Lakota rose, stretching his wings wide. “You think that now, but have you met her? Her wolf is insufferable.”
I frowned, my mind drifting back to our earlier encounter. Lakota’s claws scraped against the ground, snapping me back.
“Where are you going? I just got here.”
“Noemi said the two-legged sheep is herding more edible ones into the open land. We’ll talk later—when I’m not hungry. I’m glad you’re awake. Go find Rhodes.”
And just like that, he was gone, soaring toward the golden, snow-dusted peaks.
Adamant about defying Lakota’s suggestion, I took an alternate path back to my hut. After the cruel words I said to Rhodes, I couldn’t bear to face him now. Seeing him, smelling him, just being in his presence would make my decision to push him away shatter to pieces. And that is something thatneedsto stay broken.
He doesn’t deserve my darkness, and I’ll never deserve his light.
I wove through narrow alleyways between the huts, ducking past windows to avoid being seen. The dirt paths were empty, save for deep paw prints embedded in the hardened earth. I kept my pace slow and steady, seeing that I had nowhere to be anyway.
But when the sound of cheering echoed from up ahead, curiosity got the better of me, and I quickened my steps. I emerged from the narrow paths into a large crowd gathered around a small, circular arena enclosed by a low wooden fence. The villagers chanted and clapped, exchanging bets with coins and goods.
I pushed my way forward, standing on my tiptoes to get a better view.
My breath hitched as I stumbled onto the rail, the only thing keeping me upright.
Blood sprayed in an arc as Fallon elbowed Rhodes in the jaw. The crowd roared as she darted back, feet light on the ground, fists raised and ready to strike again. Rhodes turned his head, spitting a stream of blood into the dirt. Slowly, he straightened, his violent gaze locking onto Fallon.
Who was smiling like a lunatic with blood-covered teeth.
Maybe she reallywasmy evil twin.
They were both covered in dirt and blood. Rhodes stood shirtless, his toned torso glistening with sweat. Fallon wore leathers identical to mine, though she’d shed the jacket—left in a sleeveless tunic, strands of her braid plastered to her face with sweat.
A tall, dark, and muscular man hollered from the sidelines, his deep voice cutting through the noise of the crowd. With a slight toss, he sent a long sword to each of them. Fallon and Rhodes bothcaught their swords by the pommel without taking their eyes off one another.
Fallon lunged forward with a sudden, fluid motion, slicing through the air aimed at his midsection. Rhodes quickly sidestepped, deflecting her blow. Fallon grunted. The two circled each other, boots scraping the dirt.
“This is child’s play for her,” a villager laughed next to me.
The lump in my throat grew large enough to cut off my airway.
Rhodes struck, and Fallon spun out of his reach, their blades ringing through the air. He shoved her off his sword, her feet scraping the ground as she slid toward the wooden rail at the edge of the arena. Their swords clashed again and again, each strike harder than the last, until Rhodes forced Fallon into a corner, her back pressed against the rail. He loomed over her, his blade crossing hers. The crowd drew back, giving them space for the duel to play out.
The muscles in his arms, shoulders, and back tensed like stone as he drove all his strength into her, but Fallon didn’t give in. Their dirt-smeared faces hovered inches apart, teeth gritted as they strained to overpower each other.
Fallon’s exasperated expression melted into a wicked grin. With a gleam in her eye, she whispered something only Rhodes could hear.
Whatever she said, it distracted him just long enough. Fallon gritted her teeth, broke the lock, and twisted her sword aside, forcing him to step back. She spun, bringing her blade toward his exposed side. He deflected.
The next few moves blurred into slow motion. They rallied, strength meeting strength. Rhodes swept his blade in an arc, and Fallon ducked beneath it. She sidestepped quickly, grabbed hisoutstretched arm as he overextended, and used his momentum against him. With a sharp twist, she forced his arm behind his back and swept his legs in one fluid motion.
Rhodes’s feet lost traction. He crashed to the ground, his sword skidding away as he landed hard on his back.
Before he could react, Fallon stood over him, her blade at his neck. She pressed until a trickle of blood welled. The crowd erupted.
“Stop!” I screamed.
Silence fell. Fallon laughed, dropping her sword beside Rhodes’s head before walking away, leaving him sprawled. Rhodes pushed himself onto his elbows, scanning the crowd—
Until his stormy eyes crashed into mine.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are!” Fallon sang, wiping sweat and dirt from her face with a towel. She shook hands with the man who’d tossed the swords, then spread her arms wide as Rhodes stood behind her. “Looks like you got your wish, Wylder. A little faster than expected. I know. I’m impressive.” She laughed maniacally.
