I turn to look through the hole and see the outline of his body.
“You lie,” I demand.
That smile I can’t see but hear so clearly comes back.
“You will have to wait until we get home, and then I can show you.”
Chapter 36
VANN
The next day begins with another trial. The gates groan open, and heat hits us like a gust of wind.
Same arena. Same sand, scorched and red from yesterday. The smell of iron and sweat still hangs in the air. The crowd above is louder now—thousands of voices rolling like a tide.
They’ve come to see if we’ll die today, and I feel like a caged beast left in the dark for too long. Sensitive to the light. Ears ringing.
Arlet steps beside me, her chin lifted despite the healing bruises that cover her shoulder. I feel a begrudging gratitude to both Thorne and the Living Shadow for doing that which I could not—helping to heal her body. If she’d just let me touch her last night…maybe I could’ve helped.
If only I’d been close enough to touch her.
She looks different, not just because of her thinned-out body and limbs, but because of a hardness in her jaw that wasn’t there before. The easy smile that used to grace her face daily is different.
Gone.
Guilt hits me again. I swear, I will ensure that she makes it back home. And once we are back, I will work, and labor, and strive to make sure those smiles return to her face.
And then, no sooner than I’ve thought the words, I remember herhand brushing mine through that small hole in the wall. The sound of her breath when she said my name.
I should have told her a million more things. I should’ve apologized again, should’ve told her I missed her. That I would accept whatever punishment she would give me.
Her red hair has been braided down her back, and my fingers twitch to fix the loose, frizzing strands. It would be an affectionate touch, one she likely doesn’t want.
She deserves something real. I want us to be something real again.
My gaze snaps away when the gate across the arena rattles. The crowd hushes. Whatever horrors await us today are approaching.
Arion’s voice fills the void, and Arlet’s gaze returns to the platform where he sits alongside his fellow sycophants. The Throne of Living Wood is still there. I frown, angry as I think of what they told us last night.
His new magic comes from Arlet and her cursed presence. He’s using her to stay in power.
Then, I see the Living Shadow, other leaders of the main elven factions, I even glimpse the short white hair of Thorne as he slinks to the back.
Does Arion realize how many vipers are in his midst?
“Yesterday, we witnessed the Trial of Beasts. Our fighters performed well, to their credit.” Arion pauses as the crowd roars and raises their hands. “Today, the crown presents you with the Trial of Fire!”
The sound is so loud it distorts in my ears. My hand flexes, and I wish that I knew what they had done with my cleaver. I don’t like the weight of the sword they’ve given me, or its ineffectiveness. My teacher in the academy used to say that the wielder made the weapon, but I wish I had better while keeping my mate safe.
“Let all bear witness, the crown will not be mocked,” Arion says, repeating the sentiment from yesterday’s fight.
A massive creature prowls out of the gate. It is twice the size of the wolves from yesterday. I identify it as a lion, but its mane burnswith embers that pulse, and smoke seeps from its nostrils in slow, heavy waves. Its claws leave molten scars in the sand.
Time goes fuzzy as I am transported back to my early days as a soldier. I’d encountered creatures like this during the skirmishes with the Dominion. Cursed beasts—I believe this is called an Ash Lion. Bred for arenas like this, half fire, half beast. Their blood runs so hot it melts steel.
At my side, Arlet stands straighter. My eyes find her as her lips part and she…steps forward. I remember her yesterday—how afraid she’d looked then. Despite her frailty, despite getting hurt, something in her is different today.
Then I think of the black flames that the Living Shadow helped her touch.