But it doesn’t come.
Instead, my limbs go cold.
The world tilts next?—
and then everything goes black.
“Ten seconds?!”
The voice slices through the darkness and my eyes flare open. Air follows, rushing into me as my chest expands on instinct, sucking in air that scrapes hot down my throat.
“You couldn’t last more than ten blasted seconds before passing out?”
Blinking, I rub the sweat and ash from my face and glance up. Dave’s vanished, and in his place stands Reya. Her hands planted on her hips, head shaking with frustration. I stare at her, my brain lagging behind, fighting to catch up with what's going on.
“I’m—” My voice catches. Swallowing, I try again. “I’m not… dead?”
Reya squints down at me. “No, you’re not bloody dead. Why the Stars would you be dead?”
“But this person...” Everything spins as I turn to the skull that sits a metre away from me, now completely black.
“Oh, he’s probably some Citadel scum they caught. They like to throw them in here between the shows.” Reya rolls her eyes as she waves a hand in the air. “Ten fucking seconds…” she mutters, as she storms off toward the cage exit.
Show?
This was a goddamnshow?
Blood slowly starts to return to my limbs as I sit there, completely stunned, and several long minutes pass before my lungs settle enough for a full breath.
When I finally manage one, I scan around and realise Reya’s gone. Ahria’s gone. And a new crowd is already gearing up for the next show.
Panic flares back to life.
Shit. I need to get out of here before Dave returns.
Exhaling hard, joints protesting beneath me, I shove myself up and race for the door.
By the time I catch up with Reya, she's already at the settlement gate with the short round guard. Her purple dragon and Ahria are perched above them, snapping back and forth, all teeth and play.
“Hey—this is less than last week.” Reya snarls as the plump guard drops the velvet pouch into her hand with a light, unsatisfyingclatter.
“It's more than you would have got for the boy.” He counters, taking a step forward with an oily grin that reminds me of the Weasel. “And you know the deal, Dave stops when they pass out. The longer they last, the heavier it is.”
My fists curl at his challenge, but Reya doesn’t so much as flinch. She just lifts her arm and her purple dragon answers instantly, gliding down in a clean sweep and landing on her shoulder with a firm grip.
“Remind me again…” Reya cocks her head at the guard, whose face has drained white. “Why I don’t let Shanwyn eat you right here? After all…” Her lip curls, “...you are merely another dirty Outerlander withnomagic.”
Shanwyn swells, doubling in size as her jaws open wide, exposing rows and rows of sharp, gleaming teeth.
“B—B… because of the draconite,” the guard stammers, as his eyes jump between Reya and the dragon, like he’s trying to figure out which one will kill him first.
Reya sighs through her nose as though she’s bored. “Oh yes… I forgot. How convenient.” Sliding a finger under Shanwyn’s jaw, she scratches lightly, earning a soft, throaty rumble from her. “But there’s no reason we couldn’t simply... take an arm.” Reya adds, not even looking at the guard now.
“Okay—okay,” he blurts, the words tripping over each other as he staggers back, fumbling through his pockets until he reveals another pouch.
He thrusts it out with a shaking hand.
Shanwyn moves before Reya does.
