“All the Royals, the Kings from the Realms….” His chin raises. “Florian, Lykia, and Skie.”
“What joy.” My voice drips with sarcasm.
“The Queen isn’t going to let you compete in the final game.” He glances towards me, arching his back. “I overheard her speaking to one of the Kings. I want you to be prepared when she tells you this.”
I halt, anger flushing through me as I feel my body heat. The stones in my arms begin to flash, the dragons can sense my rage coursing through me.
“I’m sorry… what did you say?” I frustratedly growl through clenched teeth. My hands are rolling into fists.
“The Kings have fought against you, and she finally caved, allowing them to decide if you are to join the last game. You will stand back with the Queen, Florian, and the other Royals who stay back to watch the battle against the darklings take place.”
“Absolutely not!” my voice rips through the breeze. “I have come this far, beat the odds of everything against me, and she wants me to stand back andjust watch?”
“You are already in the Pyre, you are a chosen. You are one of the eight to survive the games, be proud of that.” He pauses. “You have more important matters to fight against, this is not one. Just listen to her, obey what she says, and we will have our chance soon to leave for the sea.”
My brows lift in shock. “You want me toobey the Queen?”
His eyes shut and an amused smirk escapes from his lips. “Is that too much to ask, just this once?”
“Yes.” I don’t hesitate.
“Just stay back, let the men fight the darklings. No one is able to use their curses to fight the darklings, which means… all you would be able to fight with are your daggers or arrows.”
I scuff, aggressively letting my fingers glide through my hair as the wind catches it. “Of course, you’re right. Let me let the men fight since everyone in this damn Realm believes a woman cannot do such a thing.”
I stride past him, rage prickling against my fingertips as sparks flicker in my hands. I can hear him hollering out for me, but I stride forward. I am too pissed to stop.
I turn out of the Pyre, my boots splashing in the muddy puddles from last night's storm. My teeth clench as I replay his words in my head as if they are a broken record.
Let the men fight the darklings.
I scuff under my breath and my eyes burn with rage as I lock onto the other chosen, sitting upright on their horses. Theon and Kaine are chattering, their laughs echoing in the night sky. The other men are steadily focused on the bridge that is forged by fire in front of them…wait.
No. She promised.
My heart sinks as I pick up speed, desperately trying to find Florian. If she made him shift, I am going to kill her. I won’t hesitate this time.
“Where is he!” my voice rips into a loud scream, catching the attention of all the men ahead. Yet, Koen is not here.
“Koen?” Kaine glances over his shoulders towards me, then down the line of the other men who wait to race. “Is he not with you?”
“Florian!” My eyes burn, the gust of wind picking up the ash that was once on the ground. “Where the hell is he!”
“He isn't here?” Theon's voice is tense with worry. “Are you okay?”
I vault onto my horse, my fingers wrapping around her mane with a fierce grip as the fire within me blazes. An inferno of rage that demands release prickles at my skin, my stones beaming bright against my arm as I can feel the energy radiating from my dragons. The power from my horse surges through me, and I feel our hearts beating perfectly in sync. Her mane erupts into a blazing outburst, snapping violently in the wind.
The men avert their gaze, squinting against the radiant light that sparks from the flames.
“Take me to the damn Queen,” I snarl, spurring the Fireninze with a fierce kick, launching us in a violent charge across the bridge. Her hooves beat against the ground, kicking up embers and ash behind us.
The men follow without hesitation, the thunderous pounding of hooves echoing behind me.
We soar through the rolling hills, heading straight for the top of the mountain cliff where I catch sight of the five flags being held by guards in the distance. The embers of my horse spark off, disintegrating in the air before catching anything on fire. From what I saw at the Pyre, her fire doesn’t burn the lands of this Realm, but with my rage connected to her, I worry she might.
And right now, if the Queen went back on her word, I might burn this whole place to the damn ground.
We run like the speed of light through the trees, the others in the distance behind me doing everything in their power to keep up with us. But they can’t.
