With a jolt of horror, my mind pulls away from Anassa, realizing this was all planned by the wolves, coordinated from the very start. Our fight with Pietr was a distraction—bait to draw out Perielle’s arrogance. To prove her weakness.
She was marked for death before we ever entered the arena.
“Stay focused!”Anassa snarls in my mind, furious at my withdrawal.
Survival instinct snaps me back into our connection. I cannot risk putting myself at odds with my wolf—or I might end up like Perielle, who lies broken on the ground, her blood soaking into the drains in the dirt.
Perielle’s wolf lays down in the dirt next to her, their severed bond killing them both.
The other two wolves disperse as one, moving to join the others in their deadly dance.
Anassa’s satisfaction radiates through my body. There’s no cruelty in it—at least, not precisely. But there is pleasure. Gratification for an important task efficiently completed.
The pack will be stronger now.
There’s no time to process it further. The direwolves draw inward again as the ritual dance continues. Wolves and riders measure each other with cold eyes, trying to identify who will be next.
It doesn’t take long.
In a matter of seconds, the wolves zero in on their target and start circling someone again. With a flash of horror, I realize it’s Nevah, perched on her dark silver wolf. Her deep brown curls bounce as she turns her head frantically, eyes wide, searching for help.
Izabel and Tomison are closer to her and their wolves bolt over, defending her from the closing pack.
Nevah might be standoffish, but she isn’t weak—she doesn’t deserve to die.
To my surprise, Anassa’s agreement flows along the bond. She’s actually listening to me on this. She leaps into the fray, knocking two attackers aside.
I see Nevah’s surprise and relief when she realizes we’ve come to help. Then her face goes hard with resolve.
That’s right, you arenotgoing to die today.
Four against eighteen isn’t great as far as odds go, but to my surprise, the others back off almost immediately. Nevah and her direwolf take the lead and she defends herself against two or three would-be attackers. Izabel, Tomison and I stay behind her as additional defense if she needs it.
Again, I catch snatches of communication between Anassa and the other wolves—just enough to understand that they aren’t willing to go against all four of us if we believe Nevah is worthy.
For a moment, I think that might be the end of it, but the wolves prove me wrong. Before the test is done, another two pairs fall, each death seemingly predetermined among the direwolves.
When the bellow of a horn announces the end of the Strategos purge, the arena floor is once again painted with blood and gore.
Twenty Bonded pairs remain standing. But the fighting isn’t done yet; three packs left to go.
As the crowd cheers and servants drag away the bodies, Anassa’s mind prods at mine, offering what feels almost like… comfort.
“We survived,”I say to her in relief.“But that still sucked.”Every time I blink, I see Perielle’s quick look of shock before her throat was torn out. It happened so quickly she almost couldn’t process it.
And her blood is on my hands.
“I don’t regret any of it,”Anassa tells me,“and you shouldn’t either. But you chose well in coming to Nevah’s aid.”
“Nevah would’ve done just fine without our help,”I say, eying the woman as she bids her large wolf goodbye. Nevah has an unbelievable strength to her. I only hope that she’ll start to open up to the rest of us more, now. That she’ll realize that friendship can be a strength, too.
Anassa nods to me and then leaves with the rest of the Strategos direwolves, back through the large door that will take them to their pack terraces. I fall in with Izabel and Tomison as we head toward the stands to watch the remainder of the gruesome Trial unfold.
As we near the seats, my gaze drifts upward, toward the beacon of Killian in the stands.
I can’t help it; I smile at him, and his handsome face splits into a responding grin. He shoots me a quick thumbs up that I’m positive no one clocked.
I made it. I survived. We have more time together. I have more time to save Saela.
