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Chapter Thirteen

RUNA

Heat from the sun beat down on my dark head, and I held up my hand, shielding my eyes.

As I strode behind my fellow fallen, sand dragged at my feet.

After an awkward breakfast with rumors of four contestants murdered during the night—Victor and I being responsible for only three—our guards gave the order to join the demonstration.

As promised, the vampire walked at my side, my icy partner in this twisted game.

Time would tell what I stood to gain or lose from our bargain.

What had to be dozens of guards led the inhabitants of Gamma cell into the pit.

Around us was a circular stone amphitheater.

Four stories in height, it was large enough to hold thousands of spectators.

Except, at this moment, it held only a few hundred.

Between soaring columns along the outer edges stood several massive statues, almost as tall as the stands.

Each depicted an exalted warrior from Carcerem’s history.

On either side of the king’s grand pavilion, a small audience had gathered, though King Idris’s seat remained empty. Silks and gems adorned well-coiffed women and some of the men as well. It seemed some of the wealthiest in Carcerem were in attendance, a.k.a., King Idris’s favorites.

As Milani explained, we’d demonstrate our skills to earn a rating. That score would help those who wished to gamble during the games to place their bids.

Three smaller rings were set in the sand before the gathering of spectators. One for each cell. Next to each ring was a rack of weapons, ready for our use. My brothers lingered at the rear of the huddled contestants.

Excitement and relief zinged through my body. I tensed to run to them, only to find my biceps gripped in a firm hand.

I glared up at Victor. “Release me. I want to check on my brothers.”

“Reveal no weakness.”

“What?”

“Your affection for your brothers is an obvious weakness others could exploit. Given our pact, your vulnerabilities are also mine .”

My pulse pounded, and I bared my teeth at the bastard, unaccustomed to taking orders. “Wait until this torque is deactivated. Then I’ll show you which of us is the weaker.”

“Of this, I have no doubt. Except they do not need to know the full extent of your power.” His icy gaze took in the surrounding competitors. “For now, it would be best to let the others misjudge you.”

“So, I’m to reveal no true weakness while pretending to be weak.” I rubbed my forehead. It was too early for his convoluted strategy.

“Yes,” he stated simply, gazing in the direction of my brothers and scowling.

I faced them as well, only to discover Kronk twisting his fists in a snapping gesture while glaring at the vampire. Not one to be left out, Drazen thrust two fingers at his eyes, then flicked his wrist, pointing at Custodis .

Their antics made me grin, and I turned back to the demonstration.

Poised to enter the ring was a shirtless male.

A single glance had my pulse quickening.

Feminine murmurs from the stands said I wasn’t the only one.

Shimmering blue scales glimmered across the top of his muscular shoulders; sweat glistened over his washboard abs.

Dark hair, angular jaw, muscular thighs encased in coarse leggings—check, check, check.

Though I failed to identify his race, his body was on point.

The—not unattractive—prisoner strutted into the middle of the circle, much as Drazen would have, with a cocky rhythm to his stride, arrogance stamped on his attractive features.

The torque around the male’s throat flickered as it deactivated, and he turned to face a stone mannequin situated at the outer edge.

Bones crackled as the competitor twisted his neck and arched his back.

He spread his arms wide, inhaling deeply.

A fiery glow ignited at the center of his chest. Then, with a forceful exhale, flames erupted from his lips.

A blazing stream shot forward, engulfing the mannequin in fire.

In an instant, the inferno vanished, leaving only smoldering remnants behind.

I blinked at the statue. The stone glowed bright red from the heat. Had it been flesh and bone, it would be ashes. My jaw fell, and I glanced at Drazen to judge his reaction. My brother watched the demonstration with an upturned nose, unimpressed.

While Drazen’s flames originated in his hands, this male’s seemed to come from deep within. What the heck was he? Murmurs rumbled from the spectators. No doubt, he’d earned a high score—especially from the ladies.

As the next competitor entered the ring, my brothers strode over to us. Unaware of the “no weakness” strategy, Drazen picked me up and spun me in a circle. Once he returned me to the ground, I registered Victor’s irritated growl.

“Sister! You survived the night,” Kronk stated the obvious, thumping my shoulder with his heavy hand, nearly knocking me over.

“And yet you didn’t kill the leech?” Drazen arched a brow.

