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Her attention moved from the arches back to the audience when Saefii and her advisors arrived. Today it was Calivere who appeared on the raised platform to hand out the golden cuffs, and once he ensured they were all fitted properly, he relocated to Saefii’s side. Only then did the empress raise her hands to quieten the crowd.

“The humans displayed their strength of body and mind yesterday,” Saefii called, using the common tongue so Alex and her friends could follow along. “Today they shall face their second test.”

This time when Saefii pointed at the Gates, they didn’t start spinning straight away, but slowly rose into the air until they were once again high above the dais. Only when they were back in their original floating positions did they begin their circling, around and around and around, their fiery blaze intensifyinguntil they came to a sudden halt, again showing three glowing words—vorsa, havahnandla’nora.

With a bright smile, Saefii declared, “Tu’eh Saeron ess Vorsa, Tu’eh Saeron ess Havahn, Tu’eh Saeron ess La’nora.” Then, in translation, she said, “Our challengers will today be tested by the Gate of Dreams, the Gate of Fears or the Gate of Secrets.”

The cheers from the audience were almost deafening as the arches began circling again, wiping away all evidence of which description led to which Gate. Once more, they slowly lowered until they were positioned in the cloudy gap beside the dais where Alex and her friends stood.

“The decision is yours now, humans,” Saefii said, sitting on her throne. Like yesterday, she bade them good fortune with her whimsical blessing, “And may the light be your guide.”

Silence fell upon the audience, with the Tia Aurans eager to see what horrific challenge they would witness from the comfort of their seats.

“Secrets, fears and dreams,” Jordan mused. “Still not as bad as death, plague and tragedy.”

“I’m not real keen to try the fears option, though,” Bear said, rubbing his eyes. He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks—not unexpected, given his loss. “Let’s avoid that one if we can.”

Alex made a sound of agreement, knowing that while his comment was addressed to the group, it was she who they would make choose their Gate again.

“We have a one in three chance of landing in dreams,” Kaiden said. “That sounds like the best option.”

“Dreams are good,” D.C. said, nodding emphatically. Even if Lena Morrow was still nullifying her gift, dreams were definitely her forte. “Dreams, we can handle. Even the abstract, weird ones that don’t make sense.”

“As long as that Gate doesn’t include nightmares,” Declan pointed out.

Since the Gates were meant to test them, Alex had a feeling that it didn’t matter which option they stepped through—the level of difficulty would probably remain the same.

“This one,” Alex said, moving forward with purpose, wanting to get it over with. “See you all on the other side.”

With a running leap, she jumped off the dais and through the glowing arch. As she did, the word ‘la’nora’ flashed across her mind, and when she came out the other side, she felt dread pool in her stomach at her familiar surroundings.

Just like with the second phase of the strength test, she had returned to the golden stadium, empty once again.

Her friends arrived before she could consider what horror might present itself, with each of them asking for a translation of the word. But before she or Kaiden could answer, Saefii’s voice echoed around the space.

“You have entered the Gate of Secrets,” the empress said.

“Not dreams, but at least we skipped fears,” D.C. whispered, and the others murmured their agreement. All except for Alex, who was as still as a statue, a bead of sweat trickling down her spine as her trepidation grew.

“The same rules apply from yesterday,” Saefii told them. “Do nothing, and you will pass. Call out for it to stop, and you will be instantly free of the challenge, but you will also have failed.”

Everyone nodded their understanding—other than Alex, who still couldn’t bring herself to move. Knowing the tests were designed to target her, she was racking her brain for what kind of secret would offer the greatest challenge. But other than her friendship with Niyx or her training with Athora, she couldn’t think of anything else they didn’t yet know. With them having already witnessed the death scene atop Mount Paedris, Alex had no hidden memories, nothing in her recollection that might be considered a secret.

“Your cuffs will offer any necessary language translations that might be required, so you—and we—can all comprehend what comes next,” Saefii said, causing Alex’s dread to grow. That feeling only increased when the empress wished them well and the scene liquefied around them, because it was then that she realised what they were about to experiencewasher secret… but it wasn’t her memory.

For the second time within twenty-four hours, she whispered a horrified, “No.” And that was because, when the scenery settled, they were standing in the centre of the Meyarin throne room.

Alex’s eyes jumped frantically across the faces of her friends, reading their wary but mostly unconcerned looks, none of them understanding as she did. And they wouldn’t. Because this had never been her secret to share.

“Guess this memory is yours again, huh, Alex?” Jordan said, somewhat dryly as he noted the Meyarins in the room. “Still a few secrets left to tell us, hmm?”

Alex couldn’t respond; she was too busy trying to steady her heart while looking around and waiting—waiting—for what she presumed was about to happen. She couldn’t be sure… But since it was the worst possibility she could think of, it was therefore the one that made the most sense.

There were eight Meyarins in the room. The king and queen were both there, with Niida seated imperiously on her throne and Astophe pacing back and forth before her. Watching on were the six council members of the Meyarin High Court— Gaiel, Riza, Roathus, Cykor, Saelin and another female whom Alex didn’t recognise, but presumed was the representative of House Quoris—Eanraka’s successor.

“It’s preposterous,” Gaiel spoke in Meyarin, his feline face a mask of fury. “Your son is wasting his time by pandering to a mere human. You should be ashamed, Astophe. A mortal undertaking thevarrungard—it’s an insult to us all.”

A jolt of shock coursed up Alex’s spine at the realisation Gaiel was talking abouther. But then ice settled in her veins at that confirmation of what she was seeing—ofwhenshe was seeing.