Chapter 13
Caius
––––––––
The gunshot rattlesmy eardrums as I break into a sprint. Footsteps thunder around me and shoulders drive into one another, a pathetic bid to try and knock someone off balance. I would have thought Ezra would have used her speed to her advantage, pulling into first place from the beginning, but I was wrong. I quickly find out why as shouts and grunts meet my ears, the first wave of men triggering the pressure sensors in the floor and getting filled with small blades.
I take advantage of the men on either side of me, using them as shields as I jump from the ledge to the sand pit fifty feet below. The arena for the Gauntlet is on the edge of Hadeon, and each month when they start a new race, the area has been converted. It’s no doubt the most technologically advanced thing in our society, yet also the most barbaric. It serves its purpose though; cutting down the number of male dragons. It exploits our animalistic nature, wanting to rise above the rest and prove our worth.
As much as I fucking know better, I glance over my shoulder, searching for a shock of red hair. I know she can hold her own, can kick all of our asses if she actually cuts loose. But I can’t help wanting to protect her, the instinct burned into every fiber of my being.
She kissed Vyrian. He hasn’t shut the fuck up about it, and I’m pretty sure he would stalk her to the edge of the world. I’m not any better. She consumes my thoughts until they don’t even belong to me anymore; they’re hers as much as I am.
Fuck.
I drop to a crouch a split second before a dart embeds in my cheek. It hits the guy next to me though and he drops like a rock. Tranquilizer or poison, it doesn’t matter. I can’t let anything take me down; I have a race to win.
I don’t see her, but I can feel her eyes on me. As I run, I’m painfully aware of how she watches me, assesses me in an attempt to find my weaknesses. Little does she know she won’t find them. All of the people that make me vulnerable are either watching the race or running in it, but that’s as far as my weaknesses go.
After the way I grew up, I learned quickly to harden my heart against everything beyond the few people I loved. Only my flight can be used against me now, and though it’s not official, I consider Ezra a part of it.
The sand makes my steps sluggish, but I push through. I run, feeling those emerald eyes on me, trying to flay me alive. I risk one more glance over my shoulder and see a brief splash of fiery hair before she disappears, merging in with the other competitors.
I bite my cheek, bringing myself back to the present. I can’t allow myself to keep getting caught up in thoughts of her, get distracted by her. She can be my weakness, but I don’t have to let anyone else know it.
I want to be strong enough for her, but something tells me that means I need to learn how to be strong enough to survive her.
As screams fill the air I take a running leap, latching onto the rope hanging down above me at the end of the sand pit. Hand over fist I climb, my pant leg getting torn by the teeth of whatever monster is lurking beneath the sand. Knowledge is power, but survival ranks just a bit higher. If I were to turn and look, I’d be dead.
If Ezra goes and gets herself killed, I’m never going to let her live it down.
I roll over the ledge to the next level, debating on cutting the rope or not. I should, but if Ezra is still down there, it will cut off her escape. I hesitate and it costs me, head knocked to the side with a single punch.
“Don’t even think about it, Cai,” she demands, looking down at me with hostility. “You think you should cut the rope, fucking cut the rope. If I win by anything less than you giving it your all, I’m going to kick your ass.”
Then she’s gone, darting off ahead of me before I can so much as blink. I never even saw her get up here, not sure how she managed it. I smack my cheek, shaking out my hands and cracking my neck as I get my head back in the game.
I can’t let her win a blank check favor or she’ll use it to destroy me.
The thought helps, spurring me into action.
The Gauntlet’s structure curves the length of the massive arena, spiraling in and on top of itself to conserve space. I race down the narrow tunnel, the only path forward. It plunges me into complete darkness and leaves me vulnerable to everything. I can’t see what’s ahead or behind me, can’t prepare for any potential traps. I have no choice beyond blind determination, plowing on despite the danger.
The temperature steadily rises in the confined space and sweat trickles down my temple. I can feel the structure shaking, footsteps thundering behind me as others begin to catch up. I can’t stop for a second, or I’ll get trampled.
