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VICTOR

From beneath Idris’s pavilion, a massive dragon prowled into view. Its inky emerald scales were so dark that they devoured the light, casting an eerie shimmer across its hulking form. Thick, corded muscles rippled beneath its hide, each movement exuding raw power. Its long neck curved with a predator’s grace, leading to a set of massive jaws—engines of pure destruction, capable of tearing through stone and flesh alike. Towering over the battlefield, the beast was three times the size of any monster in Idris’s collection.

It was both breathtaking and terrifying—a creature of legend, too rare, too magnificent to be shackled by the will of a madman.

I glanced at Runa to check her reaction. The wide-eyed expression of terror on her exotic face stirred something savage within me.

From the back of my skull, a presence snarled,“Protect your mate.”

I woke this morning, having slept for what felt like minutes,with thisvoiceinside of my mind. The voice, while it sounded like my own, was different, stronger—powerful.

It urged me to do incomprehensible things.

For starters, it had urged me to feed from Runa—to cover her with my seed and plant my youngling deep in her womb as if I’d already claimed her as my Bride.

Which I most certainly had not, despite sharing the most pleasurable encounter of my life with her.

When claiming a Bride, a traditional incantation was uttered, and blood was exchanged. Afterward, eternal fang marks branded a Bride’s throat. The male, too, if he so desired.

Runa did not bear my fang marks. Thank the gods. Claiming a Bride, even if she was my fated mate, was the last thing I needed at the moment.

Still, it had taken every ounce of control I possessed to crawl out of our shared bed. It was then I noticed the scorched sheets and my shimmering handprint on her throat. A mark that had left me feeling, dare I say—possessive. While it was far from fang marks, I’denjoyedthe sight of my brand on her throat.

In that moment, I’d never felt so primal, like one of the lycans in my world that I’d often mocked for their lack of control.

Even now, the urge to grab Runa and slaughter any who opposed me hammered against my skull. My lack of focus only further proved how mates and relationships led to weakness. Right now, I couldn’t afford to be vulnerable. Not when Idris held my life in his hands.

I steeled my resolve. Despite the appearance of the dragon, which currently sat on top of the grate we needed, our plan remained feasible. Ithadto be. Especially after all I’d done to prepare for our escape. Much to my detriment last night.

I tuned into Idris’s blathering. The more I was around the male, the more I loathed him. Over the years, I’d supported many kings. This one did not deserve to sit on the throne of thiskingdom. I sensed it in every part of my body. As Runa and the others claimed, he was the false king.

I shoved my tongue against the roof of my mouth, his voice making me want to claw my ears from my skull.

“Kill him. Take what is yours,” the voice hissed.

I shoved the murderous urge down. Idris’s death was not on my agenda. I’d nothing to gain from freeing Carcerem. What did I care about those that had once scorned both me and my mother?

Unbidden, an image of my youth flashed through my mind. I crouched in a puddle where I’d fallen, hand pressed to my blackening eye. Neighborhood children threw rocks at me, chanting some horrid song about fatherless bastards. Their parents looked on, doing nothing while their children abused the son of the neighborhood whore.

Idris’s voice pierced the image, and I shook my head to clear it. “This final challenge is a fight to the death. The last contestant standing will have earned Carcerem’s forgiveness for their crimes.”

Runa’s sister placed her hand on the king’s shoulder. Golden light flickered in the false king’s palms, and the chains on his beasts dropped into the sand. All except for his prized dragon, the one creature who had wings.

I flexed my legs, ready for the moment our torques would deactivate. Beneath us, a dozen creatures licked their chops, eager to devour their next meal. With my alliance of five, that left seven contestants who would love nothing more than to end me. Intimidating odds—for someone with half my skill.

We’d stick to the plan. Runa could easily cast an illusion to distract the dragon while concealing our actions. Drazen and I would protect our allies while they used their gifts to open the grate.

With any luck, we’d be gone before Idris even realized we were missing.

Once more, Idris stepped to the edge of his pavilion. “Oh, and one other thing. Today, the competitors’ torques will remain active. This final lesson is one of humility. A great number of these criminals believe themselves to be predators. Today, they will learn what it feels like to be prey.” He smirked, glancing in my direction. “Let the trial begin.”

Bloody bastard. Dread turned my heart to stone, plunging it into my stomach. This was a disaster. With the torques on, Kronk couldn’t shift the sand, and Runa couldn’t create a diversion. There was no possible way we could dig through several feet of sand to the grate without being slaughtered.

I dared to meet Runa’s stark expression. Even if we managed to defeat the other competitors before Idris’s beasts ripped us apart, only one of us would leave this place.

Mind racing, I reconsidered my strategy. One, there was no escaping. Two, my alliance was now worthless. With our plan gone to hell, Runa’s brothers would kill me in a heartbeat. Three, the only way I’d survive was to outlive the competition. That included Runa.

This last part gave me pause.