He’s high in the risers now, seated in his personal chamber. A barred door gives us access from the Cage—but how to get inside?
I rest my jumbled thoughts for now. My eyes feel like they’re weighted down by bags of sand and start to close. I haven’t even fought yet, but the adrenaline and the fear while watching Caben in the Cage has worn me down. Before I drift off, I hear heavy footsteps approaching.
Forcing my eyes wide, I stand and acknowledge Crew and Lena with a cock of my chin.
Crew studies a resting Caben for a moment, then looks at me. “He almost ruined it,” he whispers harshly.
There’s no use feigning confusion. They know that Caben and I are working together. “I would’ve done the same,” I say. Although I’m not sure if that’s true. If I face anyone other than one of my Nactue, the darkness gathering in me may win out. I’m not looking forward to either battle.
Lena shakes her head. “Don’t be stupid,” she says, and it’s the first time I’ve heard her speak. Her voice is softer than I imagined, and tinkles in a high chime. “When you go into the Cage, you kill. The only chance we have is if we all stand together in the final battle.”
I hike my brows. “What if the spectators decide to jump into the Cage and kill us?” I shrug. “Seems they want a good, bloody show no matter what. Maybe they’d even enjoy that more than gambling on us.” My voice is steady and rings true, though my words are false. I want to feel out their knowledge and speculations before I give anything away.
Crew balks. “You know damn well they have other reasons for the Reckoning. They wouldn’t do that.”
“And what are their reasons?”
His sharp, angular cheekbones redden in anger. “No one knows,” he admits, crossing his bulky arms. “But their reasons don’t matter. You will kill your opponent, and we will walk out of this hell, or we will die trying.” He releases a growl of a breath.
He’s right, of course. A pang of regret hits my stomach, and I relax my features. I’m not against them. I only need to know what they know, and their true loyalties. In the end, they could sacrifice me and Caben and whoever else choses to join our mad plan in order to save themselves. But Crew’s words pounce on a nerve, and against my better judgment, I choose to trust him and Lena.
Leaning against the wall, I ease my stance, dropping my defensive posture and tone. “You have nothing to fear, Crew”—I glance at Lena to include her—“I will do what needs to be done, kill if I must, to make sure Payne lives. And I now vow to do the same for our pact.” I extend my hand toward him.
Crew studies it for a moment, and I look down to make sure no mercury is visible. I may trust them to help with our plan, but I don’t trust them not to hand me over to the Otherworlders, to try to barter some kind of deal for the mercury in my blood.
My skin is clear, and Crew finally accepts my offer. Lena hesitates a minute longer, her violet eyes roaming my face, then shakes my hand.
“You’re doing this for him,” Lena says, and I look at her lithe form. “Wh
y?”
Turning my head, my eyes slip over Caben—his muscled arms crossed over his toned, defined chest, his beautiful face that should be in contrast to his strong build but instead compliments; a face only a prince could have—and I question for the first time if I’m still carrying out my duty, or if there is now a deeper, more personal reason as to why I guard him.
“I’m his protector,” I answer her.
And I’m falling in love with him.
We stand along the entrance to the Cage: Crew, Lena, Caben, and me. Our alliance formed.
Kaide and Orion lurk in their corner of the chamber. Quiet. Crew admitted trying to recruit them, but Orion only walked away. His brother silently followed behind him. I watch them now, and sense Orion is the dominant sibling. He would be the one to sway. But I don’t speak their language, and it’s not a priority at this point. They might not even survive the next two days.
All we can do is watch and wait to see who will be among the last.
Lena has no doubt that the Nactue will be in the final battle, and that they’ll be able to sway their remaining league mates into joining our pact. I agreed with her. I assured them all, as the Nactue leader, that my protectors are of the highest virtue. They will make it happen.
What I didn’t voice was my fear that one of the Nactue may have to face-off with one of us. Because of that, this is a shaky alliance. I trust my faith in my goddesses first—that they will hear my prayers and guide the matches. And second, that the ring leaders want the best show possible for the finale.
If I’m Bax’s biggest wager, then the other protectors are probably the highest of value to the other ring leaders, as well. They will want them in the final battle.
But there are too many variables to be confident of that yet.
We’re gambling just like the spectators outside this chamber placing bets.
“At least there’s one good thing about this season,” Crew says, his gruff voice breaking into my thoughts.
“What’s that?” Caben asks, propping his elbow on the wall, still trying to hide his injury.
Crew’s lips flicker into a smile. “The stakes have been raised. No one has to fight the Grimmal.”