“Where’s Bax?” Crew asks, jerking me out of my thoughts. I swallow hard, making sure the shard goes down.
Sitting farther back in Bax’s chair, I stretch my sore leg. Bax gave both Caben and me pain relievers, but the pain is still present though dulled, and I fear the hindrance my injury will be later.
“He’s meeting with the ring leaders before the final battle,” I say. “Why? Do you miss his company?”
Crew scoffs at me, then returns to where Lena is watching the other contenders across the caged ring. I have to make sure they stick to the pact—that they stand up against the ring leaders in the final battle, and that they don’t light all the moonstones on their cuffs.
My head pounds in sync with the stomping in the risers.
Goddesses . . . My prayer trails off.
What more can I ask of them? Everything now depends on me. As long as Caben and Lilly make it out alive, I’ll accept whatever fate they intend for me.
I rub my forehead. Bax has disguised himself and is now stealing the relic. Once I see that he has it in his possession,
I’ll know for sure that he aims to go through with his crazed scheme, and that he will keep his word to free my friends. I just hope he doesn’t back down from his father.
I close my eyes for a long moment, praying to the goddesses for their will to be done. I can’t ask that they spare me. I feel that is too selfish, too much to ask when I’m imploring them to free the people down here and to stop Bale.
The cheers in the risers crescendo as the dark priest makes his entrance.
He’s here.
He circles the ring, swathed in a black robe, his hands held high toward the projected moon above. He wants a front row seat to watch his goddess appear.
Kaide sidles up beside me, his eyes trained on the Cage. “I suppose this is the end,” he says.
Shocked the silent feather brother has spoken, and in the common language, I raise my eyebrows and look up at him. He appears calm, resolute, as if he too has accepted his fate. Or maybe he’s accepted that he will soon be with his brother.
“Nothing is ever the end,” I tell him. “Good luck.” It’s a pathetic reply, but the only one I can offer him.
He nods his head, his dark eyes finding mine. “To you too, protector.” Then he returns to his lone corner.
The guards escort the dark priest to his chamber and up to his seat high in the risers. Anxiety claws at my stomach. Where’s Bax? He needs to be here before the first fight, or else his father will suspect something.
The bang of the chamber door makes me jump. Bax enters, a brown hooded-cloak covering his face, and a leather satchel strapped across his chest. He eyes the contenders as they stare him down.
He pushes the hood back. “Protector,” he says. I prickle all over, wishing I could feel the life force of the relic—to know that my empress still lives. “Come with me.”
Lena and Crew jerk their heads my way, scowls apparent on their faces. This isn’t good for our alliance, but I have to see the relic with my own eyes. It’s what I requested of Bax. If I can’t feel it, I have to lay my eyes on it to make sure Bax intends to keep his word.
I follow him into the dark corridor, the muffled chants of the stadium background noise as my heart rate speeds, thumping in my ears. “Show me,” I order.
Bax faces me and unlatches his satchel. He opens the top just enough for me to see the tip of the relic. It glows dimly, pulsing with the empress’s failing life force. I breathe a sigh of relief.
She lives.
I nod, and he closes his bag and leads me back into the chamber.
He means to go through with it and rescue my friends. No matter if it’s only to spare his wife and child, he kept his word. Now I must keep mine.
I walk over to Caben and lace my fingers through his. He stares out over the Cage, his face set in hard lines. “We’re ready,” I say.
He squeezes my hand. “You asked a promise of me, and now I want one in return.” He turns his unwavering gaze on me, and I bite down on my bottom lip, wary. Can I keep a promise to him? I’m unsure, as I don’t know if I’ll be alive after tonight to do so.
Regardless, I nod.
He links both our hands together and speaks in a hushed tone. “I don’t know how things are going to play out, and I need to know that my family crest will not end with me.” He brings our hands between us, our palms pressed together. “No matter what, you’re the one with the chance to walk out of here, and I want you to look after my kingdom.”