The horse of fire must have heard me, because within a few beats of the mare's hooves, it's sprinting right towards me. I ripthe bracelet off, diving behind one of the boulders they left out from the first battle game to hide.
“What the hell are you doing!” Kaine screams, stumbling to his feet to hide.
“Saving your life!” I lean forward, watching the Fireninze wait for our movements. She is smart, I'll give her that.
The crowd loses it, their cheers echoing around us as their beverages toast high in the sky. Their chants for death are so loud I am sure the heavens can hear them.
But I don’t care. Let them scream. Let them beg for blood.
They won’t get what they want, not from the two of us. I will never allow it.
“I won't die!” he grunts, clenching his teeth tightly. “I have done these games for many years! I always bond with one of the horses!”
“Well, it seems like this isn’t your year! Unless you take my wristband!” I toss it towards him. It clicks up in the dirt, sliding closely towards him. “That horse will scorch you to death without the suit!”
He reaches out swiftly. “What about you!”
“I’ll climb the wall back! And I suppose my fate now lies in the hands of the people!” I tease, shrugging my shoulders as his head shakes.
He slips on the wristband and we both lean around the boulders, looking for the mare. But she isn’t in sight.
That’s when I smell burning char, right behind me.
Shit.
Bright tones of a crimson red beat against the boulder I lean against. I can hear the crackling of fire popping, and that’s when the crowd goes silent.
My eyes shut, knowing the Fireninze is right behind me.
With the sound of the hooves beating against the dirt, I sprint.
My hair gradually falls from the tight bun, the strands blocking the view of everything around me.
My chest rises and falls. The wall is in sight, my hand reaches out towards it, but I trip. I turn my body, letting my shoulder slam into the rock against the ground. As soon as I make contact with it, I hear my bones snap, breaking under my skin. I cry out, gripping my shoulder so tightly. My eyes clench shut, teeth grinding as I hold in the agonizing pain that is radiating through my damn arm.
“Get up!” I hear Koen holler, and through my blurred vision, I see him gripping the arena wall. “Now!”
I push with my other arm, trembling as I slip, letting my chest slam into the dirt. I wince at the impact, my body internally panicking as I hear the hooves beating against the ground.
She is coming for me.
My knees dig into the dirt, and I pull myself up with all the strength I have, rising to my feet. My shoulders lift before falling, hunching over before forcing my body to straighten upright.
Show no fear, Serene.Show no damn fear.
I shift on my heels, turning deliberately to face the horse. My eyes narrow into slits, watching it charge towards me. The fire embers flicker in the wind, her mane and tail bellowing out into the air around her.
My eyes catch sight of Kaine charging forward, heading towards the horse. I stretch my arm out, halting him. I shake my head “no.”
His brows pull deeply together, slowing his pace down as he pulls his hands behind his head and glances up towards the Royals. I know he is making eye contact with Florian. I can hear him screaming in the stands, he thinks I can’t do this.
He has never seen me.
He has never believed in me.
He has only wanted to protect me.
But let me show him I am more than what he sees.
