Sweat drips down the back of my neck.
“Look at me, Kyzen.”
My hand puts a death grip on my sword as my vision doubles.
“Look at me, Kyzen.”
My eyes roam everywhere but at my father. The growing crowd chants louder and louder. Heat sears its way across my skin as they all look at me with disgusting excitement.
A slap across my face jerks my head painfully to the side, and I slowly roll it back to stare blankly at my father.
“Do not ignore me again, son.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You are not to kill but take down. There better not be a single scratch on you when you step out of this ring.”
“How do you suppose I stop that if I won’t be able to see?”
I brace myself for his backhand this time. I already knew it was coming and knew I’d be better off not stopping it.
He snatches my jaw toward him and slips the blindfold over my eyes. The roaring in my ears becomes deafening, but not enough to block out the elation in his voice.
“This is what you all have been begging for! I give you my son, the Killer of Time!”
Footsteps pound the cushioned mat.
I clench my sword. Breath. Slow down time. Then scream as it slices the first fool to approach me.
A body falls against my feet, knocking me off balance and into Amick. He grips me, holding me back by my biceps, but there’s no stopping me.
They die this time.
Thayla
8
My eyes scour the daunting hallway for Amick and Kyzen as soon as I step through the threshold.
The air in my lungs stalls as the last of the other Valtrues turn the corner, disappearing from my sight.
Fuck, they got down there faster than I got in here.
I swallow the nerves attempting to strangle me, and my power swirls beneath my skin. My lower belly cramps, and I rest my hand there to soothe it. Although Riven’s waist bags block the contact, the added pressure helps ease the sensation.
Slightly.
I’m not sure if my powers are trying to push off this sickening buzz that lingers in the air or feed off my desperate desire to get to Riven as fast as possible.
Whatever the motivator is, it’s strong.
That looming, realm-ending mentality that plagued me left the second we stepped out of the forest. My mind entered a whole other space, but not only for me.
Everyone refocused on what was important. The overwhelming thoughts that were haunting us fled.
I’ve said it before and I’ll continue to say it…the Abandon is wrong.
The breath of relief that leaves me when Yemi steps through the door is short-lived. Sevryn snatches her to his chest, and she slumps into him as she wipes the sweat from her face.
