Its red eyes lock on mine, unblinking, unmoving, but it doesn’t attack.
My flames expand, and it just stares at me. My pulse races, sweat drips from my hairline, threatening to sting my eyes.
It cocks its head to the side, as if it’s studying me, as if it’s curious about me.
And then it’s sprinting, its claws tearing into the sand, moving faster and faster. Closer and closer.
The biggest fireball I’ve ever created emerges in my hand, and I take my aim, determined to hit my mark.
Waiting, waiting, waiting.
It lunges, and at the last possible moment, I notice his red eyes aren’t on me. He’s looking right over my shoulder.
My fireball burns out, and I duck. The beast flies over my head, releasing a feral snarl as he hitshismark.
Norin.
Norin, who was just behind me.
Norin, who had been close enough tokillme.
The beast tears into his chest, and Norin’s dead before his head hits the sand.
My heart hammers. The beast…saved me.
I grip my orb tighter, my whole body trembling, but then a horn blares.
“Round one is over!” The announcer’s voice echoes throughout the arena, and everyone releases a collective breath.
The badger looks at me again, its beautiful blazing eyes falling at my feet, and from the sand emerges vibrant green grass. Thick and long, a perfect circle just for me.
I tilt my head.
I don’t understand.
But then the badger disappears into the ground, and I no longer feel any vibrations beneath my feet.
It’s gone, and I drop to my knees, my fingers pulling at the freshly grown grass.
I look around at the remaining contestants. Their faces pale, some more battered than others. I notice Char’s still alive, but I glance away from him.
The arena is silent again, minus the sound of our ragged breathing.
We survived.
For now.
Chapter38
Serafina
“I apologize for the interruption, but a special decree from the royal family themselves has just reached my ears, and the final round of this trial has beenchanged.”
Special decree?
My eyes find Jax again in the stands. His brow furrows as he shakes his head.
Whatever this is…it wasn’t him…which means this decree has come from the king. The man who I’m sure would love nothing more than to see me dead.
