They drag our ropes tighter and tighter as they each stalk toward the trees with the end in their hands.
All they’re waiting for is Cedric’s nod—to touch flames to rope, setting the execution in motion.
I don’t want her to panic. If my plan fails, I’d rather she never see it coming.
Cedric keeps talking—gloating, grandstanding—until the moon rises full overhead. It must be our time now. Cedric turns to give us one last glare of disapproval before looking past us at the men holding our fate in their hands.
One nod is all it takes.
And there it is.
Cedric nods his approval, and the men put their flames on the rope. It hisses as the fire eats its way closer.
We can’t move or run. Instead, we wait for the burn.
Rory turns her wide-eyed gaze toward me and asks, “What are they doing?”
“Shh. Everything’s gonna be okay,” I whisper. “Just remember what I told you.”
It’s a lie.Empty words to keep her steady.
I love her, and I’ll burn if I have to, but she’s getting out.
Soon the flames are under our feet, and the tops almost touch my shoes. Rory sees what’s happening and tries to squirm her body free of the binds.
She kicks—wild, frantic—and manages to free one foot. Then the other.
The fire crawls higher. My boots start to smoke.
The pain is blinding—but I just need to hold on. A few seconds more.
Screams erupt from the back of the crowd.
Arrows rain down from the trees.Come on, Jennifer. Don't miss.
Flames catch my pants on fire, heat biting through the fabric, and a scream erupts from my mouth. Jennifer’s arrow slices through the air and strikes the rope at my wrist—perfect aim.
It severs clean, so I rip my other hand free and drop.
My legs hit the ground and nearly give out. The pain’s white-hot, but I’m moving. I brush off the flickers of fire and head toward Rory.
“Don’t move!” I shout.
She’s trying to stay above the flames. Her face scrunches as the heat licks closer, panic etched into her face.
I scramble, chest to chest with her until both of us are breathing fire and ash. “Legs around me,” I growl, tugging at the rope binding her wrists.
“What the hell are you doing? Leave me, Ryven!” she snaps.
Not a chance.
“If you burn, I burn.”
Flames lick my thigh and I grit my teeth and keep going.
I bite down on my cheek to stop from screaming out. Struggling to get the rope loose enough for her to squeeze her arm free, I begin to panic, thinking that this may be it.
Then it budges just slightly and she yanks her wrist free.
