“I can’t.” I shrug through the tears threatening to spill from my eyes. I’m tired of keeping them in. I’ve been keeping all my emotions bottled up for days now, trying to stay calm, trying to stay focused, trying to believe that we’ll both live. But it’s too much and the weight of it all is dragging me beneath the surface.
I’m suddenly swimming in tears and trying to blink them away. Baelen takes a step toward me, clearly without thinking, because his arms flex upward as if on instinct and he reaches out to gather me into his arms.
Before he can get anywhere near me, the blunted end of a spear lands on his chest, halting him.
“Remember where you are.” The quiet hiss comes from Reisha, now my fiercest protector. She shoots a warning glance at the far end of the corridor just as the Elven Command appears there, exiting the War Room. At the same time, Elise circles me, wedging herself between me and Baelen, ushering me away. “Quickly, Princess. We need to leave.Now. Commander Rath, I suggest you do the same.”
I have no choice but to hurry down the corridor, glancing back to see Baelen take a side exit. I gasp for breath as we emerge from the building into fresh air. Elise immediately drops us into a sound bubble.
“That was dangerous,” she says.
“I know, I’m sorry. But he would have stopped before he touched me—”
“No, I don’t mean Commander Rath. I mean the Elven Command.”
I eye her with alarm. “What is it, Elise?”
She speaks in a rush. “I felt it, Princess. I couldn’t see it before, but I’m certain now. One of those males is using sorcery.”
My heart skips a beat. “Which one?”
“I thought it would be Teilo Splendor, since he studied spellcasting, but it’s not him. In fact, he’s the only one who isn’t tainted and I’m not sure if that’s because he’s chosen not to be part of it or because he really doesn’t know, but surely he has to suspect—”
“Elise! Who is it?”
“Gideon Glory.” She shudders, her whole body quaking, causing her to miss a step. Her breathing has increased and her hands are shaking. “The darkness around him was more terrible than anything I’ve ever seen. Now that he’s killed Mai and set the curse, the shadow around his body is… I can’t even…”
“And the others? You said they’re tainted? Is he controlling them?”
“There weren’t any binding spells around them. They aren’t wielding sorcery but they’re willing participants.”
I sway, trying not to lose my footing. “They murdered Mai. They want my power.”
“Which means they still think they can get it somehow.”
“How, Elise? If Baelen dies, then I win and they can’t touch me. If I yield and Baelen wins, thenhe’llget my power, not them.”
“They must have a way they think they can get it.” Her concerned eyes meet mine. “I’m worried, Princess. Something isn’t right about this next trial. I’m worried they’ve concocted this plan so they have the chance to attack you.”
I exhale, dread and fear mixing in my stomach. “I’m going to need every one of my ladies in that arena tomorrow morning. Please, can you get a message to Jordan and Sahara? I’ll need them there too.”
“Of course.”
“I’ll wear my armor. And gloves. Please find out if there’s any Elyria web left and I’ll sew the gloves onto the armor. I’ll sew myself into a freaking facemask if I have to. I’m not going to make it easy for them.”
Elise is thoughtful beside me. She stops shaking as we consider my defense, seeming to find courage in knowing we have a plan. “I will spellcast a shield around you. If any of them try to get near you, I’ll cloak their bodies so they won’t be able to make contact.”
I don’t ask her if spellcasting can defeat the dark sorcery Gideon Glory is wielding. I suspect that it can’t, but saying so won’t help. All we can do is try.
