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Alex didn’t need to be told twice. She was honestly amazed that she’d been able to pull D.C. back up, since months ago she’d been in a similar predicament holding the much lighter Pipsqueak during their SAS overnight trip, and she’d required Kaiden’s help to get the smaller girl across a ravine and to safety. But now… Alex sent a silent offering of gratitude for everything she’d gone through since then, all of which had strengthened her enough to save her best friend today.

Swinging and then pulling herself up one small move at a time—while also keeping a hawk-like watch on D.C.’s shaky progress—Alex finally drew herself up and over the top of the outcropping.

All she wanted to do was curl into a ball and rest her shattered body, but she refused to do so until her friends were all safely beside her. So, leaning over the edge, she reached down just as D.C. pulled herself upwards, grabbing her friend to help heave her onto the flat space above.

Instantly, D.C. burst into loud, sobbing tears, her arms wrapping tightly around Alex’s neck.

“Shhh,” Alex said, rubbing her friend’s back with shaking arms. “We made it. You’re safe now.”

Alex had intended to reach down and help the boys just as she’d done for D.C., but the princess was so distressed that Alex was unable to loosen her grip until Jordan pulled himself up, whereby he swapped positions with her, drawing his girlfriend close. Her crying only intensified as he whispered soothingly toher, D.C.’s shock taking hold as she processed what had nearly happened.

Shuffling back to the edge, Alex arrived just in time to assist Bear, who helped her with Kaiden and Declan until everyone was safe.

Alex couldn’t believe what they’d just done—what they’d survived. A strangled noise rose from the back of her throat, something halfway between a laugh and a sob.

Instantly, she found herself wrapped in Kaiden’s arms, the two of them trembling from a mixture of exhaustion, adrenaline, fear and relief.

“You scared the absolute crap out of me,” he whispered shakily into her ear.

“I scared the crap out of myself,” Alex whispered back, holding him just as close.

“I think that was enough to scare the crap out of all of us,” Bear said, and Alex withdrew from Kaiden only to launch herself into the warm embrace of her friend, who was shaking just as much as the rest of them. When he released her, he didn’t let her go completely, not until he inspected her bloodied hand and gently bandaged it with a spare roll of gauze he pulled from his pocket.

Having determined she wasn’t about to bleed to death, Bear stepped away, and thus began a round of hugging between everyone as shocked laughs and relieved tears were shared, each of them marvelling at what they’d overcome.

Thankfully, they weren’t the only ones who seemed to think they had conquered the mountain, because while the cliff face continued endlessly up from where they now stood, a bright flash of light whisked them off the overhanging rock and back to the golden stadium.

“We’re done?” D.C. whispered in disbelief.

Jordan let out a whoop and kissed her squarely on the mouth, heedless of them both being covered in dirt, sweat and grime. “Sure looks that way!”

Alex, however, remained uncertain. Because while they were indeed no longer on the mountain, the stadium where they now stood wasn’t an exact replica of the one they’d entered the Gate from. The lack of audience was what gave it away, the tiered seating completely empty.

Uneasy, Alex shared a glance with her friends as they too noticed the lack of Tia Aurans surrounding them.

“Do you think they got bored watching us nearly plummet to our deaths and decided to call it a day?” Declan asked.

“I don’t think that’s it,” Alex said. “I think we’re still inside the Gate.”

“So… we’re not done?” D.C. asked.

Alex shook her head—not in the negative, but because she didn’t know.

“Congratulations, humans, on successfully proving yourselves physically capable of overcoming the strength test.”

The empress’s words were amplified all around the stadium, but the woman was nowhere to be found, calling to them from outside whatever place they now stood.

“We’ve passed your test,” Bear called. “Now let us out of here.”

“You proved your physical capability,” Saefii’s echoing voice semi-repeated, “but not all strength is physical. You still have one final phase to complete before you pass theSaeron ess Vaedan.”

“This Gate of Strength is quickly becoming a pain in my ass,” Declan muttered.

Alex agreed with him. “What’s the final phase?” she called out.

“Strength of mind,” Saefii answered. “But for this, only one of you need be tested.”

Alex pulled a face and turned to her friends. “Well, obviously this one’s on me.”