He hadn’t believed her. Not until she thrust her hand into the open flame of the fire he was grilling their dinner on. Not until her hand had come away whole and unblemished.
His expression had changed then. She would never forget it.
Fear.
She’d expected fear. But it wasn’t what she’d thought. It wasn’t fear for her. It was fear of her.
In that moment, a fog of uneasiness settled over them. And before she could even try to clear the air, he was gone.
* * *
The smooth tarred surface of the highway gave way to the ruts and furrows of a small dirt track winding its way up the Hex River Mountain Range. The road wasn’t made for an easy, or smooth, trip. Every bump threatened to send Allyra’s spine rocketing out the top of her head. Every jolt was accompanied with a squeal of dismay from the overworked springs of the car seat and a splutter of acrid black smoke from the exhaust pipe. Yet, Rob’s Land Rover continued the climb cheerfully.
Every bump was one rotation of the wheel nearer to the Elemental College, bringing her ever closer to The Five Finals. Every jolt fed the growing lump in her throat until she could barely swallow. As if some kind of malevolent toad had taken up residence in her throat.
After a particularly loud groan from the engine, Allyra shouted, “Ever thought about trading this monster in for something from this century?”
Rob shot her a glance of utter incredulity mixed with mock horror. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. She doesn’t mean it,” he said, petting the steering wheel lovingly.
Allyra rolled her eyes. “Since when did you start chatting up your own car?”
“Since you started throwing out hurtful comments at her.”
“It’s a her now?”
Rob ignored her. “Besides, I had to talk to someone, right? You haven’t exactly been a source of scintillating conversation.”
“You try driving toward almost certain death, then we’ll see how scintillating your conversation is,” she grumbled under her breath.
He shot her a sidelong glance. “You don’t have to do this you know. There are other ways we can get information about Emma. Everyone knows The Five Finals are deadly, we’ll understand if you don’t want to do this. The Rising will understand.”
“Will they though?” she wondered. “Laureline hasn’t said it in as many words, but I get the feeling that The Five Finals is my test, my ticket into the Rising.”
Rob fell silent, instantly confirming her suspicions. It didn’t matter that her father had been part of the Rising; it didn’t matter that he had given his life for the Rising’s cause—she still had to prove herself to them. The Five Finals and the information she might bring back would be her proof—she just had to survive The Finals first…
“We could still run,” he said though his voice lacked conviction. “Just say the word and I’ll turn this car around.”
Allyra shook her head doggedly. “No, I won’t spend my life running.”
“Ally…”
“At some point, you’re going to have to stop trying to protect me. I can look after myself.”
Rob lifted his eyebrows and looked pointedly at the bandage still wound around her arm.
Allyra smiled wryly. “Mostly,” she acknowledged.
A set of heavy, wrought iron gates swung open silently as they drew up to them, giving onto a gravel drive lined with ancient oak trees. Allyra took in her surroundings with some interest. She was seeing the exterior of the Elemental College for the first time—she’d missed the view the last couple of times she’d been here. First, she’d been unconscious, her mind trapped in the Between. Then, when she left after winning the Elemental Trials, she had also been unconscious—mostly from blood loss after facing off with Jason in the Final Trial.
The architecture of the Elemental College was typical of the Cape Dutch style with graceful curves and ornately rounded gables, finished off with thatch, grayed with age, and bright, whitewashed walls. A backdrop of rugged mountain ranges completed the picture. And despite all her anxieties, Allyra had to admit it was beautiful.
As much as she’d like to believe she was prepared, Allyra couldn’t help the sudden increase in heart rate as she saw four Cleaners waiting for her. Solemn and unmoving, they were dressed in their usual black cloaks and silver masks, looking every inch the executioners she imagined them to be.
The car slowed.
She had only seconds left to prepare. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had prepared for this. She was ready.
Rob stopped the car, but he didn’t turn the engine off. He turned to her, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you sure about this, Ally? It’s still not too late to turn around.”
Except it was. It had been too late from the moment she’d fallen into the Between, from the moment she’d met Alex.
She wasn’t going to turn around now. She opened the door and prepared to meet her fate.
At the last moment, she drew back and turned to Rob, squeezing his hand. “Look after Jamie, won’t you?”
He let out a short, sharp bark of laughter. “Change the name, and those are pretty much exactly the same words he said to me before he left.”
He wrapped his fingers around hers and squeezed tightly. “Ally—I know you’re still holding something back.”
Instinctively, she started to protest, a ready denial on her lips. But he plunged on, not allowing her to interrupt. “Yes—I know you told us about being an Elemental, and about what you saw in the Tunnels. But, I’ve known you too long, and I know when you’re keeping something back. Jamie knows it too, but I want you to know, before you go, that it doesn’t matter. We love you. I love you—you are family. And nothing that you say,
