You always saw this place differently than your brothers.A voice I would know anywhere drifts into my mind. My mother. Sabine.You saw the magic that was created here. The magicyoucreated here.
My eyes widen at the light, so bright it threatens to blind me.
More and more voices pour into my mind, warriors ancient and powerful. Words of courage, bravery, and honor. I feel the demand in all of it.Fight!
Little brother, is this how you want your story to end? Crushed on the sand by a man hidden by metal?Damocles says, and for a moment, I can almost see an echo of his face in the shimmering orb.
Wouldn’t make a very striking mural,Decimus quips. It’s like they’re beside me, how they used to be. This isn’t the version of them Kairyn brought to the arena before. This is a true memory of how they were.
The Blessing of Summer burns within you. Show the world you are worthy of it,Damocles says.Our deeds break across the waves of time, creating a legacy that can never be forgotten. Stand and fight.
I’m too broken to fight.Everything from my chest to my arms aches with fatigue.
Then mend your cracks with light.That voice … it sounds like her. Rosalina.Rise, Dayton. Rise like the sun breaking over the horizon.
Mend? I’m no healer, not like Ez, not like Fare. I clutch my arm, feeling the metal bargain band.Through every storm and every season …
Distantly, I hear Wrenley screaming. Shadows move, the Bronze Knight is getting closer.
I don’t know how to heal. But I know what it felt like when Fare drew strength from me, taking my energy to fill his own well. I’ve watched Ezryn countless times, drawing life from plants.
My body may be broken, but there is life in the very stones of the colosseum, in the crackling air, in the blood-soaked sand. I have given myself countless times to this place. Now, I need to take a little back.
My hands fall to my sides, and I dig my fingers into the sand. Drawing the magic up through me, my well of power fills, and it swirls like a stream of light, knitting together wounds, repairing torn muscles, allowing oxygen to flow through my blood.
Gasping, I open my eyes. Wrenley is still above me. Slowly, I push myself to my feet. “Get somewhere safe. I’ve got a fight to win.”
Confusion flashes in her features. “What? How are you standing?”
“You didn’t think I’d lose my streak over a little wound, did you?”
“You can’t possibly win!” Wrenley screams. “You don’t have your full power! You haven’t broken your curse.”
Gently, I touch her shoulder. “And I never will. I’m sorry, Wrenley, I can’t be your mate.”
Her blue eyes blaze. “You can’t just choose that!”
“Actually, I can,” I say.
The Bronze Knight, seeing me on my feet, storms toward us, lance raised.
“He’s going to fucking kill you anyway,” Wrenley growls.
“I think this might help.” From my pocket, I pull out the token of the Queen. There’s no point in hiding it now.
As soon as it hits my neck, I feel a surge of energy within me. In my outstretched palm appears my trident, glowing a brilliant teal. I block the Bronze Knight’s lance.
Power explodes between us as the two weapons collide. Digging my sandals into the sand, I slide back a few paces. There’s an eruption in the stands, a crazed energy. It fuels me. Using all my strength, I push back against the Bronze Knight, hard enough that he stumbles.
Running a few paces away from him, I jump over a few broken columns and look upon the crowd. Below me, the Bronze Knight tries to scramble up, but he’s too heavy, stone breaking beneath him.
“Citizens of Summer!” I yell to the crowd, beckoning the echosphere closer. “It’s your High Prince, Dayton.” There is athunderous applause. “I can’t help but notice the so-called Emperor has left. So perhaps it’s time we took back the realm for ourselves!”
The ground shakes beneath me as the Bronze Knight crumbles the pillar. I fall hard, landing on my back. I bring the trident up to block before rolling away and leaping up. Distantly, I notice Wrenley standing off on the sidelines.
I have to set her free too.
“I have a confession to make to you, Summer,” I say, parrying with the Bronze Knight as he charges. “Perhaps you’ve heard the rumors. The princes of Castletree are cursed.”
