosting this?”
He plucked the ticket from my fingers and tucked it safely in his pocket. “I’d like an explanation.”
“I don’t owe you one.”
“No, but I’m asking anyway.”
“Because you’re a prince and you demand obedience?”
His gaze softened. “Because I thought you and I… I thought you were my friend.”
Okay, that got me. “I’m not a host. I’m a participant. And you shouldn’t have followed me.”
