The crowd is still concealed from me, but I swear I feel screams tearing through the silence as Vann carries me forward, step by deliberate step, while the shadows curl away from him like retreating waves. The screams grow distant again, muffled by the thrum of blood in my ears.
When this is gone, we will be left to Arion’s will. I pray that he will not kill us.
As soon as the fire breaks and the arena is once again revealed, the space is stained with blood. The fallen in the stands. The humans who attacked us. The beasts. They lie in wasteful piles as casualties of some false war.
Thorne has disappeared.
However, while we were concealed, it opened the way for a new arrival.
Mrath. She rides a lion, bounding through the stands, as her mount, knocking all those who stand in her way to the ground.
She finally came.
Hundreds of the Sisterhood also swarm the place, wearing their darkest leathers as they spread across the arena and kill every guard in sight.
Mrath looks regal in a way I’ve never seen, with a burgundy cloak floating behind her and a crown of thorns atop her head. Hersilvery hair matches his perfectly, and the smile on her face is more feral than triumphant.
Arion stands at his throne, shooting bursts of light at anyone in his sight. That magic doesn’t belong to him. I need to stop him.
I do not like her either, Nehvaris says.
She was the one who sent her to Arion like a lamb to slaughter.
I know, but she’s the better option.
If you say so.You’ll need to take that collar off for him to stop using you for my magic.
My eyes go wide. How did I not realize this before?
“We need to get the collar off,” I tell Vann, clawing at my throat. His chest heaves.
“You’ve already tried. It didn’t go well—” he starts but I cut him off.
“Try again.”
I remember the pain and the burning. But this time, I will bear it better. Arion must die.
Tenderly, Vann grasps at the collar and begins to gently pry. Fire flames through my body, and I cry out. Shaking. I feel Nehvaris’s power shoot through me.
I need this to come off if Arion is to die.
“Keep…going…” I grit out through cries.
“Arlet, please.”
“We need to get it off.”
Pain sears and wracks my body, as if my bones are breaking and splintering.
Breathe, Red. We just are getting to know each other. You can’t crumble now.
A red-hot haze covers my vision, and then, finally, the collar breaks. It falls from my person and to the ground. Without warning, Nehvaris takes control of my body and blasts the collar with her magic.
I watch it burn and melt into the sand.
No warning?
Next time.