Skylar can’t get the words out. She can’t say it, because she doesn’t believe it.
The king frowns. “Perhaps we should give him another moment or two to arrive.”
Gwen releases a breath. “He’s not here.” She glances at Astrid, then straightens her back. “In which case, I think it’s apparent that he’s chosen not to fight.” She looks at the Custodian. “You said it would be up to him, I believe?”
The Custodian licks his lips, perhaps feeling the weight of all the royals on him now. “Ah, yes. But perhaps we should wait—”
“We cannot wait,” Gwen snaps. “The duel happens now.”
Queen Ottilie’s expression is tight, and she lays a hand on the king’s arm as he steps forward, glaring at Gwen.
“If that is truly the case,” the Custodian begins, his voice wavering, “then I’m afraid…” He looks toward Kaida, whose tail thumps the ground.
Skylar goes cold. “No.” She hears Bastet utter the word at the same time.
“The rules state—”
“We cannot risk her,” the king says. “The girl has enough power without the fire dragon. Let her go in alone if she’s been abandoned by Zryan’s beast.”
The Custodian heaves in a breath. “There is no choice here.”
The crowd is buzzing, people craning their necks, wanting to see what the delay is. Skylar, meanwhile, is frozen. This can’t be happening. Kaida was supposed to be safe.
We will be okay!Kaida declares, bounding to Skylar’s side.Astrid will not hurt you.
Skylar stares at Kaida. Mjolnir has explained the duel to her, but she still doesn’t comprehend.
She casts her mind out, desperately calling for him.Where are you, Mjolnir? You promised you’d be here. If you’re having second thoughts about me, think of Kaida—she has to go into that cage if you don’t come.
But she gets nothing. What if he’s hurt? What if that’s the reason he can’t be here? Or is Zryan doing this—is he keeping Mjolnir away from her, to give Astrid a chance?
She whirls to Bastet. “You protect Kaida, you hear me? You look after her.”
Bastet hisses—but she knows it is not at her, but rather in protest of what’s about to happen.
Astrid grips Bastet’s fur. “Skylar…”
“Don’t. Let’s just… Don’t, okay?” And then to Kaida,You stay out of the way, okay, Little One?
I will help!
You will not. You will stay behind Bastet.
And she has to hope, has to trust, that Bastet will not go for Kaida—that he will focus only on Skylar.
Somewhere, a gong sounds, loud enough to make Skylar flinch.
Astrid looks to Bastet, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Together,” she says.
TOGETHER,he agrees.
But it is Skylar and Astrid who step up, side by side, to the dais.Nausea swells in Skylar’s stomach—there is a very real possibility that she might throw up.
The king calls for order, and a hush falls over the crowd. She wonders if only she can hear the tightness in his voice as he speaks—the fact that things are not going according to plan.
“Today, the Nachstern and de Veras heirs fight on behalf of their countries. But before they do, we end the blood bond.” He gestures to a figure at the side of the podium—the Blood Wielder.
A drop of blood is pulled from Astrid’s and Skylar’s palms—an echo of what happened at the Blood Binding. Their blood settles into a metal bowl in front of the king, where it sizzles, turning black.
