“Draven only won because the Yarrow whore called it and had them draw,” Cade drawled, striding up to the bridge and bracing to give his own offering while Cattya disappeared behind the mountain at the other side.
Her fuck ups began today, it seemed.
Hot anger coursed through her. “I'm getting rather tired of people referring to my mother and I as whores.”
Ezra grinned, delighted Sol had finally taken someone’s bait.
“That’s what she was.” He strode forward. “It's exactly what started the civil war.”
“Any closer and I'm afraid I’ll have to throw you off the cliff, Ezra,” Cas said coolly, not bothering to draw his weapon or call forth his magic.
Ezra rolled his hazel eyes and stopped, but it was Cade who said, “Don't you get tired of other people fighting your battles, Princess?” He once again eyed her without reservation or restraint. “Perhaps it's time to grow up.”
“Now, why would I do that when I can save my energy?” Sol made a show shrugging, stepping into the role these people surely assumed was true.
Dumb. Brash. Inexperienced. Impulsive.
She would admit she was three out of four of those—she was not dumb.
She almost added it to her arsenal as a figure in the distance made her attention snap back to the bridge. They were so busy engaging in childish insults that no one noticed Zeri, who was already halfway across the bridge, her arms outstretched for betterbalance.
A wave of relief washed over Sol. She planned to be last and let Zeri go before her, ensuring no one could sabotage the bridge while she crossed.
But her running to the other side worked too.
“I don't fucking think so, Zoar!” Ezra lunged toward the bridge.
And everyone lunged after him.
Jonah brought Cade down with a swift maneuver, pinning him to the ground with tightly coiled branches that erupted from beneath them. The Water Dancer tried calling to the water below, but Aquarene didn't seem to lend her help without an offering.
Cade spat at Jonah, “You’re going to pay for that, Ketar!”
In response, Phil loomed over them, using his wind to send a wall of sand and dirt into Cade’s face.
Cas had Ezra pinned down, the Earth Caller’s face smushed into the ground. Shadows spun between tendrils of dirt and air, the sky dimming as clouds covered the sun.
The Sun.
Sol looked over at the horizon, where it was quickly approaching.
“When it’s just you and me at the end, Yarrow, I'm going to make sure our wedding night is extra special,” Ezra said through mouthfuls of dirt.
Sol’s chest heaved as Cas dug his knee into the man’s back. “Tell me why I shouldn't kill you for that sentence, Sonte.” He palmed the dagger at his hip.
Beneath him, Ezra laughed, half-mad. “Because the gods don't like cheaters in the Trials, and you're apparently so keen to follow the rules all of a sudden.”
Ezra brought his arm up at a speed only a soldier could muster, colliding his elbow with Cas's nose. Sol hurried to unsheathe her own dagger as Cas lost balance, but she was a second too late.
Like she always fucking was.
Ezra shot a hand to the bridge, and the tip of the stone fell away as if slashed by a phantom knife, sending the bridge crumbling and Zeri along with it.
Thirty Three
THE FIRE OF VENGEANCE
SOL’S SCREAM WASbrutal as Zeri fell over the edge of the bridge. The girl held on to the wood for a second, locking eyes with Sol. She gave her the smallest smile before the wooden bridge slammed into the rocks of the mountain base on the other side, propelled by a ghost wind.
