Further down, the space opened to a breathtaking pool carved into the cliff’s edge. The pool shimmered silver in the moonlight, spilling over in a smooth, endless sheet that vanished into the dark ocean far below. The ceaseless whispering sound of falling water unsettled me.
Anayla had brought me here to be kind and comforting, but I felt frozen. I’d learned to swim only in the most bare-bones way, doggy-paddling around our small lake with my body arched to keep my chin above the water.
“Don’t worry about tomorrow,” she told me cheerfully.
“I won’t,” I promised, because I was far more worried about tonight.
As she headed off, humming to herself, I clung to the railing. My knees felt weak. Who knew there was something I feared more than heights?
Anayla had settled down at one of the tables and was holding a swiped light from one of the kiosks to read her book. I had the feeling she did that often.
She was pointedly, politely, ignoring me.
I turned my body to hide my pocket from her and pulled the necklace out. When I released it over the railing, it fell, sparkling and glittering in the moonlight, until it disappeared into the darkness.
I never heard a splash at the other end. The seconds stretched by, and my sense of doom expanded with every heartbeat.
What kind of dragon would ever be willing to possessme, with my terror of heights?
I stayed there, deeply uncomfortable, for a few long minutes, trying to pretend there was anything restorative about lurking around the edge of a dark abyss.
When Anayla returned to me, she let go of the light—which flew across the space and re-attached itself to the kiosk roof—and tucked her book under her arm. “Ready?”
“Ready,” I promised her.
“What is it that worries you about tomorrow?” She looked troubled, standing carelessly at the edge of the sea. “If it’s Fieran’s stupid games, don’t worry. He’ll claim you. He knows we’d all revolt if he didn’t bring you into Bismyth.”
I began to climb the stairs, my gaze focused on my death grip on the railing. I didn’t deserve her worry or her promises of loyalty.
“It’s mostly my strange distaste for being punched in the face.” Gods, they were going to hate me after tomorrow. Clan Bismyth was far kinder to me than made sense. “I know Fear brought me here for a reason. He’s not going to abandon me.”
No matter how much he would despise me after tomorrow.
“Good,” she said, her voice genuinely pleased. “It’ll be a few unpleasant moments, and then it will be over. We’re all rooting for you.”
“Why?” I asked bluntly, and she laughed as if I’d been joking.
When we reached the top of the stairs, I glanced back once at the dark void that lay behind me.
It was nothing compared to the void that lay ahead.
Thirty-Five
All night long I dreamt of dragons. Nightmares, terrible and relentless. Dragons stalked me along the edge of a cliff, in between a sheer rock wall and a terrible long tumble into the roiling sea. Flames burned me alive from either side.
Jolted awake, I obsessed over how to disappear. If I’d seen the Trials all these years, maybe I’d have had a better idea of when I could slip away. I imagined the halls along the path to the arena might be my chance to escape.
I rose from bed and wrapped myself in a blanket like a cloak. Being exhausted was going to do wonders for my scheming tomorrow, but lying in bed was doing me no favors.
Rees was sleeping in my doorway once again. I bit my lip and stepped over him nervously.
I padded out into the dimly lit common room. A few lanterns lit the room softly, the light turned down to a pinkish glow.
There were several covered platters on the table. I frowned, wondering if the mortal servants were still coming in to clean, but when I lifted the first lid, it was an untouched tray of fruits, nuts, and cheese. I stared at it, too tired to make sense of the food, wondering if it was stale.Well, it was no staler than the sad food I shoved into secret places in my room.
Rees rose to his feet, yawned dramatically, and padded to the door that led beyond. He rose up on his hind legs and pushed it open.
I stared after him. HadIbeen locked out all this time, but the dog knew how to come and go?
