“So where does that put us?” Carver asks.
And that’s the crystal ball question. Too bad those things don’t work. “It’s hard to say without more knowledge of the other teams. Probably not with creatures in the first round, but I doubt there’s a single team without at least one Magoi with offensive magic.”
“Except for us.” Kato glances at me. “In a manner of speaking.”
I shrug out from under Carver’s heavy arm. He ruffles my hair as I go, setting loose the shorter strands I’d managed to tame into my braid for once.
“I was absolutely truthful when I told the head scribe my magic is defensive.” If I still had my Dragon’s Breath, I would have had to say offensive and list all my individual abilities. I would also have had no problem winning these Games; there would have been very little show, and my team wouldn’t have had to lift a finger.
Once more, I can thank Mother for the colossal shafting and, in a roundabout way, putting myself and everyone I love into mortal danger. Again.
“Can they eliminate us on a technicality when they see you turn the magic around?” Kato asks.
“I don’t see how. The magic won’t come from me. My defense is to grab it and then turn it back on the other team.”
“Are you ready to reveal your talents to the world?” Griffin asks.
His question brings the imminence of my new reality to the fore. I fight my visceral response to run and hide, and press my ice shard necklace against my chest. Cool for courage.
“A stubborn”—I roll my eyes—“albeit wise man once told me that someone has to decide what needs to be done, to make decisions and not turn back.” At the time, I told Griffin he didn’t have the right to choose for everyone else. But a corrupt, oppressive system should be challenged. And changed. I see that now, and I’m starting to feel the weight of the responsibility in my bones. Unfortunately, ambition isn’t limited to the noble and sane.
“No turning back.” Griffin’s gaze is potent on me, his words almost a question. We both know I can change my mind until the moment we walk out onto the sand.
I take a deep breath. I used to be so good at ignoring things. Then obligation crept up on me, along with everyone saying “Harbinger this” and “Origin that.” I gained gills and lost the ability to disregard the inevitable.Fate. Gah!
One by one, I look at my team. Warriors. Family. Friends. Jocasta and Selena are part of our effort, too, but they’re in the other room, preparing salves and potions for when we come back from our fights. Because we will come back. All of us.
“I brought us to the Agon Games. I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep everyone alive and win,” I say firmly. “Then we’ll walk into Castle Tarva—invited—and we’ll take over this realm without a war.”
Griffin nods. “When the Tarvan royals expect us to bow down before them, they’ll find they have to surrender to us instead.”
Yes!
That’s the plan, anyway.
What if it doesn’t work?
Griffin’s hands close around my waist, and my heart gives a swift little leap as he lifts me onto a nearby stool. It’s effortless, and his strength sends a ripple of awareness through me. Or maybe that’s nerves because I’m suddenly the tallest person in the room.
I swallow.Good Gods, a pedestal.
“You’ve admitted who you are. You’ve accepted what you’ll become.” Griffin lifts his face to look at me. He’s striking, tanned, and utterly masculine. Shadowed jaw. Pirate’s nose. Eyes the color of a storm. His gaze knocks into me with the force of a granite punch. “The minute you cease being afraid of yourself, there’s nothing in this world that can stop you.”
A thud rouses me from sleep. Carver’s violent oath snaps me fully awake along with everyone else in our two rooms.
I jump up and race toward the noise. My hand flies to my mouth, stifling a shocked cry.
“Cassandra!” Jocasta stops dead, sways, and then reaches for the wall, bracing herself.
Torches flicker both inside our suite and out. The door to the hallway is wide open, and Carver is lifting Cassandra’s limp form. He carries her to the nearest cot while Kato shuts the door again, throwing the inside lock with a savage curse.
I feel Griffin next to me and grab his arm, squeezing hard.
Selena leans over Cassandra to check for a pulse. When her eyes find mine, they’re filled with sympathy. “There’s nothing I can do.”
“Nothing you can do?” I repeat, desperately wanting to have misheard.
Selena shakes her head. “She has her obol. Hades will take care of her now.”
