Adena and I lock eyes a final time. She gives me a faint nod beforethe guards come. Then they grab her, and she’s escorted down the remaining path to the holding room at the end of the maze. The arena roars in delight over a stunningly entertaining game.
Somewhere in the audience, Red is watching. I can feel the pity in him, the deep understanding of why I’d done what I did. He is proud of me. He is afraid for me.
Fury simmers low in my stomach.Thank you, I force myself to say to Constantine through our bond.
But his eyes remain cold, and his voice chills me to the bone.
I wouldn’t, he answers.
19
RED
As a child, I’d stand in this arena with myfather at my side, Laeni sitting on his shoulders, and cheer as horses would thunder around the track. Or as prisoners were brought in to fight one another to the death. Or as traitors were executed.
You’d always cheered. What else do you do? It’s supposed to be fun, isn’t it?
Sometimes you’re the happiest when you’re most ignorant. Better not to know the truth and enjoy life as you know it. That you’re not witnessing a horror.
But now I know, and the knowing is agony.
For once, the walls that Talin has put up around her emotions crumble in this arena. Being this close to her again puts everything about her in greater clarity, and I feel the flood of her anguish and desperation and sadness. All I want is to reach out to her. I want to take her hand and lead her out of this place.
As I focus on my bond with Talin, Jeran watches the maze with his hands balled into white-knuckled fists, his eyes fixed on Aramin. We look on helplessly as Tomm falls, then Pira. Jeran lets out a shuddering breath as Aramin reaches the safety of his gate, followed by Adena.
And then we see Adena raise her gun toward Constantine.
I see Constantine gesture for Talin to fly down to where Adena is making her stand.
And I see Talin stand her ground, refusing to strike down her friend.
Everything feels like a blur. I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
Then Jeran leans toward me. His voice is hoarse and soft, but clear. “The Premier is ill today.”
It’s only then that I notice he’s right. Constantine is leaning visibly against the edge of the balcony today, and his figure looks hunched, exhausted. Even the paint on his face can’t hide the hollows of his cheeks. We can see his weariness from here.
Talin lifts into the air and soars back to the balcony amid a cacophony of cheers and boos from the crowd. Beside her, the seemingly invincible Skyhunter, Constantine looks even weaker.
And if we can see it, surely the rest of the arena can too.
I narrow my eyes at him. I can feel that Skyhunter rage tingling in my limbs, feel it stretching against the boundaries of my body, wanting to set my blood alight and unfurl my bladed wings.
With a mighty effort, I pull myself back. Down below, soldiers emerge and pull Adena into the shadows behind the gates. The games are over, at least for today. I turn my focus on Talin as she stands beside Constantine. To my surprise, she is dry-eyed.
And looking straight in our direction.
I don’t know if she can see us here; her Skyhunter eyesight is keener than it should possibly be. But I return her stare anyway, willing her to hear me. My hands clench and unclench.
I’m going to find a way back to your side. I’m going to free you.
I swear everything on it.
20
TALIN
I can’t stop thinking about Red.
