Knox clenches his jaw, and I’m not sure if the queen is simply delusional or purely determined to believe she’s right, because my mate looks like he’s going to tear the realm apart the moment he’s free.
“We’ve all sacrificed to be here,” the queen says. “We do it, because we’re the final defense. The only ones stopping the Xalgrith from sweeping across the realms like a disease. No, you won’t forsake them. It’s your duty. Just as it’s my duty not to let her live.” Her gaze bores into Knox.
Honestly, I can’t blame the warriors for agreeing with her. If I’d been fighting a centuries-long war, I would probably want to snuff me out too. Except when I think that, it doesn’t really feel true. I doubt I could take an innocent’s life so easily.
Shouts come from the side of the arena, and I recognize Kenzie’s voice. I steal a glance there to see she’s locked in the underground holding cell where the students went after they’d completed the obstacle course.
“Let’s make this quick, shall we?” the queen says, turning to one of the originals. Of course, it’s Germain, the one who drugged me at the party before the games. Out of all the originals he looks the least surprised by this outcome.
He strides forward, shadows swirling on his back until a long blade appears. He draws the sword, coming toward me as my guys fight against their binds.
Nausea rolls through me. It’s like every time I think I’m going to die, and somehow I don’t, Lady Fate plays a trick on me anda new horrible way to die appears.Just my luck.I reach for my power, because being beheaded isn’t on my to-do list, but my magic doesn’t respond. It’s like while the queen’s shadows are around me like this, they’re blocking my magic.
I breathe heavily as Germain comes closer, dragging the tip of his long sword in the sand.Oh crap. This is it, isn’t it?Memories of the bucket list I once made years ago when I was a teenager pops into my mind, and I find myself laughing, the sound muffled by my gag. All that had been on it was to read ten thousand books before I die, kiss a man who looked like a god, and befriend someone unexpected. Funnily enough, I feel I can safely say I’ve accomplished two of the things on my list, and I was well on my way with the third.
The queen glares at me. She probably thinks I’m pretending to be brave when really, I’m totally terrified. I just don’t want my last thoughts to be filled with fear.
“Sorry,”I send to my bonded creature, who’s also still restrained close by.
“This is not the end, my bonded,”she answers as black flames rise up on her body, completely consuming her and burning through the queen’s shadows. Freed, my creature goes for the queen, her flaming wings shooting out as she launches toward her.
Queen Krosia turns, her eyes wide with surprise as the bird attacks. For a brief moment, I think my creature is going to end this. I’m so sure that she’s how we’ll survive, but then the queen smiles at my creature, baring her teeth. “Well, seeing as we’re executing your bonded, she won’t be needing you I suppose.”
“No!” I yell as the queen draws more power from the warriors and the students in the holding cell.
The students cry out, and I scream as shadows wrap around my creature. They bind her wings, wrapping around her tightly, squeezing and snuffing out her fire. My creature lifts her head tothe sky, and then she looks as if she uses all of her strength to turn her head and peer at me with her flaming red eyes.
“No, you fight this!”I shout at her in my head, but there’s no fear in my creature’s eyes, only resignation.
“All will be well,”my creature tells me calmly.“I sense that help will be arriving soon.”The moment she has finished speaking, she closes her eyes and the queen’s shadows become stronger, consuming her entirely. I don’t see what happens next, but when the shadows clear, all that’s left of my bonded is a pile of ash on the sand.
Tears sting my eyes as I struggle against my binds, trying to call on my power. A spark of energy burns in my chest, but it can’t get free.“Please…you’re a phoenix, aren’t you?”I sob.“Don’t phoenix birds come back to life after they die? You can’t be dead!”But there’s no answer, and I can’t feel my creature anymore. The power she had given me via our bond vanishes like it was never there, and a cold numbness washes over me as I stare at the pile of ash.
My mates are fighting as hard as I am. The four of them shout against their gags, pulling at the shadows, but still unable to break them.
Germain is standing beside me now, and he lifts his sword before pausing and looking at the queen.
Queen Krosia nods, and the shadows around me tighten, forcing my knees deeper into the sand. I’m thrust forward so my head is looking downward, exposing my neck.
The ground begins to shake under me, and I try desperately to see my mates using my peripheral vision. They’re still struggling, and they’re fighting hard to get to me. I’m guessing the rumbling is because some of their power is leaking through their restraints. Will they kill the queen once they’re free? Or will she attempt to restrain them until she thinks they’ll be more agreeable?
I really hope they’ll be okay after I’m gone.I feel like I should be crying, but my tears are gone. I’m too numb now. It’s like the loss of my creature resulted in my emotions completely shutting down.
There’s a rush of air as Germain swings the sword toward me, and I’m not sure how, but Knox must get his gag free again, because his anguished cry cuts straight to my numb heart.
I brace myself for the pain. For the impact of the blade as it cuts into me.
A shadow blocks out the sunlight, and there’s another rush of wind as I squeeze my eyes shut.
A loud, deafening clang rings in my ears, and I freeze in terror. For a moment, I can’t hear anything except the steady ringing that sounds in my head.That’s it, I’m dead.There’s no agonizing pain like I’d imagined, not that I’m complaining. I wonder if dying is like in the stories where I see my body from above. Will I have to witness my mates’ pain as they grieve for me? Hold on, if I’m dead why can’t I see anything? It’s then that I realize it’s because I still have my eyes shut. Because I’m still…alive.
There’s a rushing sound in my ears, and then other noises start filtering in again. I can still feel my body. Still feel the grains of sand beneath me, and the wild pounding of my heart in my chest.
My eyes fly open, and I’m still looking downward, but I can just see there are two swords above me now.Someone blocked Germain.In my peripheral, I notice there’s another pair of boots positioned beside Germain’s on the sand. A pair of laced-up black shoes that are all too familiar.
“This is what you get for trying to have all the fun without me,” a feminine, husky voice comes from beside me, instantly shattering the numbness that had spread through my body.
A strangled laugh tries to squeeze from my throat, and this time tears do flow. They stream freely down my cheeks because she’s here. Somehow, the demon queen, my bestie Blake, has found me.
