Standing at the edge of the pit, I scan the expanse before me for any sign of a path across. It yawns wide and deep, easily fifty feet from me to the wall on the other side. Jagged rocks litter the bottom like the teeth of some ancient beast. There’s no going around it—the wall goes on for miles, the pit stretching endlessly in both directions, disappearing into the hazy distance. How I didn’t notice it before is beyond me.
My attention is drawn below and I look down to see golden tendrils of magic weaving their way around several of the largerstones. They shimmer faintly, forming delicate arcs of light that loop through the air and anchor themselves into the stone. A bridge?
The hum of warmth in my chest grows stronger as I reach for the earth beneath me. My magic responds eagerly, and tendrils of vines snake down my arms, slithering across the ground like living extensions of myself. Rocks begin to rise in the air from the bottom of the pit, forming a path across. The vines weave around the rocks, anchoring each stone in place.
I shuffle forward slowly, fear lodging in my throat as I place my foot on the first rock, testing its stability. It holds. Arms out wide for balance, I carefully make my way across, one step at a time. Adrenaline courses through me, my senses heightened. One mistake and those spikes will be greeting me.
I reach the final stone and leap, landing at the base of the wall with a soft thud. Relief floods me, but it’s short-lived. Where I stand is barely a foot wide, and as I glance up at the towering cliff face, I realize there’s no way I can climb it while holding my sword, and leaving it behind isn’t an option.
With a resigned sigh, I slide the blade into the belt around my waist, silently praying it won’t cut me as I climb. The cold metal presses against my hip as I glide my hands over the wall, searching for a handhold. I imagine a pattern of protruding rocks forming an even path to the top. My magic flares in response, the stone rumbling beneath my palms as rocks jut out from the surface in a staggered formation.
A grin tugs at my lips despite the stress as I reach for the nearest handhold and begin to haul myself upward. Every movement is deliberate, my muscles straining with the effort, fingertips digging into the rough surface of the stone.
Sweat beads along my spine, a sharp contrast to the biting chill that cuts through the air. I focus on my breathing—slow and steady—as I climb, the wind growing fiercer with every foot I gain.
Somewhere along the way, my braid has unraveled, and now my hair whips wildly around my face, caught in the relentless gusts.
Reaching the top, I haul myself over, every muscle trembling from exertion and adrenaline. My breath comes in ragged gasps as I cling to the edge, glancing out over the unforgiving landscape ahead. Below me, a sheer drop stretches into a rocky abyss. Two ropes are anchored to the top of the wall, swaying faintly in the wind. Beyond them lies the frozen expanse of the ice lake, shimmering ominously under the faint light, and beyond that, the dark silhouette of the valley’s edge marked by the distant tree line. Safety.
Kaden downplayed the challenge, calling it asimple obstacle course.As I stare at the daunting obstacles ahead, his words feel like a cruel joke.
“Okay,” I mutter under my breath, rolling my shoulders to loosen the knots of tension. “You’ve got this.”
I inch along the top of the wall, each step intentional as loose stones shift beneath my boots. My vision wavers, exhaustion dulling my focus, and the golden glow of the landscape map in my mind begins to flicker, as if vibrating in warning. A faint sound catches on the wind—a low, ominous whistle that raises the hairs on the back of my neck. I turn sharply, and my foot slips on the unstable rock.
I scream, my arms pinwheeling as I desperately try to catch my balance. For a heart-stopping moment, I’m sure I’ll fall. My lungsheave as I steady myself, but the relief is short-lived. A dozen flaming arrows arc through the sky, their fiery tips painting trails across the dim magic horizon. They’re heading straight for me.
Instinct takes over before I have time to think. My arm snaps up, crossing in front of me, a surge of power coursing through me. Vines burst from my skin, twisting and interweaving until they form a living shield. The first arrow strikes with a hard thud, sending a jolt through my body. Another follows, then another, each impact vibrating through the vines. I stumble under the strain, a gasp escaping my lips as I brace myself against the force, my boots shifting on the loose stones.
The onslaught ends as abruptly as it began. When no more arrows fall, I lower the shield, the vines retreating back into me, and the arrows fall to the ground below. I don’t waste time catching my breath. Scrambling for the rope, I grab hold and begin my descent.
The rough fibers bite into my palms as I slide down, my boots skidding against the icy stone wall. My hands burn, but I don’t stop. The moment my feet hit the snow-covered ground, I’m off.
I sprint toward the edge of the lake, the cold air slicing through my lungs. My sword bangs awkwardly against my thigh with every step, but I push forward, the adrenaline driving me faster. The ice lake looms ahead, a frozen expanse that would be treacherous even without the arrows. After days of riding and dealing with the elements, my body is already fatigued, but the fire burning in my soul for Maxon drives me harder than before. He needs me, and I will do anything to have him back in my arms.
Chaptersixty-four
Everly
Iskid to a halt at the edge of the lake, my boots kicking up a spray of loose snow. The cold wind rushes over the frozen expanse, cutting through my clothes and whipping my hair away from my face. Surprisingly, the blindfold remains tightly fastened, not slipping an inch despite the chaos so far. I resist the overwhelming urge to rip it off. Doing so would mean forfeiting the trial—and losing any chance of gaining the nomads’ help.
Taking a steadying breath, I draw my sword from my belt. The last thing I want to do is slip on the ice and cut myself. With cautious steps, I ease onto its slick surface which is treacherously smooth beneath my boots. My foot slides, and I immediately shift my weight, arms spread wide to maintain balance. Each step is a calculated gamble, and it takes several agonizing moments to adjust to the slippery terrain.
I grit my teeth, wishing I could take this blindfold off. It’s fairly easy to navigate the golden magical landscape, but seeing it with color and detail would be significantly better. The temptation to pull it off gnaws at me, but I shove it down. Barak claimed this trial would test my resolve, my focus.
Halfway across the lake, the air seems to shift. A deep vibration ripples underfoot, subtle at first, then stronger. I freeze, holding my breath as the ice quakes faintly beneath me, the sound of cracking spreading like a spiderweb in my ears.
I crouch slightly, pressing one hand to the ice and sending a pulse of magic into it. The icy surface hums in response, and I feel it—the water beneath, churning and moving with unnatural speed. Something is down there, circling me.
The realization sends my pulse skyrocketing. I focus harder, pushing more magic into the ice, trying to sense exactly what lies beneath. I follow the currents, gold ribbons of magic brushing against something large and alive.
My stomach knots as I abruptly pull back and stand, wiping my palm on my breeches. Whatever is under the ice, it’s circling closer.
I attempt to move quicker, but I just end up slipping on the slick ice. Adrenaline pumps through my body, setting my pulse racing as I fight to stay calm. Then, it hits me; an unsettling stillness, as if the world is holding its breath.
A deafening crack splits the air, the sound echoing through the frozen landscape as something heavy crashes into the ice from underneath. The force of the impact sends a tremor through the surface of the frozen lake, making me stumble sideways.
The creature hits the ice again. This time, shards of ice fly through the air, several hitting me. I reach up, my fingers touching something hot and sticky on my cheek. Blood.
