Why can’t I wield them?
My fingers flicker, and I watch them shake in the air as I try to wield my fire, but nothing comes.
I slam my fist into the sand, kicking it up into the air as I let out a gut-wrenching cry. My neck flushes with heat, up to my cheeks as my pulse pounds in my head.
“What did you do!” My throat dries as I scream out to the void.
The walls of the arena come into focus, then those in the stands whip their flags in celebration. My chin rises, allowing my eyes to trace up the mountain to where the Royals sit to find Skie gowned in a raven dress with flames wrapping around her shoulders, elegantly rising from the Queen’s throne.
We are in the damn pit.
She walks to the ledge, allowing her hands to calm the crowd into silence. But when I notice Queen Antivianna’s crown, with the stones of the Realms, something inside me rumbles with fear. Uncertainty.Where is the Queen?
“We honor my mother’s death by allowing the two who killed her to fight to their deaths. Onemaylive, onemustdie.”
My trembling hand digs into the sand, pushing myself to my knees before I let out a violent shout. “Skie, what are you talking about!”
Her finger shakes fiercely as she points towards me. “You two took Queen Antivianna from us!My mother!Now you two must fight to the death!”
“We did no such thing!”
“Lykia is our witness!” She turns towards her, and Lykia rises, her silver dress reflecting with the sun. A sinister smirk forms along her lips. “She saw Koen and Serene murder the Queen!”
The crowd gasps as some weep in mourning.
My head shakes as I stare at the blood that drops from my mouth to the sand and mutter under my breath, “how is this happening?”
As I glance towards the onyx bridge, noticing not only the two dragons chained up, but the chosen standing in front of them in a line. All of them are here. But even Zake, Ivker, Octavian, and Klayra.
Their hands are wrapped in a tight rope, and they’re on their knees before the dragons.
My chest heaves, eyebrows narrowing in. “Why are they here!”
“You know why, you foolish woman!” She slams her hands into the railings. “You all were going to leave the Realm of Eekatia! My own brother, how could you convince him to betray the throne!”
Theon’s eyes roll, glancing towards Kaine. Most of the chosen are bruised still with fresh wounds from the fight against the darklings. Dryden’s head hands low, his leg puddling blood around him. They need healing.
“You are going to let the chosen die! Some of them need to heal!” My eyes burn as I stare towards the highest peak of the mountain where Skie stands. The sun is setting perfectly behind her.
My eyes flicker between the chosen and the Royals above, catching sight of Florian standing in the distance. Just to think I was here to save him, yet all he does is watch our downfall.How dare he.
“You are going to stand there and let this happen!” The veins in my neck bulge as I scream towards him. “How dare you! You know we didn’t do this!”
Florian’s eyes shut, staring down the mountainside to avoid my raging gaze.
“You are being a coward!” My throat rips out a breaking cry.
Skie slams her hands into the railings. “You don’t speak to him! You speak to me!”
My eyes lock with hers and I spit on the ground, whipping the blood with the back of my hand. “Screw you.”
“If you two do not fight…” Skie grins, “the dragons will scorch the chosen to their death!”
I hear her wicked laugh echoing in with the cheers of the people.
“Like mother, like daughter.” My eyes roll as I whisper under my breath. “Theon is the only sane one.”
In the distance, Koen is rising to his feet, stumbling weakly against the boulder next to him. Blood smears along the rock as he slips, but regains his balance. I rise within seconds, tripping in the sand, but running straight towards him.
