Page 75 of Dance of the Phoenix

I couldn’t look in her eyes, too. Not after I’d just killed Eleanor, who’d been her longtime friend since the two became vampires.

She kept holding my arm, refusing to let go, even though I was in no state to talk. I was grateful for her worry but also ashamed.

Because I didn’t deserve it.

As Ragnor and Isora sat by my sides, like two supporting pillars I didn’t deserve, the break eventually came to an end, and the next battle began. This time, it was between Oberon and Sulien against Oz and Laurenia from the Atalon League.

Unlike my battle, this one was quick and short. Oberon easily overpowered Laurenia, another Gifted I knew in passing back at the Atalon League, using his Gift of plant manipulation, causing the seeds in his pockets to grow and wrap themselves around her before she could even attempt an attack.

“Surrender,” Oberon demanded, aiming a sharp vine tip at Laurenia’s bare chest.

Laurenia shook her head.

So Oberon carved her heart out.

On the other side of the arena, Sulien was trying to get a hit on Oz, who moved around evasively, not even attempting to go on the offense.It was like Oz was biding his time until Laurenia was defeated, because once Oberon killed her, Oz raised his arms and said loudly, bored, “I surrender.”

The crowdbooed but the rules were absolute. Once he surrendered, the battle was over, with another win for the Rayne League.

Isora sighed. “Thank God Oz surrendered,” she said quietly, and I turned to look at her. “I wouldn’t have wanted Oberon and Sulien to die.”

Confusion cut through my numbness. “But Oz is Common,” I said quietly.

Isora gave me a small smile. “Yeah.”

She didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t pry. To be fair, I didn’t really care about anything as long as I didn’t have to see another person I knew die.

Unfortunately, my slight relief was short-lived.

Chapter 40

Aileen

“Please welcome Zoey Rittman and Cassidy Jones from the Rayne League!”

I watched Zoey and Cassidy step into the arena to the noise of the crowd’s endless cheers. They seemed confident and self-assured, which should’ve made me relax but had the opposite effect.

“Are they good?” I asked Ragnor just when Renaldi announced, “Welcome Fareez Goshenan and Demetria Holsten!”

Ragnor nodded. “They are good,” he said, face set in a dark expression. It seemed as if he was restraining himself from saying anything more.

It did not give me the assurance I desperately needed.

When Renaldi started the battle, I was almost too afraid to watch. But when Cassidy and Zoey moved seamlessly together, creating openings and attacking with full force, I relaxed a little. Maybe theyweregood. Maybe I was worried for naught.

Those were my thoughts until Demetria used her Gift.

From the entrance where Demetria and Fareez had stepped into the arena, two large mythological monsters appeared. They were live sculptures, made of marble, of a large griffin and an eight-foot-tall Minotaur.

Demetria’s Gift was to bring the sculptures she made to life.

And those sculptures had the exact properties of the mythological creatures they were crafted after.

The Minotaur, holding a mace, charged at Cassidy, whose green eyes were wide with shock and terror. She held her hands up over her face to brace for impact, knowing she didn’t have enough time to move away—the Minotaur was too fast.

It crashed into her, throwing her a few feet away.

In the meantime, the griffin flew through the arena in circles, its eyes on Zoey, who was now locked in a battle with Fareez, who not only held his own but gave as good as he got. The griffin probably watched for an opening to attack.