Laughter penetrates the thick wood.
Deep and rich, a clear expression of joy.
My fingers curl. The five of them are locked up. They haven’t left this one-room cabin in days, and they’re still able to laugh. Foolish naivety. It won’t survive this realm, and neither will they.
“You’re cheating, Ciprian,” Celine says.
“How can I cheat when we just made up the fucking rules?”
“By not following them,” she says. “Don’t pretend you’ve already forgotten.”
Metal grinds in the sky. I glance at the clouds of rubble that hover around the realm like a fence, and tiny beads of ice strike my upturned face. Souls lost to the arena. More still claimed by the insufferable weather. It’s never bothered me before.
Fool. You’re a fool, and you must get past this.
Determined, I unlock the door and open it.
They’re half-dressed, clothes spread by the fireto dry. Sprawled in a messy tangle on the floor, all five of them glance up as I enter. The slight movement disrupts the demon’s balance, and he falls on his ass, taking Celine with him.
“Dammit, Ciprian,” she snaps. “I was going to win.”
“I know,” he says. “The guys didn’t stand a chance unless I took you out. I was doing them a favor.”
“Excuse me,” I drawl.
“Shut the door. You’re letting the heat out.” Celine glares at me.
I close the door. “You’re not in control here.”
She rolls her eyes. “Or leave it open forever, Riven. We’ll go on a long walk and see you never.”
“It’s time to fight,” I tell her. “Get ready. You have five minutes.”
That, at least, gets an appropriate reaction. The others scramble, sliding out of their interwoven positions on the floor and climbing to their feet.
“We’ll fight with her.” Malach gives Luca a hand up.
I scoff and cling to my annoyance. He’s unbelievable, acting as if he has any say in this. “You will not.”
The vampire advances on me, red bleeding into the blue of his eyes. “That’s not the agreement. Celine fought?—”
“To have you restored to her.” I glance around the circular cabin. “Which you clearly have been. That agreement had no bearing on future fights. You’re my prisoners, and I decide what happens to you.”
“Fuck you,” Ciprian snaps. “You can’t take her.”
“Yes.” I examine the back of my hand. “I can.”
Celine faces me, the half-smile she was wearing when I interrupted their game nowhere in sight. “What’s my incentive?”
I look her up and down. She’s wearing an oversized shirt, her long legs bare and glowing in the firelight. “Another day spentbreathing.”
She narrows her eyes. “What changed?”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
“Something changed. You’re acting differently.” She gestures at me, a groove appearing between her eyes. “Did my father tighten the leash?”
I hiss before I can stop myself. “You’re confused, darling. I have no leash, no constraints, no walls keeping me caged.Wearenotthe same.” It’s a mix of truth and lie, but without her magic, she won’t be able to tell the difference.
