I lift my chin. “Yes, noblewoman. Wetra has a very strict way of training their Decarios. We must cut ourselves a thousand times to pass the training.”
“Very strictandvery outdated,” Ezkai Seraphina says. I don’t agree nor disagree. “While we don’t condone such trainings in Ekios anymore, I must say…it has proven to be advantageous for you so far, from what I’ve heard. It may give you the advantage against otherVal’taz Ezkairincontestants, even those with more experience.”
I nod. “I’m counting on that.”
All of a sudden, the lights go off in the hall. We’re in a chilling darkness. Someone screams. A few shouts go around the place—soldiers giving orders.
Immediately, I go into a fighting stance, reaching for a blade I strapped to my thigh. My muscles tense, all of my senses sharpening. Just as I open them to scout the room for threats, something cold and wet slithers around my neck and over my mouth.
Similar restraints are around my wrists and legs.
I can’t move.
I want to scream, but my mouth is covered.
I have to shut my senses off because I can’t control the stream of emotions from frightened people around me.
I don’t understand what’s going on. Have the Caligos come to finish what their assassin failed to do?
Suddenly, I’m being pulled backwards, and thrown into icy cold.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
PHOENIX
I blink and the restraints around me are gone. Another blink, and the light in the ballroom is back on. Everyone’s still there, unharmed.
I cover my eyes with a hand; the light is too invasive after experiencing pitch-black just moments ago. A long beat of silence. Then the crowd cheers.
No, it roars.
I, and twelve others, stand on the dais in front of the crowd. On the edge of the dais floats TaaslordNoire with his back to us.
“Ladies and gentlemen, noble fae of Ekios, honorable guests who have traveled from Emera and Wetra to witness history, we’re here tonight to celebrate the start ofVal’taz Ezkairin, a monumental event that will determine the next honorable ruler of Ekios,” Noire says. “It’s a great honor for every Ezkai to have an opportunity to participate in these trials. Not many are brave and strong enough to enter. But those who do, are the best of the best. They have the hearts of dragons, and each and every one of them deserves to be on this dais, in front of you, because they dare to risk their lives and everything else for the chance tolead Ekios into the brighter future. So, let’s welcome the thirteen brave Ezkai who will be entering the trials of the century.”
Noire looks at me over his shoulder. He winks, and it’s so unexpected and out of place that a startled laugh escapes me.
The crowd roars. Every cell in my body buzzes. The cheerful frenzy of the crowd is contagious.
Noire introduces the first contestant. “Ezkai Major Daegel Talbot, an heir to a notable Talbot family of Ekios, please step forward.”
My heart thrashes against my ribs like a bird in a cage. I can’t bear to even look at him. But of course, I do.
Daegel takes a step forward.
His head turns to the side, and when our gazes meet, there’s nothing but despair in his dark eyes. A round of applause goes around the crowd. A few shouts and whistles. He shows no emotion to the amount of support he has.
His full attention is on me.
Vera will notice. Everyone will if he won’t fucking look away.
Thankfully, he does. He bows at the waist in front of the crowd and Noire calls the second participant forward.
My heart beats in my throat, my knees weak. I can’t get my emotions under control, and when Noire calls my name, my brain barely registers it.
“Ezkai Lieutenant Phoenix Wildarrow, an heir to a noble Wildarrow family of Wetra, step forward.”
I blink. Swallow. And somehow force my feet to move forward, only to be met with ringing silence.
