Disappointment sinks into me as I walk down the corridor toward the gladian barracks. Hope is dangerous. I know that more than anyone. And yet I allowed myself to dip my toe into its warmth as I walked through the city with Tiernon. For just a few moments, I’d thought I could escape. Could leave the blood and death andgodsdamned sandbehind.
But I can’t. So I better train like hell for the next two weeks and make sure I stay alive.
ON THE DAYof the ultimus conquestus, I wake to a note beneath my pillow.
The emperor changed his plans. I hope you know how to swim.
I have no idea how Bran managed to sneak it to me—or how someone managed to slip it beneath my pillow without waking me, and the thought puts me in a dark mood.
I have just enough time to speak to my brothers before I’ll walk into the arena for the last time. The moment they appear in the mirror, I soak in the sight of their faces, desperate to hug them just once.
Soon. I’ll see them soon. Just as soon as I find a way to kill the emperor.
Evren’s eyes immediately narrow. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong.”
He stares at me unblinking. I stare right back until his lips tremble into a smile.
“You look tired.”
“I’ve been training a lot.”
Next to him, Gerith frowns at something I can’t see. “I’ll be right back.”
“What’s going on?” I ask Evren.
“Our tutor just arrived with Elva.” He sneers when he says her name and my muscles tense. Of the two, Evren is the one most likely to get along with almost anyone. He sees the good in people.
“What did she do, Ev?”
He drops his gaze, and I wait him out.
“She said she would have thought I would have woken by now since Ger and I are twins. She wonders if I’ll be a voidborn too.”
I fist my hands, although I attempt to keep the rage from my face. I mustn’t succeed, because Ev sighs. “It’s fine, Velle.”
“It’s not fine. First, you can’t be a voidborn if you have a sigil. It’s impossible. Even I’ve been able to do small things with my power for years. Not to mention, you’re only fourteen. Some people don’t awaken until they’re sixteen or seventeen.”
“And some don’t wake at all.”
My nails dig deeper into my palms. That bitch got into his head, and now he’s worried he’ll be deficient. Like me.
Well, I can help him there.
“I’m twenty-four, and I’m only just truly waking now.”
“You are?” Evren leans forward.
I move my face closer to the mirror and allow him to study the tiny change to my sigil.
“What can you do?”
“We’ll talk about that another time.” I pull back, waiting until he meets my eyes once more. “Am I a better person now that I’m awakening?”
He frowns. “You’re already a good person.”
My chest warms, although some part of me wonders if he’d still say that if he knew everything I’ve done to survive in this place.
