Page 53

The guard gestures for Kylo to follow him, I can only assume it’s to prevent a lowly prisoner like me from being able to overhear. James must’ve been watching too because curiosity is written all over his face as he heads over to them. I can only tell so much from the looks on their faces, but I can’t bring myself to look away either. Instead, I guzzle down a cup of water like it’s the last mug of it in the kingdom. Soon, James’s expression shifts, determination hardening into a scowl. Whatever the guard said couldn’t have been good, because Kylo’s expression, too, had changed—to worry.

The guard walks off and heads back into the palace while Kylo walks to the other contestants. Captain James is beelining straight toward me. Each of his stomps radiate anger as it kicks up dirt.

“Captain James,” I greet him with a nod.

He doesn’t say a word but grabs a lethal-looking dagger from the table and hands it to me.

“Here, you will need this. They moved the third trial up. You are about to leave. Beware of the snakes. Watch out for their tails and burn their eyes if you get a chance to. Be wary of moving sand.”

I take the dagger, a little caught off guard. Why are they moving up the trials? Where is Prince Lukene?

I sheath the dagger in my boot. “When do we leave?”

He dismisses my questions. “The carriages are almost ready. Come. Kylo will explain everything.” He places an arm around my shoulders in a comforting yet protective way as we walk over.

Captain Kylo has the other prisoners gathered around him, listening intently.

“The third trial has been moved up. The carriages will be ready by the time we finish here. You will be dropped off at the edge of Umbrahdor at the kingdom’s border before Valrum. You are to work together! Find the catacombs in the sand. We have heard that there is an important book there—important to the King and Princess Vanna. Retrieve the book and come back to the carriages at the border line.”

Well, that doesn’t seem that hard. Surviving the other contestants might be the hardest part.

“Beware of the serpents and desert pincers. The nights are cold. We have provided supplies in the carriages. Make haste.”

The contestants head to the palace. I follow behind them, trailing a few paces back, until Kylo falls into step next to me.

“Something is amiss. Keep your eyes open and stay near Elm,” he says, his voice low. I look at him, unsure why he seems concerned.

I glance at him, puzzled by his demeanor. “Captain Kylo, you almost sound worried about me.” I offer a teasing smile.

He lifts the corner of his mouth slightly. “Of course I am concerned. If something happens to you, I am the one that must deal with Prince Lukene’s wrath.”

“Prince Lukene doesn’t care what happens to me,” I mutter, turning to leave.

Kylo catches my arm. “Reign, open your eyes to what is so blatantly in front of you. I have known Luke my whole life and never seen him act like this with anyone but you. Besides,” he adds with a genuine smile, “I’d miss pushing you around during training if something happened to you.”

Captain James appears at my other side, and I return Kylo’s smile. “I will be safe. I promise.”

“Here,” James says, undoing his cloak, and draping it over my shoulders. “Be careful. Remember what I said about the snakes.” His furrowed brows remind me of a concerned father.

A guard I have never seen before opens the carriage as three contestants climb in. In the other carriage, I spot Elm among the contestants. I go to climb in but that creepy guard that spoke to Elm and James earlier, steps up and grabs my hand to help me. Just as I duck into the carriage, he clutches my rear end. I jerk away, seething, and take a seat on one of the benches inside, trying to ignore his smile pressed against the glass. Goosebumps ripple over my skin at the malevolence that drips from his sneer.

I need to stay far from him if I want to make it through this trial alive.

* * *

After a long day of traveling,we reach the edge of the kingdom. The guards release us from the confines of the carriage, handing each of us a satchel of supplies and snapping the familiar tracking bracelets onto our wrists.

“Work together, find the catacombs, retrieve the book, and return as quickly as possible. We will be waiting here.”

Despite the setting sun we walk across the kingdom’s border. The sand is picked up by the chilly fall wind and pelts our faces. I pull James’s cloak tightly around me, thanking the gods and goddesses for his kindness because this cloak protects me from both the sand and the coolness. Elm is at my side, his eyes frantically scanning our surroundings.

Ahead lies a vast sea of sand—dunes upon dunes stretching endlessly. My ankles throb with each step, though it hasn’t even been that long. I reach into the satchel where my fingers clamp around a piece of parchment. It’s a map, but the sketch is rough and hard to follow. With no obvious landmarks in sight, I stuff the map away and press on.

Well after the sun has set and our muscles are sore, we set up camp. We come upon some jagged rocks that have acacia trees and yucca plants surrounding them. It will be a good shelter from the sand and wind. Elm lays out our bed rolls. We sit upon them in the dark and eat the rations that were provided in our satchels. I am thankful for the rest because every muscle in my legs is screaming from walking in the sand.

The moon hangs high, illuminating the desert with a pale glow. Stars glitter overhead, their brightness almost ominous as if forewarning us of what is to come.

“Hey, Toy! Can’t you start a fire with your magic?” Jake jeers.