Jason?
Breathing hard, she snatched her head back around the corner. They were just starting to trust each other. Just starting to build a partnership. But this was a harsh reminder that Jason was first and foremost Marcus’s protégé. His loyalty might always lie elsewhere. She had her own secrets, and it would be shortsighted or stupid to think that Jason didn’t have some of his own.
Glancing back around the corner, Allyra saw that the conversation was wrapping up, and Marcus turned in her direction. Barely managing to whip her head back around the corner in time, Allyra started to run quickly and quietly toward her room. The last thing she needed was a late-night run-in with Marcus.
She was a ghost. Footsteps falling to the ground silently. More wind and air than flesh and bone. As quick as she was, the sound of Marcus’s footsteps drew ever closer. Her heart hammered desperately in her chest, and she slipped into the common room and closed the door behind her. Allyra pressed her forehead against the cool stone wall. Her heart seemed to tumble over itself endlessly, and her breaths tore harshly from her throat. Fear and adrenaline ran thicker than blood through her veins. It was an irrational response—she had no proof, nothing but a feeling. Yet, all she saw now were the red eyes of the Ancient glowing through Marcus’s face. She clasped a hand to her ribs as her old scar throbbed.
Eventually, she brought her thoughts and breathing back under control. With a quick glance up and down the corridor to ensure it was empty, Allyra made her way back to her room.
The room was dark, but as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she saw Jason tucked in bed, his breathing steady and even. No sign that he’d been engaged in a late-night meeting.
No sign that he was anything but loyal to her.
Chapter 23 – Allyra
Allyra coiled a length of rope, hung it off her belt, and then slipped her usual twin swords into the leather baldric strapped across her back. As had become his habit, Jason checked the tightness of the leather fastenings. His dark indigo eyes flicked to the length of rope before meeting hers in a questioning glance. She shrugged and slipped some throwing knives into holders strapped across her ankle and left arm. As always, when entering the Tunnels for a challenge, they were both armed to the teeth, but Jason’s confusion was warranted; the rope was not part of her normal arsenal.
There were two things different about this challenge. One, it was the first time they had issued the challenge rather than be on the receiving end of it. And two, Allyra had a plan.
They stepped through the root doorway into the darkness of the Tunnels, and Allyra immediately broke into a run. There was no time to lose. Her plan was dependent on speed.
“So, you want to tell me what’s going on?” Jason asked from beside her, his long strides keeping up with her effortlessly.
Allyra explained as she ran, telling Jason everything. Again.
“Have you told me this before?” Jason asked, once she’d finished.
She nodded.
“But you haven’t told me any of this outside of these Tunnels, outside of this magic which makes everyone but you forget,” Jason said softly. “That tells me one thing—you still don’t trust me.”
Allyra stopped abruptly and pulled Jason round to face her. She could barely see his face through the inky darkness, but as always, he came alive in the shadows, and his eyes met hers steadily without a trace of hurt.
“I do trust you,” Allyra said fiercely. “But some secrets are not mine to tell. I made promises to others. But I will make one to you now. I will never lie to you though I cannot promise to give up all my secrets.”
Jason was silent for a long time, but eventually, he nodded. “Fair enough.”
They continued their run through the Tunnels, their furious pace leaving little time or breath for conversation.
“I take it you have a plan,” Jason said, after they’d fought past yet another Sentinel, his breaths coming out fast and harsh.
Without breaking her stride, Allyra nodded. “Of course, we’re going to head to the exit, lie in wait for Roan and Luella. Ambush them, tie them up,” she replied, pointing at the length of rope hanging from her belt. “Then, I’m going to open the door.”
Roan and Luella were the Thirds from the Inferno College. After a lengthy discussion, they were the pair that Jason and Allyra had determined to be the weakest of the eight remaining pairs in The Five Finals. Weak was a relative term—no pair who had survived the first two Finals could be truly considered weak. Challenging them was a calculated risk, but any advantage this late into The Five Finals was worth another trip into the Tunnels.
“And if they don’t get to the exit quickly? We could run out of time?”
“If it comes down to it, we’ll just have to split up.”
“You don’t know what’s behind that door—it could be dangerous. If you’re going to open it, I should be by your side.”
“The last time we were in here, you told me that you thought the door and its message was for me. I think you were right. I need to know what’s behind that door. It’s pressing on me, weighing on my mind.”
“Allyra—”
“Please, I need you to trust me in this, as I trust you. I know you can handle Roan and Luella—please trust that I can handle whatever is behind that door.”
He considered her words, watching her carefully. Quite a feat given that they were racing through the dark Tunnels. “Fine,” he said eventually. “Though, I want to state for the record that I really don’t
