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“Athos, creature of stone, you’re in Alpha cell,” one of the guards said.

“Wait. You’re separating us?” Placing my brothers beyond my reach, far from where I could keep an eye on them?

“Challengers are sorted based on individual containment needs.”

Behind the bars, I spotted a beast with massive shoulders,heavy muscles, and enormous tusks jutting between its thick lips. Apparently, this cell held the strongest and most powerful of Carcerem’s fallen. Kronk was a formidable opponent, even without his ability to turn to stone. Problem was, despite all the muscle, he possessed a childlike naivety that was at odds with his strength. What if someone took advantage of him?

Before entering the cell, Kronk pressed his thick forehead to mine. “I will see you soon.”

“Trust nobody,” I whispered. “And watch your back.”

Before leaving, Kronk paused before Victor. “For any injury she receives, know I will inflict the same on you tenfold.”

Warning delivered, he turned and entered Alpha cell.

“This stinks like bula dung,” Drazen growled as we proceeded down the corridor. “If we would have just let the gallspawn eat the leech, we wouldn’t even be here.”

When we reached the next set of doors, the guard grunted. “You, infernus, creature of fire, Beta cell.”

“Beta?” Drazen scoffed. “Do I look like a beta to you?”

From within the large space, a curvy female demon approached. Delicate horns curled back from her forehead. She held her cat-like tail in her hand, twirling the silky length. “Hey, Snodd,” she said to the guard. “You bring me something fresh to play with?”

At this, Drazen straightened, puffing smoke from his nostrils. “Go, team Beta.”

While Snodd unlocked the door, Drazen kissed my cheek. “Stay safe.”

“Don’t get distracted,” I said before he could withdraw. “Remember, just because something is pretty doesn’t mean it isn’t deadly.”

Snorting a huff of derision, he confronted Victor. “Know that if any harm comes to her, once Kronk has ripped off your arms, I will burn the rest of you to ash.”

Why did it feel as though my brothers were entrusting mysafety to the leech? Idiots. Yet another reason why I didn’t trust their judgment outside of my supervision.

Again, Victor refused to comment, heaving a sigh, his expression bored. I watched my brother enter the cell, my chest tight. The three of us hadn’t been separated like this since before our time with Yaga.

We proceeded along the corridor. To my dismay, only one unit remained.

No. No way was I going to share a prison cell with the bastard who’d gotten us into this mess in the first place.

“You two. Gamma cell.” Snodd confirmed my suspicions.

I eyed the bars, noting they didn’t glow like the others we’d passed. “No enchantment?”

“No point with your kind.” Standing toe to toe with Victor, he sneered, cupping himself between his legs. “What you going to do, vamp? Suck me to death?”

The guards behind him snickered.

“And you.” Snodd crowded me, backing me into the metal door. “Without your sorcery, you’re practically human.”

Sure, I understood the vampire wasn’t a threat, but me?

The stench of Snodd’s sour breath dusted my face, and I turned my head, nearly gagging.

“Pretty, though. Perhaps we could come to some kind of arrangement.” He grazed his knuckle along my cheek, and bile painted my tongue.

“Get your hands off of me.” I stepped back, prepared to punt the bastard’s testicles up into his throat. His buddies would probably beat me to a bloody pulp. Still, it would be worth it.

Before I could commit to my attack, Victor moved closer, a strange energy charging the air. “Perhaps you haven’t heard. This one is related to the queen. Can’t imagine King Idris will appreciate the sorceress being defiled before the games.”