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The moment it was done and his foggy eyes refocused enough to ask, “What were you saying, Alex? I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you,” the scenery around them melted, just as Alex had known it would.

Becausenowthe Gate of Secrets was done with them.

But, looking at Jordan who still refused to meet her gaze, Alex couldn’t help fearing that her own test had yet to begin.

Ten

After Saefii congratulated them and Calivere relievedthem of their golden cuffs, Alex and her friends were flash-transported away from the madly cheering stadium and directly to their rooms.

Struggling to draw anything but shallow breaths into her lungs, Alex had no idea what to say to Jordan—no idea what shecouldsay. But when she softly called his name and his eyes finally came to hers, it was she who recoiled this time. Never before had she seen him look so hurt, so betrayed.

… Soangry.

“Jordan,” she whispered. “I—”

“Don’t.”

One word, as harsh as the crack of a whip, and Alex felt it scour deep into her core. But she said nothing else—all she did was wait to see what he would do next. Wait to see if he would give her the chance to explain.

Jordan was visibly trembling. His hands were fisted at his sides and his glare continued to spear straight through her. But he didn’t speak, allowing his anguish to play out across his features for her to read. And then, as if he could no longer bear to look at her, he turned on his heel and marched to his room, slamming the door loudly behind him.

Shaken, Alex looked to her other friends, but found little comfort in their silence. While Declan and Kaiden appearedsympathetic, it was impossible for Alex to ignore the accusatory expressions of Bear and D.C.; impossible to ignore how it felt to have them look at her with such judgement.

None of them knew the whole story. The Gate hadn’t showed the part where Niyx had arrived in the clearing with Jordan in his arms and explained everything to Alex. It hadn’t showed the part where he’d warned how he needed to play the role of the spy without risking discovery—how no one other than Alex could know he hadn’t killed the king.

There had been justifiable reasons for why Alex had made Jordan forget, for why such a secret had needed to be kept, not the least of which was for his own peace of mind. But until he was willing to let her explain, there was nothing Alex could do but give him time to process, time to cool off.

Until then, she needed her own time as well. The reactions of D.C. and Bear—even Jordan, himself—were not just hurtful, they were undeserved. After everything she’d been through with them—andforthem—she felt they should have at least given her the benefit of the doubt, rather than automatically casting blame.

Knowing she needed to retreat before she said something she would later regret, Alex escaped to her own room and began pacing the length of the wall. It wasn’t even midday, the Gate of Secrets having consumed nowhere near as much time as the Gate of Strength. She had most of the day ahead of her, and she knew she would go stir-crazy if she were to remain caged in the palace. But while Calivere had told them they were free to wander the city, upon later perusal of their common room, Alex had learned that there were only six doors—all of which led to their bedrooms. There was no exit to their chambers, no discernible way for them to leave.

Stomping through the curtain and onto her balcony, Alex looked down at the glittering city far below. She then glancedfrom one side of the palace to the other, but could see no indication of where Kaiden’s room was. If he’d managed to climb across after an entire day of arduous physical testing, surely she could do the same while buzzing with agitated energy.

Bolstered by the idea of escaping, even if only for a few hours, Alex strode back into her room and tore off her ridiculous dress, grateful that Zaylin had already laid out another outfit. The clothes were simple—comfortable long pants and a flowing top, both pure white, as if the Tia Aurans only allowed options of white or black. At least, that seemed to be the case for those who inhabited the palace—those in attendance at the stadium each day wore every colour under the sun, blending in perfectly with the rainbow-reflecting clouds.

Anxious to leave, Alex hurriedly dressed before untangling her now scruffy braid and shoving the mass up into a messy bun to keep it from getting in the way as she climbed. She then moved back to the balcony and forced aside her fatigue as she searched for the best route down to the ground.

Tucking her strappy sandals into her belt—the only part of her outfit ill-suited for what she was about to tackle—Alex jumped up until she was sitting on the railing and swung her legs over the other side.

Once upon a time, vertigo would have hit her as she looked down from such a height, but Alex had long since overcome such fears. She was being reckless, she knew, not only given her weary, potentially ill state, but also since she had no safety net this time—noValispathto summon or draekon saviour should she fall. But she didn’t care. She needed to get out, and she needed to get outnow.

So, placing her weight onto her hands, Alex swivelled around and then carefully lowered herself down off the side of the balcony, reaching for the nearest slab of gold jutting out like a brick step. The palace architecture seemed designed totempt eager climbers, with repeated slabs of both gold and diamond—or whatever the Tia Auran equivalents were— sporadically positioned enough that Alex was confident she could navigate herself safely to the ground, no matter the distance. In comparison to the cliff from the previous day, the Vardaesian palace was child’s play, even for her tired body. But before Alex could so much as move to the next slab down, two hands reached over the balcony and latched onto her arms, yanking her back up with inhuman strength.

The pull was so great that Alex soared over the railing and tumbled to the balcony floor, bruising her hip in the process.

Rubbing her smarting side, she glared at Zaylin who stood above her with an expression of disbelieving fury on her face.

“What in the name of the light do you think you’re doing?” the Tia Auran demanded. Then, remembering Alex wouldn’t— or at least, shouldn’t—understand, she pointed one of her hands at the balcony, shaking her head and wagging a finger to clearly say, ‘No.’

“I was perfectly fine,” Alex clipped out, rising to her feet and wincing when her hip popped, but at least it felt better afterwards, as alarming as that was. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

“Impossible human!” Zaylin cried, reading Alex’s tone if not comprehending her words. “Do you have a death wish?”

Alex saw no point in responding. She could have recited the lyrics fromTwinkle, Twinkle, Little Starand it would have meant the same to Zaylin as any answer in the common tongue.

Not caring how rude she seemed, Alex made a shooing gesture with her hands, something the helper did not appreciate, if the narrowing of her already slitted eyes was any indication.

“Can’t you tell I don’t want you here?” Alex said, still pushing for her to leave. “Idon’t even want to be here. I want to be downthere.” She pointed towards the city, frustrated by herfailed escape. “Why else do you think I was risking my neck? Maybe it’s because you haven’t given us a door!”