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“Congratulations, Alexandra,” Saefii said—this time to the sounds of a cheering audience. “That was quite the performance.”

Performance.

Alex had to swallow back bile, knowing that her torment had been merely a means to sate the audience’s desire for entertainment.

“I’m pleased to announce that you have passed the Gate of Judgement,” Saefii continued. “Only one test remains. Tomorrow will decide whether we join in your cause, perhaps sharing your fate.” She paused and looked directly at Alex as she finished, “After witnessing your future vision, for your sake, I hope you prove triumphant.”

In a bright flash, Saefii and the rest of the immortals disappeared, with Calivere remaining long enough to arrive on the dais and collect their golden cuffs before vanishing as well.

Left with only her friends, Alex wished they had beenparronedaway with the others. She was too raw after all she had just experienced. She needed time to think, time to heal from her open wounds, aware that once her friends worked through their own tumultuous feelings, they would have questions for her—about the memory they had seen, and about the future vision. Right now, she couldn’t handle how they might react. It had been hard enough hearing the judgement from their fake selves; she wouldn’t survive another round of accusations should they choose to repeat them—for real, this time. Even if it had felt real before.

“Alex,” Kaiden called softly.

Just as she had done with Jordan, Alex flinched and stepped away, her burning eyes trained on her feet.

Before any of her friends could call out to her again, with another bright flash, they all disappeared. She, however,remained on the dais. But she wasn’t alone, for in front of her stood Zaylin, a glowing, golden sword held between her hands.

“You can thank me for this later,” the Tia Auran said.

And in a blur of immortal speed, she lunged forward with her blade, aiming straight for Alex.

Twenty-Two

Reacting on instinct, Alex summoned A’enara, meetingZaylin’s attack with a screech of metal.

“What are youdoing?” she cried, adrenaline flooding her body as she pushed the Tia Auran back.

“So it’s true,” Zaylin said, eyeing the weapon Alex held. “You wield the Sword of the Stars, just like your memory showed.”

She lunged at Alex again, and again Alex blocked her. A third, fourth, fifth time Zaylin struck, the Tia Auran’s strength and speed increasing with each attack.

Alex hadn’t held a weapon in a week; hadn’t so much as touched A’enara in that time. And yet, it was like not a second had passed since the battle at Graevale, her training with Niyx automatically kicking in as survival mode took hold.

The power and skill Zaylin had at her disposal was unlike that of any opponent Alex had faced—aside, perhaps, from Aven himself—her natural strength and ability pushing Alex to her limits.Pasther limits.

When a slash of the immortal’s golden blade came so close that it sliced open a cut on Alex’s neck just beneath her ear, the Tia Auran didn’t so much as pause in her attack.

“Are youtryingto kill me?” Alex screeched.

“Perhaps I’m merely trying to see how easy it would be,” Zaylin returned, swinging at her again.

Over and over she continued to lunge, each time with increased speed and strength.

“It’s bad enough that you hold sway overSoraya de lah Torraand can summon theeidenpaths,” Zaylin said as she stabbed her golden blade left and right, high and low. “It’s even worse that you’ve accepted avaelianabond with the Lord of the Sky Kingdom. But to command the Blade of Glory—” She eased back and shook her head. “By the stars, Alexandra Jennings. Whoareyou?”

Zaylin was barely winded, but Alex was panting too hard to answer, especially when the Tia Auran came at her again.

Strike.

Parry.

Lunge.

Block.

Alex struggled to hold up against the intensity of Zaylin’s attack, with it taking all her focus to maintain a weak, almost pathetic defence. Her skills were nowhere near enough to hold out against the Tia Auran’s prowess—or so she thought, until Zaylin jabbed an accusing finger at her and yelled, “You’re not eventrying, Alex! How are you going to save your friends—yourworld—if you’ve already given up?”

As their weapons met again in one crushing blow, Alex was brought to her knees, all her strength being used to keep Zaylin’s blade from inching close enough to split her in half.