Up in the stands, I can finally see that Roman, my sisters, and my wolves stand surrounded by broken chairs, a wide, empty space around them, and I’m not entirely sure that they started whatever fight occurred.
In other parts of the stadium, the demons are staring at us, some of them with their hands covering their mouths. All of them appear shellshocked.
My heart is suddenly beating faster, but it’s Koda who voices my newest fear.
“Only one power can win,” he says.
I stare at Arga for a long moment. Then I consider Koda carefully before I look him in the eye and ask him, “Do you want to kill me?”
He shakes his head, not a hint of a lie in his expression when he says, “I just want to be free from this shit.”
I grip Koda’s hand harder, studying the way his power combines with mine, making me stronger. I speak carefully. “If I give you your freedom, will you pledge your loyalty to me?”
His forehead creases. His breathing is still labored. He’s in bad shape, too. “I’m not sure the two can coexist. Loyalty means obeying you.”
“Yes, which is why I will order you to be free.”
His face clears. “Huh.” He studies our hands, too. His knuckles are busted, there are bleeding cuts across the back of his hand, but his smile grows again. “Only one power can rule.”
He joins me as I stand, both of us struggling to our feet.
“Crone!” I scream, scanning the silent crowd. “Show your face! We’re done fighting for you.”
The tiny woman steps to the edge of the nearest platform, glaring down at us. “One of you must die,” she snarls, her voice vibrating through the earth at my feet.
“No!” I roar, lifting our entwined hands. “One power. One ruler. This fight is done.”
Crone steps right off the edge of the platform and floats down to us, her ruby dress billowing around her tiny form.
When she lands, she approaches us with a cruel smile on her lips. “So, you found your united power. It’s a shame it’s too late to save you.”
“Cut the bullshit,” I say. “It’s over. We’ve won.”
Crone widens her eyes at me. “Oh, but that’s not quite true. As you’ve rightly pointed out, only one power may rule, and I concede that you have, indeed, combined your powers in that regard.”
She leans toward us, a triumphant gleam in her black eyes. “But you will also recall that the contenders must fight until only one power remains. Unfortunately for both of you, another contender still lives…”
I stare at Crone in confusion. Koda is the only other royal left and she already conceded that our power counts as one, so I’m not sure what she’s talking about. I try to regulate my breathing, both of us leaning heavily on the other.
I need this to be over. Koda hasn’t used his power before and as soon as it wanes, I’m in for a world of hurt.
Crone continues in a low whisper. “You will never defeat her. Not even your father could withstand her power.”
I’m done with Crone’s mysteries. “What are you talking about—?”
High above us on the nearest platform, a lithe figure appears, running and leaping right off the edge. The golden strands of her hair float around her. For a second, I think it’s Carys, but the royal mother is still sitting in her solitary chamber, although she jolts forward, lifting her veil, staring at the leaping woman.
The lithe figure touches down gracefully, a golden haze forming beneath her feet and cushioning her landing. She’s wearing simple black clothing that highlights her flawless light-brown skin, bringing out the perfect midnight blue of her eyes.
With every step she takes, drips of golden power slip from her fingertips, floating like feathers to the stained earth.
My lips part. A quick indrawn breath. “Esta?”
Beside me, Koda is frozen. “How…?”
For a second, my heart leaps. She’s alive!
But then… Crone’s declaration sinks in.
