Another kelpie approaches, galloping through the water toward us, and my stomach sinks. The kelpie I freed is suddenly in front of me, kicking out at the attacking kelpie with its front legs.
My lungs burn like fire. The woman turns toward me and I latch onto her arm, both of us kicking furiously. The kelpie appears once more, galloping through the water until it’s beneath us.
And then it begins lifting up.
I widen my legs until I’m sitting on the kelpie’s back. The woman struggles weakly. I don’t blame her. This is crazy. Tiny black spots are darkening the edges of my vision, the need to inhale almost impossible to ignore.
The kelpie beneath us rears, throwing hooves at another approaching dark shadow. Both of us scramble for its mane, holding tight. And then we’re practically flying upward, the water nothing but a blur. We break the surface of the water and I let out a sob, sucking in precious, life-giving air.
Silence. So much silence.
A chill ripples through me.
Who else is dead? Are we the last ones left?
Frantically, I scan the arena, my hands clutching at the kelpie’s mane. But everyone is looking atus.
Understanding slams into me.
They’re seeing a kelpie, red-eyed and glaring—a gladian on its back.
They’re seeing a criminal slumped in front of a gladian, when she should be dead in the water.
Uh-oh.
Someone lets out a wild laugh, and then the crowd is screaming,clapping, roaring. I catch a woman near the first row of seats wiping tears from her eyes. But Vallius Corvus is stone-faced.
An invisible weight pushes on the back of my head, forcing me to bow. I lower my head, glancing up in time to catch the emperor’s tight smile.
The pressure releases and the kelpie sidles up to the platform. I roll us both onto the wooden boards and the kelpie disappears, sliding smoothly back beneath the water.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Hester snaps.
I ignore her. Leaving the arrow in the woman’s chest—to pull it out would only hasten her death—I drag her to the side of the platform, out of the way.
She’s unconscious, but she’s still breathing. Relief sweeps through me and I stumble to my feet.
I gave her a chance. Whether she lives or dies now is up to her.
“We’re supposed tokillthem, you idiot.” Brenin storms toward the woman, and I pick up the closest crossbow.
“Do it and die.”
He gapes at me. “We’re on the same side.”
“You heard her,” Maeva says. “Touch her and I’ll slit your throat.”
Brenin’s mouth hangs open. So does mine. Meanwhile, Maeva moves closer to the woman, more arrows thunking into her shield.
“Look at her, Brenin,” I demand.
He does, but his gaze quickly flickers away.
“She’s probably going to die anyway,” I mutter. “But she won’t die in that water.”
Shaking his head, he stomps away. But not without a last, lingering glance toward the unconscious woman at our feet, and the arrow jutting from her chest.
Maeva gives me a wide-eyed look. But her eyes are dark with pity.