“Tell them,” Custodis snapped, getting straight to the point. Seriously, the vampire had zero social skills. It was a wonder he’d ever risen through the mortal world’s ranks.

Drazen narrowed his eyes, leaning in. “Tell them what?”

I cleared my throat, my palms growing damp. My brothers weren’t going to like this. Hell, I didn’t like it. “The vampire and I have come to an agreement, of sorts.”

I explained quickly.

“Are you crazy? You’ve never even opened a portal. You have no idea what it could do to you,” Drazen said, dark scowl on his face.

Even though he wasn’t wrong, this was a worry for another time. We’d need to survive before I would have to hold up my end of the bargain, and the chances of that happening were slim.

“We do not need his help. He will get in the way,” Kronk added, a matching scowl on his face.

The corner of Victor’s mouth twisted. “I wasn’t in the way last night.”

Sweat trickled down my back as my chest tightened.

Drazen’s brows furrowed with concern. “Runa?”

“It was nothing.” I flicked a hand. “A minor altercation. I had everything under control.”

Kronk grabbed my forearm, eyeing the bruises on my wrists. Rage poured off of him, and he clenched his fists, taking a menacing step toward the vampire.

“No, wait.” I moved between them. Some strange impulse rising to his defense. “Not him. Custodis… helped .” The last, I croaked past my rebelling throat.

Embers blazed in Drazen’s eyes. “Tell me they are dead.”

Victor sniffed as though offended. “It’s been handled.”

Caught in a testosterone sandwich, I started shoving, throwing elbows. “Back off, will you? You’re making me sound like some helpless damsel.” They should know better.

Once I could see daylight again, I folded my arms over my chest, casting them all a petulant glare.

“Back to the matter at hand,” Victor stated. “I provide Runa with protection, both in the cells and the game, along with the intel we need. During the trials, we work as a team and plan our escape together.”

Drazen sputtered. “Now, hold up—”

“Done.” Kronk stuck out his meaty paw, accepting the deal, and Victor reciprocated.

Smoke puffing from his nostrils, Drazen muscled up to his too-eager brother. “Wait a minute. Don’t you think—”

Horns blew. An announcer shouted Kronk and Drazen’s names, calling them to their respective rings.

Before they could leave, Victor stood in their path, ordering, “Hold back.”

“I don’t take orders from you,” Drazen snapped, stalking across the sand.

Though separated by their individual rings, Drazen and Kronk worked together for their demo.

With the torque deactivated, Kronk shifted and tossed a boulder into the air while Drazen set it aflame.

As it returned to earth, Kronk punched the flaming missile and launched it clear out of the amphitheater. Screams echoed from outside.

Demonstration complete, they made their way to my side.

“Nicely done,” I beamed, proud despite the circumstances.

Victor scrubbed a hand over his weary face, then turned to glare at me. “Your brothers are idiots. When you enter that ring, you must think of everyone who watches you as your enemy.”

“Easy,” I snapped, glaring back at him pointedly.

“Remember what we discussed, partner ,” he added, the reminder slamming my molars together. “Until the games begin, it would be better to be underestimated. ”

Horns blew, and the announcer shouted my name.

“Fine,” I huffed. “You want me to play the part of delicate flower? You got it.”

Fates, this was going to be embarrassing.

As I entered the ring, the torque heated against my neck as it powered down, and my sorcery came rushing to the forefront. I gasped, welcoming it home like a long-lost friend. This performance would be a challenge. How did someone act fragile?

I called on the well of power at my center, drawing a single thread.

My palms warmed, and I whirled my arms dramatically as though preparing to conjure the most horrifying of images, a sight certain to strike fear in every heart.

I was the Queen of Nightmares, leader of the infamous Blood River Bandits.

All who stood before me would feel my wrath.

Finally, I thrust out my hands, giving life to my creation. What appeared was…

A miniature pony.

The first pranced around me. Then I added another, followed by a third, fourth, and fifth.

I gritted my teeth, pretending to strain with each addition.

Until, at last, I’d created twelve prancing ponies.

Once the beasts had made several laps, I clapped my hands, and the animals exploded, becoming flutterflies that twittered into the sky.

Snickers followed my display. Adding to my performance, I pressed a hand to my forehead and stumbled as though weakened.

“Runa?” Kronk’s worried voice reached me as I hit the sand.