Biting my lip, I nod. “You work on them while Lilly and Willa and the other Nactue form alliances among their leagues. I’ll handle Bax.” I shrug. “The rebellion’s a good backup plan if I fail.”
“Again with the orders,” he mumbles. Then says louder, “Oh—and if you fail.” He narrows his gaze. “You mean if you die?”
“I’m going to die regardless,” I retort. “At least—”
“You don’t have to.”
I open my mouth and snap it closed, quickly realizing what he means. He wants me to use my ability to kill the other leagues’ contenders and win. “So you think I should kill innocent people. Then what?”
He shrugs. “Go home? Help lead the retaliation against the Otherworlders when you get there. You have that chance.” He sucks in a breath and his chest bows out. “If I were you, I would do it.”
Shaking my head, I turn my back to him. “I’m never using this”—I fan a hand over myself—“to hurt another person.” I fiddle with the sleeves of my uniform.
“You used it at the palace the day of the attack,” he counters.
I huff. “To hurt another innocent person, Caben. They were Otherworlders—the enemy.” I face him. “I’m not going to live the rest of my life with the guilt. It’s too much.”
He takes a determined step toward me. “If you don’t, you won’t live to regret it. I’m not saying that you don’t have a chance anyway. You’re damn stubborn and one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen.” He smiles, and I look away. He slides his hand along my jawline, forcing me to look at him. “Do it for me.”
The pleading in his eyes steals my breath. “You’re asking me to end lives for you?”
“I’m asking you to stay alive for me.” He yanks the hidden ring from his hair. “And take this with you to Laryn. Give it to the empress once you save her. She will know my father’s wishes . . . as I don’t.” The pain beneath the forced calm of his tone causes my heart to ache.
I can’t do what he’s asking of me. But this might be the last time we ever s
peak—so I can at least promise him something. “I vow that the empress will fulfill your family’s wishes.” Maybe not by my relaying his message, but I trust Empress Iana to do right by his kingdom regardless of whether I leave this realm or not. “Hold on to it for now.”
He shakes his head. “No. If I fight today, I may not have another chance to give it to you.” Taking my hand in his, he places the ring in my palm and curls my fingers around it.
Stubborn. He is more stubborn than me, but if I were the last of my line and had a vow to fulfill, I would ask the same of him. “I promise,” I say, but leave my meaning open. I will not promise to harm or kill anyone if I can find another way.
A crackle snaps the air, echoing through the corridor as we pass the light-filled spires under the alcove. The Otherworlders shuffle and holler as they gather in the risers surrounding the electrified cage. The cacophony drums against my body. Stomping feet, creaking stands, shouts, screams—it rattles my bones.
Bax marches us around the Cage toward the enclosed chamber where we battled for our placement. The packed stadium towers high. The faces of the Otherworlders are painted red like blood—or maybe it’s real. A shiver runs down my back. They thrust their swords and other weapons into the air as we walk past in a single line.
My eyes search out Lilly and Willa on the opposite side of the Cage. I can make out the other leagues’ contenders, but they’re too far away and hidden behind the chambers’ bars to see them clearly.
Bax’s guard opens the thick metal door to our chamber and we file into the room.
“Hands out,” Bax orders.
We stick out our cuffed arms, and one by one he examines them, making sure our lights are off and functional, and that they haven’t been tampered with. He nods, then directs the guards to pull back the barred wall. It whines open as a guard depresses a button along the dark stone.
The leather-clad announcer has dyed his spiked dreads red, and is already in the center of the Cage, his fists pumping the air, encouraging the crowd to cheer.
Crew and Lena huddle together in a corner of the chamber. I glance at Caben, enlarging my eyes. He presses his lips into a hard line, giving me a knowing look before joining them. I convinced him to form an alliance even though he’s not happy that I’m still going to attempt my plan.
I press my booted foot into the earth, feeling his ring against my heel. It adds pressure to my mission. Caben’s still my charge, and I’ll make sure that he escapes no matter what. The ring will be on his hand as he rules his kingdom.
The feather brothers—Kaide and Orion—shuffle off to another corner, sticking close together. I want a strong alliance tying all of Bax’s contenders together, but the brothers will be the most difficult to reach. I don’t think they speak the common language, and they’re only looking after each other.
Shifting my gaze to Tobias, I wonder if the lone wolf can be reached. I’ve never seen him fight, only observed his training, but he’s quick despite his mass and height. I don’t understand how he placed as a Dark Horse. Regardless, Tobias would be another strong contender on our side.
I settle down along the cold wall and pull my knees to my chest. It will be difficult to convince any of them to stand up against the ring leaders. But if I’m not successful with Bax, then we at least have to try. We have nothing to lose.
Lilly and Kai are forming alliances in Krewl’s league, and Lilly relayed our plan to Willa and Van to do the same in Collar’s. I suck in a deep breath and focus on what little positive there is. At least Lilly and Willa got to see each other one last time should our impossible scheme fail.
The goddesses put us here for a reason. I continually remind myself of this. Everything happens according to their design. I have to trust in that, have faith, and believe. The dark priest is the unforeseeable factor, though. Even if I somehow convince Bax, I know nothing of his father or Bale.