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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

T he entire arena practically vibrates with anticipation. Cheering and shouting and clapping echoes from the other side of the door. We can’t see them from where we’re waiting in this small room adjacent to the main section, but it sounds as if the whole place is filled to the brim with people.

“Remember,” Jocasta says from where she is standing next to the door that leads out into the main section of the arena. “ Entertain them. Shock them. Delight them. Make them crave you.”

Draven narrows his eyes at her. “Why is this so important?”

“Because during this first game, members of the crowd can… affect the course of the game.”

“In what way?”

“I’m not allowed to say.” She casts a discreet glance at a man who strides in through the other door behind us. “But remember what I’ve said.”

“Alright,” the guy who just walked in says. It’s the same man who gave us our number at the team selection earlier. The rings in his pointed ears glint in the faelights as he comes to a halt in front of all six of us while Jocasta moves out of the way. “Welcome to the first game.”

The week we had to train before this game passed faster than I feared.

We got a little better at working together, but I didn’t improve much in terms of magical ability.

Yesterday, I finally managed to figure out how to stretch my own emotions towards someone else.

But I still don’t know how I’m supposed to attach them.

Learning new skills takes time. And a week was not nearly enough.

Not to mention my continued utter failure to create emotions from nothing. It doesn’t matter how many times Jocasta explains it and tries to guide me through it. It doesn’t work. I can’t even do the very first step. And I can’t help but worry that it’s because I’m somehow defective.

“The objective of the game today is to get both keys and make it through the door at the center of the arena,” the administrator continues.

“There are two types of keys. One black. One white. Half of the teams have the white key and the other half have the black key.” Reaching into his satchel, he pulls out a white key.

Then he thrusts it into Alistair’s hands.

“This is your key. You need both keys to open the door, so you need to take a black key from one of the other teams.”

“How do we know which teams have which key?” Alistair asks.

“You don’t.”

Alistair rolls his eyes. “Great.”

“Any questions?”

“Yes,” Galen replies, frowning at the brusque man. “What are the rules?”

He scowls back at him. “I just explained them. Get both keys and make it through the door. Those are the rules.”

We exchange a glance. So, they don’t exactly care about foul play then.

When no one immediately asks another question, he spins on his heel and stalks back out the door without another word.

Jocasta approaches us again while Alistair hands the key to Draven. Draven arches an eyebrow in surprise and silent question.

Alistair draws his eyebrows down, looking slightly embarrassed. “I don’t want to be responsible for it.”

Thankfully, Draven simply takes the key without commenting on it. Our teamwork is hanging by a thread already, and we really don’t need Alistair and Draven to get into another dick measuring contest right now.

“You understood the rules, right?” Jocasta asks. “Half of the teams have the white key and the other half have the black key, which means that only half of the teams can move on to the final game.”

“Or less than half,” Alistair says. When we all turn to him, he explains, “If you take more than one key, there are fewer pairs left for the others.”

Isera cuts him a knowing look. “Like you did during the coin trial.”

“What?” He lifts his toned shoulders in an unapologetic shrug. “I was being strategic.”

“He’s right,” Jocasta says before Isera can reply. “But don’t focus on that. As soon as you have both keys, run like hell to the door.”

“Why?” Draven asks, his eyes narrowing.

“All teams who make it through the door will progress to the final game. But the team who makes it through first will also be invited to the castle for a celebration hosted by the king, which will raise your standing with the crowd.”

Several of us exchange sharp looks. If we’re invited to the castle, we will finally have a chance to solve a problem that we have been discussing every night this past week. How to get the piece of dragon steel back from Orion so that he can’t use it against Draven. Or any other dragon shifter.

“Plus,” Jocasta continues, an innocent smile on her lips. “The bets I’ve placed will yield even more money.”

“Oh, we’ll make it through first,” Isera promises. Schemes glint in her eyes as she turns to stare at the door that leads into the main arena. As if she can see Orion through it. “I’ll make sure of it.”

“Excellent,” Jocasta says.

A loud horn blares three times from somewhere on the other side of the door. I jump in surprise and spin around to face it while a jolt of both anticipation and worry shoots through me.

“It’s time,” Jocasta says.

Leather creaks as the rest of my friends turn to face the door as well. I quickly check my knife at my belt and then make sure that my hair is tied back properly. My pulse thrums and I suddenly feel like there is a flock of erratic birds fluttering around inside my ribcage.

The horn blares again. Only twice this time.

“Any final advice?” I ask, flexing my fingers nervously.

A few steps to the left, Jocasta casts a quick glance towards the other door.

As if checking to make sure that no other administrator is about to walk through it and catch her saying something that she shouldn’t.

The room is empty except for us, but she still lowers her voice so much that I can barely hear her.

“Don’t split up,” she whispers.

I glance briefly at her from the corner of my eye. “Why?”

On the other side of the door, the horn blares once in one final call.

“Because the walls have a way of moving.”

The door before us is thrown open.

Bright sunlight streams into the room as the main section of the arena becomes visible before us. I draw in a nervous breath.

And then we stride out into the arena.