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Declan raised his hands. “We didn’t say anything.”

“And you won’t,” D.C. said warningly. “Even though it’s clear you want to.”

They were still trying to hide their grins—even Bear, who was in better spirits today, determined to do as he’d said yesterday and honour his father with his own actions—but Alex couldn’t blame them. The dresses she and D.C. wore were embarrassing on so many levels.

“Feeling any better?” Kaiden asked quietly as he walked over to Alex. His eyes remained squarely on her face and not… elsewhere… and for that, she was grateful.

“Much, thank you. Sorry about this morning,” she replied, tugging lightly at her skirt again, this time more just to fidget than anything else, since she knew it wasn’t going to miraculously lengthen any time soon. “I was having a bit of a Debbie Downer moment.”

Kaiden cocked his head to the side. “Freyan colloquialism?”

Alex blinked, realising what she’d said, then laughed quietly. “Yeah. It means—”

“I think I’ve got it,” he said, lips curling with amusement. “And no one can blame you for having doubts. Your fears are justified.”

“Maybe so,” Alex said. “But I still shouldn’t have been so freaked, not when you’re all being so great about everything. I just—something happened with my helper last night and it shook me up a bit.”

Kaiden’s expression became concerned. “What happened?”

Alex was quick to dispel his worry. “She said some stuff that upset me, but it doesn’t matter. I’m over it now.”Or at least, trying to be.

He moved forward until he was all she could see, like they were the only two people in the world, and quietly asked, “What did she say to you, Alex?”

Hypnotised by his gentle tone and caring eyes, Alex answered automatically. “She said this is a lost cause—that I’m going to fail everyone, and I’ll only have myself to blame.” She swallowed. “She didn’t realise I could understand her. And now I can’t help assuming all the other Tia Aurans are thinking the same.”

Kaiden closed his eyes, knowing just how much Zaylin’s words must have affected Alex. He knew everything about her—more even than D.C., Jordan and Bear, since none of them knew the entirety of what had happened during her time spent in the past, including her friendship with Niyx and the loss she was dealing with. Kaiden alone was aware of all that Alex had faced in such a short period of time, and therefore knew Zaylin’s attack would have hurt beyond words.

As if in response to her own pain, Kaiden moved even closer and pressed a quick, soft kiss to her forehead.

Her breath stuttered audibly, and when he moved back again, she was certain he could see the heat touching hercheeks. But all he did was look directly into her eyes and say, “Prove them wrong.”

Prove them wrong.

Those three words resonated deep within Alex’s soul.

Unable to respond past the lump in her throat, she offered a firm nod of agreement, which caused Kaiden to smile proudly before he stepped away and turned to those gathered around them.

Suddenly remembering that they weren’t alone, Alex took in the curious faces of Declan, Bear, D.C. and Jordan. But she thankfully didn’t have to explain what had just occurred quietly between her and Kaiden because a flash of light swept the six of them from the room.

After blinking away stars, Alex looked around at their new surroundings and felt her stomach tighten.

Having arrived in the middle of a massive gold stadium surrounded by nothing but clouds, the area upon which Alex and her friends stood was perfectly circular and centred in between tiered seating that enclosed the space. Another thin layer of clouds bordered the circle, creating a gap between the stage and the seats that made the stadium seem larger than it already was. The entire setup was like some kind of fantasy gladiatorial arena—but with an otherworldly feel to it, rather than an Ancient Rome vibe. That was likely because it was still as ostentatiously sparkly as everything in Tia Auras.

“That’s not something you see every day,” Bear said, sounding awed.

Alex nodded, but when she glanced over at him, she found his head tilted back and his focus upwards.

Following his gaze, Alex discovered three fiery arches high above their heads, floating mid-air as if attached to invisible strings.

“The Gates of Testing,” Declan mused, looking up as well. “I hope we don’t have to learn how to fly through them in order to prove ourselves.”

Alex was hoping right along with him.

Another flash of light, this one much more intense than any of the others Alex had yet experienced, and suddenly the stadium was filled with Tia Aurans. There had to be thousands upon thousands of them in the stands, causing Alex’s stomach to tighten even further. Her pulse beat loudly in her ears, but it wasn’t enough to cover the noise of the crowd, the sound of the masses overpowering her senses.

“Oh, boy,” D.C. said, her voice trembling. “This is something else.”

She could say that again. Alex hadn’t known what to expect with theTu’eh Saeron ess Telari, but she hadn’t been counting on such a large audience.