I scrambled to his still form, fingers shaking when I pressed them against his pulse.
I let out a breath. His heartbeat was there, however faint. He was alive.
This blood magic…it made everything so much stronger. I could have killed him when all I wanted was a way to defend myself. My skin prickled with unease and I glanced at the wound on my thumb, sucking it between my teeth to lessen the sting.
“Efficient. I like it.” Arowyn’s voice materialized beside me. I jumped back, only narrowly containing a scream as she said, “Thanks for getting him off my back. He was annoying.”
“Were youworkingwith him?” I shouted, betrayal blazing through me.
“I just want to get out of here, Rose. If teaming up with the competition is what it takes, then I’ll do it.”
I clenched my jaw. “Where is Lark?”
“She’s down the tunnel.” Arowyn motioned to our left. “We only wanted to split you two up so you couldn’t fight together. I didn’t hurt her. But imagine my surprise when we found you cozying up with the head architect.” She cocked her head, her hair flowing down her side. Gone was the friend I’d made in those days at the capital. In her place stood a bloodthirsty, suspicious challenger, a Strider with everything to lose. “Seems our little Rose may not be playing fair.”
“She doesn’t know how she got here, Arowyn,” I insisted. “Gayl turned on her. She had no idea the trial was starting tonight.”
“She’s telling the truth.” Lark came into view, panting as she made her way toward us. “I show no favoritism, Miss Garrolas. I want to escape and figure out what’s happening, the same as both of you. Perhaps we can work together.”
Arowyn looked between the two of us with distrust in her eyes.
“Please, Arowyn,” I said. “We can find Nox and get out of here.”
She pinched her lips together and backed away slowly. “I—I can’t work with friends.”
My forehead creased. “Why not? We want to help you.”
“Because I don’t want tohurtyou, Rose,” she snapped, her nostrils flaring. “And there can only be one winner.”
In the blink of an eye, she vanished.
63
Rose
Istared at the spot Arowyn disappeared from. I understood why she did it—making friends in this tournament was a risk, knowing you’d have to face them in the end. But it didn’t make it hurt any less.
Lark hunched over Alaric, checking his pulse and repositioning him so he was flat on the ground.
“Come on,” I said. “We have to keep going.”
She looked up at me. “And leave him like this? I’m still the head architect. The challengers aremyresponsibility.”
“This wholethingis your responsibility, Lark!” I threw out a hand in frustration. “And look where that’s gotten us. If you want to stay down here with him, then fine. But I have a trial to beat. One I’m only in because you put me here.”
Lark kneaded her forehead with her knuckles. “Fine. When we get back to the capital, I can always have someone check on him.”
I stayed quiet. I didn’t want to say it, but I had a feeling if Lark was in here with us, her days of commanding others were over.
We walked deeper into the tunnels and came across another fork. “Do you know how to get out of here?” I asked.
“I oversaw the creation of the trial, but didn’t work as closelyon this section. It’s a labyrinth.” She cleared her throat. “I have a…basic idea of its structure.”
I hummed. Her hesitancy didn’t exactly inspire confidence, but it was better than what I could offer.
We heard a shout in the distance. Lark and I glanced at each other, equal looks of trepidation on our features. I scratched my ear. “So, we should probably?—”
“Let’s go,” she said, picking up the pace as we headed toward the sounds of distress.
