Noise comes from below again, banging and jostling.
“Are you back?” Caben asks.
I nod, my movements forced. It must be enough because he slowly releases me, then turns to look over the edge. Saying a quick prayer for control and wisdom, I beg Farrah to bestow me with her will. There’s some reason I’ve been brought here; some purpose. I pray being made to watch my sisters die is not part of it.
Scooting closer to the opening, I hunch down and peer over the side. The Otherworlders have packed away their torture devices, and the contender has been removed. The training facility is empty, and a still quiet sets my nerves on edge.
“She’s in one of those chambers,” I say. “I have to go down and find her.”
Caben forces out a strained breath. “I’m coming with you.”
I shake my head. “No. You have to be able to get back if I’m caught. The Nactue need someone from all the leagues on their side if there’s a plan in motion.” I look at him. “Now isn’t the time for your manly pride, Caben. I can take care of myself.”
“You think that . . . ?” His lips press into a hard line. He jerks his head sideways. “Never mind. Go do what you need to do, Kal. I’ll wait here.”
As much as I want to reassure him and make him understand, I need to uncover the truth of the Otherworlders more. In my soul, I understand why I took that vow—why I chose my empress and duty over myself. There is no room for matters of the heart.
It becomes a weakness.
I can’t allow the prince’s pain, no matter how close to my own, to cloud my purpose. Getting him back to his kingdom, saving Empress Iana and my country is my purpose. I can’t even allow the worry for my mother to invade my thoughts.
In a way, I’ve forbidden myself, and it was a conscious choice.
Before I lower myself over the edge, I reach out to grasp the Caben’s hand but stop midair. Any hint about what could’ve happened between us back in the pool has to be shattered. My fingers curl into a fist, and I tamp my emotions down into the pit of my stomach.
“Go back,” I tell Caben. “You were supposed to stay there to keep a lookout. Go back to Bax’s section and make sure the other contenders don’t realize we’re missing.”
He looks at me then, his face hardened, his eyes heated. “As smart as you are, you really can be quite dense.” He turns and heads back down the tunnel.
My stomach flips, and I try to ignore the ache invading my chest. His anger is justified. But I can’t chance his life.
Taking a deep breath, I cleanse my mind, and descend into Krewl’s hell dimension.
The air is tinged with a tangy, metallic scent. As I slink against the walls of Krewl’s training facility, I notice dark stains on the ground, near them, fresh pools of blood. There is no mercy for Krewl’s contenders. He trains them to win, regardless if they die in the process.
I brace an arm around my roiling stomach, thinking that Lilly or Kai may have spilled some of it. Or the blood may even be theirs if they refused to play by his rules. Still, they’re alive, and hopefully Lilly has the answer that will free us before the Reckoning.
The silence bothers me more than if the contenders were up and moving around. I need to know their locations—pinpoint the areas to avoid. I pause next to the opening that leads into their master cell and close my eyes. Focusing my senses past the whirring of the fan blades, past the hum of the spires, and past the slow trickle of the waterfall, I zero in on the stirring bodies in the chambers.
It’s a slumber of disturbed minds, trying to sleep their last sleep before possible death.
Farther into the cell, a distinct noise catches my attent
ion, and I nearly laugh from the uplifting happiness tickling my insides. Someone is cracking their knuckles slowly, one by one.
Lilly.
Peeking around the corner, I make sure no other contenders are roaming, then I move along the stone wall toward the chambers. The popping sound is coming from the first room, and I wonder if Lilly knew I’d somehow make it to her, if she chose it for this very reason.
The sound stops, and the side of the dingy curtain parts. Lilly’s amber eyes meet mine. They widen, and she waves her hand, signaling me to go back into the training room. I want to latch on to her and take her with me, but I nod and check over my shoulder, then quietly make my way back.
Squatting in a corner, I wait for her. When I see her thin form emerge from the opening, I whisper her name and her shoulders release their tension, slumping.
“Kal, what in the goddess—” She shakes her head and hugs me. Her arms warp tightly around me, and I match their strength. “I knew you’d come tonight.” She backs away, and her lips pull downward. “Have you seen Willa?”
I shake my head. “No. I came here first. But I know she’s all right.” Lilly nods, her eyes glistening at the corners, and I say more assuredly, “She’s a fighter, Lills. She’s strong.”
“I know. I just wish . . .”