The moth retreats, blood spurting from one eye.
I injured it with my sword, but it wasn’t the killing blow I needed, and now it’s furious.Shit, shit, shit.It opens its mouth, preparing to spit at me again, then the lights flicker out, casting the arena in crushing darkness.
Yelps of terror echo from the stands, and the gray bubble around the arena pops as all twelve gates reopen. For a second, I hear ringing in my ears, then the cold lashes me. Ice clings to my wings, making them impossibly heavy.What the fuck is going on?
“Stay calm and in your seats. We’re experiencing technical difficulties,” Riven says, his voice crackling through the speakers in irregular bursts.
White light flashes below me. It’s enough for me to see most of my opponents retreating behind their gates, taking the opportunity to leave the arena during the confusion. I glance at the gate I entered from and squint. Is someone standing there, or am I imagining things?
My stomach flips. Maybe the guys managed to escape. Maybe they’re here to save me. Hope burns in my chest, and I shift into a controlled glide and head for the gate. I hit the ground and run inside, grinding to a halt when I see Hyacinth gesturing for me to follow her.
“Come on, we’ve got to go,” she whispers.
“But—”
“Hurry, Celine.” She punches a code into the keypad, and the door swings open. “Follow me.”
I run after her, adrenaline coursing through my veins. “Where are the guys?”
“You have to leave them,” she hisses. “My distraction won’t last forever.”
My heart skips a beat. “N-no,” I sputter. “I can’t leave them. I won’t.”
“Then die,” she snaps. “It’s your choice.” There’s nothing kind or timid in her voice anymore. Only apathy and frustration.
“Hyacinth,” I try again. “I appreciate you helping me, but I can’t leave them here. Which way is it to the cabin?” We’re in a corridor I’m unfamiliar with. It’s enormous, with a rounded ceiling so high I can barely see it. Recessed lights embedded in the floor flicker on and off, revealing deep claw marks.
“Forget them,” she snarls. Her voice is a full octave lower than it was before.
I grind to a halt, and every hair on the back of my neck stands on end.
“Hyacinth?”
“What?”
“What does chamomile do?” I keep my tone soft, but I have to know.
There’s a beat of silence before a deep, cruel chuckle rattles through the corridor. “Smart little angel. Chamomile makes shitty tea, but I’m guessing that’s not the answer you’re angling for.” Hyacinth Belladonna disappears, replaced by a tall, thin man with a hawkish nose and a raised scar on his chin. “Your father sends his regards.”
A veydra, but not Riven. I’m not sure how I know it, but I do.
I lift my sword, but the stranger backs away with his hands up, grinning until the shadows devour him entirely. I consider chasing after him, then stop. That’s not my priority. I need to get out, get the guys, and get the fuck away from this realm.
That’s when I hear it: wet panting.
Heavy footsteps.
Claws dragging against stone.
I’m not alone.
TWENTY-FIVE
Monster Realm Survival Tip #15:
Always prioritize your own survival.
RIVEN
