When he was finished, my heart was in my throat. “So you’re going into the arena anyway,” I breathed. Enzo nodded. “While the panther and I create a distraction, you, Luke, and Tyler can join the crowd. Start spreading the word: that Mila is planning to kill everyone after the ceremony. Those wh
Nina As soon as Enzo was led away by the guard, I felt a surge of urgency ripple through me. Quickly, I motioned for Luke and Tyler to follow me around a corner and out of sight. “That was too close,” I muttered, ripping off the stifling guard helmet with shaking hands. “We need to regroup and f
Enzo The groan of the iron gates sent a shudder through my body as they ground open, revealing the vast expanse of the arena. The deafening roar of the crowd washed over me in waves, their excitement palpable in the air. Here I was again. In the arena. I had hoped that I would never have to co
Exchanging a quick glance, the panther and I weaved through the mayhem, our eyes locked on our ultimate target—Mila. She rose from her throne, her expression twisted into a mask of fury as she witnessed her carefully constructed facade crumbling around her. “Fools!” she screeched, her shrill voi
Nina The deafening roar of the crowd was replaced by agonized screams as chaos erupted around us. Bodies surged forward in a frenzied stampede, trampling over one another as they fled the arena in terror. Overhead, the sound of a flurry of beating wings filled my ears. Mila had shifted into her
Nina Darkness enveloped me, replacing the inferno of flames and smoke that had taken over the lush jungle. The last thing I saw before everything went black was the swirling array of portals, out of which poured a plethora of armored troops. My father’s reinforcements had arrived. But were they
Nina The thick veil of mist hung heavy in the air, enveloping our makeshift camp in a shroud of eerie stillness. The acrid stench of smoke still clung to our clothes and hair, a lingering reminder of the inferno we had barely escaped with our lives. Two days. We had spent two days traveling, and
“Your foolish quest has cost us dearly,” he began without preamble, his words biting. “The forest, our home—all of it, reduced to ash and ruin because of your reckless actions.” A flicker of sadness flickered inside of me because I knew that Kai was right. But before I could muster a response, the