Page 19

The back foyer was unusually quiet as I approached the staircase leading to our rooms. Murmurs drifted from a distant hallway, hushing as my shoes squeaked against the ceramic tiles. Just as I reached the other staircase, a hand grabbed my arm, yanking me back.

"What are you doing?" Jesri barked, his eyes filled with venom. I freed my arm and stepped off the stair, forcing my anger down. "Get out there.Now!" He pointed toward the courtyard, his voice commanding as he quickly ascended the stairs and blocked my path, leaving me no choice but to comply.

I clenched my jaw and rolled my eyes—not caring what the punishment would be.

Fine.I'll find Cal after.

I turned around and stomped away, hoping to annoy Jesri even more with the scuff and squeak of my shoes. I could hear him grunt with frustration as I walked back outside.

Darius was waiting by the fence opening with Levon at his side, talking about something in the notebook he carried. They saw me approach and fixed their stance.

"Feeling better, my lady?" Levon asked, closing his book.

I nodded. "Yes," I paused. "Though, I'd feel better if you could share any tipsbesidessurvival."

Darius glanced my way with a sly smile, raising his brows toward Levon. I shifted my weight onto my left leg, folding my arms across my chest in waiting.

Levon smiled. "What is it you say, Darius? Prepare for the unexpected?"

Darius chuckled, adding, "Trust your gut and be quick."

I pursed my lips. "Thank you for stating the obvious," I said, annoyed. I began to move around the fence, only for Darius to step in front of me.

"You know the rules, Eliah. No snooping," Darius said, treading carefully to avoid provoking my anger. "You'll find out soon enough."

I exhaled sharply—fine.Turning on my heels, I ran in the opposite direction, landing a solid punch on Darius's arm as I dashed past. His playful protest echoed after me, but I was too preoccupied with quelling my mounting fear to listen.

8

Iperched high in the tree's thick foliage, anxiously awaiting the starting whistle. My fingers absently brushed over the cold, golden whistle Darius had given me, feeling its smooth surface as I replayed his words in my mind:

"Prioritize your safety above all else. You've got one hour—act fast, stay sharp, and take the three of them out. Wait for the signal to begin. If you're in danger, use the whistle to stun them. We'll be at the entrance, waiting."

I adjusted my bow and the trio of daggers strapped to my thigh, squaring my shoulders as I settled onto the branch. My stomach churned, but I forced myself to focus, sifting through possible scenarios of what they'd throw at me besides dogs. I tried to recall anything from my history lessons that might offer a clue to any creatures. It had to be something—

The signal rang out, echoing across the sky and stopping my breath. I swallowed my fear and leapt into motion, squatting low on the branch. Shouts rattled in the distance before ferocious growls slashed through my focus, coiling my stomach. I froze,gripping the tree trunk tightly, recalling the calming techniques Darius had drilled into me before any training began.

Inhale, exhale.

Inhale, exhale.

My breathing narrowed, turning back into its silent rhythm. Whatever that was, I didn't like the sound of it.

Another set of snarls and shouts echoed off the trees.

You've got one hour—act fast, stay sharp, and take the three of them out.

Centering myself with a sharp breath, I quickly assessed the width of the nearby tree and judged it suitable for my plan. After securing my bow, I pressed my back against the trunk, took another deep breath, and sprinted along the sturdy branch, launching myself into the air.

The collision with the next tree knocked the wind out of me. I instinctively clawed at the rough bark, scraping my hands as I desperately searched for placement. My bow rattled against the overhanging branches, throwing off my balance.

The snarls grew louder, more feral, and ravenous. Ignoring the pain, I pushed forward, jumping from one tree to the next, each leap drawing me closer to the spine-chilling growls.

My breathing became labored and frantic—inhale, exhale.

My mind returned to the last time Jesri evaluated me with dogs less than a year ago, and I failed miserably. There were six of them, and one with a feral infection that left me bedridden for weeks. I barely managed to knock it unconscious before it could tear me apart. That evaluation had plagued me with nightmares for weeks.

A sudden crunch to my right jolted me back to the present, followed by a low growl that sent icy shivers down my spine.You've got one hour.