“Something is going on with you and my father. I just want you to know, you shouldn’t trust him.”
I swung my eyes back to Sabien’s, honest worry flickering across his face.
“I don’t trust him. Unfortunately, I need him to bring in a specific task for tomorrow. After that, my…time with him hopefully ends.”
Sabien stood and bowed.
“For your sake, make sure it does.”
This task was big; and no one knew it yet except for me. I had no idea what D’Arcy had planned, but I was going to prove once and for all to Benedict he could trust me.
I donned another set of men’s clothing, making sure my daggers and short sword were secured and within reach. Next, I grabbed my black traveling cloak, throwing it around my shoulders and donning the hood so my face was hidden. I ignored the lavish breakfast laid in the sitting room, plucking only an apple as I headed to the arena. Instead of taking the hallway that would lead me to the balcony, I kept walking until I found an opening into the bleacher area. I took a deep breath and walked into the light.
I needed to make a quick choice: I could sit by myself, keeping my distance from the others, or I could try to blend in with the crowd. It was tricky to decide what made me more vulnerable; being noticeably alone, or being physically close to the other drakens, who might pick up on my scent. Just decide!
A draken entered behind me and flared his wings, cuffing me in the back and sending me sprawling forward. The other drakens snickered. So much for not drawing attention to myself.
“Are you planning on competing for the loyalty test? D’Arcy said an even bigger prize awaits the winner than usual!”
The draken was large, his bright, lime green scales an odd contrast to the darkness of the mountain. I clutched my hood and nodded. He flashed me a wicked grin.
“Then let me assist you down.”
His legs shot out and kicked, the momentum too much as it sent me flying over the railing of the bleachers, and then I was falling, falling. I kept enough of my mind to tuck like Kieran had taught me, rolling once I hit the ground and popping up on my feet. My shoulder hurt like hell, but nothing was broken. I twirled my twin knives from their sheaths, spinning them into my waiting hands as my cloak billowed behind me. I was as prepared as I could be. Luckily, I wasn’t the only ‘draken’ leaping into the pit eager to begin, so no one noticed my fall. D’Arcy strutted to the center of the pit and I crouched down, ready for whatever he had in store.
“Welcome! We are continuing the Games at the behest of our gracious human guest today, even if she has yet to join us.”
His eyes flicked to the empty balcony as the drakens erupted in murmurs across the arena. Where was Benedict? What was the point of winning a loyalty test if he wasn’t going to be here to see it?
“She has offered a generous prize, which will only be revealed once the winner is victorious. Gentlemen! Let’s get to it!”
He clapped his hands, and a thunderous rubble was felt in the entire mountain. It grew louder as the ground trembled beneath our feet, and I clutched my head in pain from the sound. The middle of the arena split with a mighty crack, and I scrambled back with the other drakens to keep from falling in. Large fissures cleaved the ground apart, and demons and vampyres streamed forth from the openings, roaring with challenge as a small demon army attacked. I grabbed the nearest draken by the wings, even as he snarled as me.
“Where is Benedict? We need him here!” The draken fled in terror, and I cursed. D’Arcy stood on a raised island created by the cracked stone, laughing hysterically as fire and blood rained around him. “HERE IS YOUR TEST OF LOYALTY, WREN!”
I shivered, and then D’Arcy’s eyes hurriedly scanned the arena.
“SABIEN! COME TO ME!”
I found him first and knew immediately what D’Arcy planned to do. I threw my knife before my brain could worry and disrupt the steadiness of my hand. The blade sang through the air, slicing into Sabien’s leg and sending him sprawling to the ground, lost to D’Arcy’s gaze as drakens trampled around him. I scrambled to his side, picking up the knife.
“What the fuck,” he screeched, trying to get away from me. I grabbed his wings and pulled, keeping us both on the ground. I knew from Ronan they were a weak point for most drakens.
“Shut up and just listen! Your father let a demon horde in here, and you’re just going to come when called? He’s going to kill you, then Benedict, then crown himself king! So, stay fucking down.”
Dawning horror flickered in his eyes as a demon pounced at us, his horrid mouth spread wide. His skin was charred and black, his eyes a sickening yellow. Sabien’s claws slashed down, raking the horrible creature from neck to chest, and it crumpled and disintegrated.
“We need to rally the drakens! We need to fight!” I helped Sabien up, and he gratefully accepted my cloak to hide his unique, bright turquoise coloring.
“You’re our self-styled queen! You do it!”
“Where the fuck is Benedict?”
I turned in a circle, frustration threatening to overwhelm me. If I cried out to him, he would likely ignore me. How could I get him here?
“Wren!”
I nearly cried in relief as Kieran and Ronan landed on either side of me, their wings flared high. They were already covered in blood and ashes, their eyes alight with the sheen of battle.
Kieran sniffed the air around me, his eyes going wide, and lifting my hair away from the base of my neck.
“What is that?”
I should
