Maybe the Westwaters had finally brought out some pre-show entertainment.
I peeked behind another curtain, and the colors I was looking for met my gaze. Teivel stood at the front of his booth with one arm raised in a fist pump. A McDonald woman sat with her backramrod straight. Between them, an old man had half fallen out of his chair. His head lolled against the back of the balcony seating. In the low light, all I could make out was his white and cerulean-blue streaked hair. The glint of a slave’s collar shone above the seatback.
I’d never seen Alex before, but the general description and age looked right.
“The perfect test of free will,” a raspy voice declared.
The roar of the crowd swallowed the sound of doors banging open. I couldn’t see what was going on, but it didn’t sound good.
“You don’t have to do this,” Quinn’s amplified voice filled my ears.
My vision bled red. I was stuck here with Xan while Quinn stood alone. Rage seared me raw. Fucking Architect.
I didn’t know anything except that my friend needed help, and the people in front of me were the reason for it, all of them.
My blood begged for slaughter, but instead of leaping, I drew my runes.
Chapter 36
Ezra
Somethingwaswrongwithmy lover, and instead of going to him, I stayed by Quinn’s side. I didn’t know if it was the right choice, but it was the one I made.
Quinn continued to distract herself with her book. Everly and Brit murmured off to one side. One step at a time, I paced.
It had always been a trap, and we’d walked right into it.
Finally, they declared the lighting fixed and gave us a few minutes to prepare.
Why stall? Why give her time to breathe instead of snapping the snare shut?
I shook like a dog. At this point, my family was spread out and surrounded by unknowns. Speculation was pointless. We had no choice but to move forward.
Brit gave my kitten a pep talk before slapping her on the ass. Quinn blushed but confidently stepped onto the ramp. She stepped toward the only opening to the ring. Halfway up, Silas waited with a Westwater at his side. The middle-aged man was dressed in strips of leather and glowing hot green. The same color braided through his long khaki hair. I didn’t know if this was their representative or the current leader of their family. Xan would, but he was either in trouble or already in Alex’s mind.
Quinn stepped into the ring. Stats flickered to life above the cage.
Quinn Question
5’6”
9.5 stone
Training: None
No primary style
Majekah: Destruction
A scuffle at the door snapped my attention away from the board. Silas picked up the glowing green Westwater by his shirt. “This is unreasonable. I will not entertain this in my pit.”
Before anyone could react, a massive tree branch shot out from behind them and knocked the two men off the ramp. My stomach twisted.
Chancellor Morgen strode past us, black robes snapping, pink hair blazing, eyes locked on Quinn like prey. She stepped intothe cage without hesitation, and the door slammed shut. Tan magic flared, sealing them both inside.
Stats lit the air.
Chancellor Morgen
