Even if the Nactue weren’t able to sway all of the contenders in their leagues, Crew will solidify our alliance. If Crew wins, then we have the advantage, and will easily defeat the contenders not standing with us while we take on the ring leaders.
Collar must be out of his crazed head right now. He only has one contender going into the final, free-for-all battle. I know he pitted Cannon against me instead of Caben to take me out early. He wanted Primal and Cannon in the final battle. But his loss is our gain. He knows that the contenders will take out Primal before they turn on each other, and he paces his chamber. He yanks on the spiked collar around his neck, watching each blow the contenders send closely.
I turn my back on the bloody scene. Crew is my league mate, but I’ll be experiencing the bloodshed soon enough. I need one moment of solitude. I close my eyes and attempt to block out the noise.
The crowd stomps, cheering like they do when a killing blow has been delivered. My eyes snap open. I look over to Bax, and he shakes his head. Crew has fallen.
My body thrums with tension. I spin around and stare into the Cage, my stomach tumbling. Crew’s body is splayed out over the black floor of the Cage. Carnage looms over it. He kicks dirt on the body of his dead foe.
No.
I march over to Bax. “There’s no ne
ed for the next fight,” I whisper. “Collar’s league is through, but we may need an extra contender.” I glance over to the lone feather brother. “Kaide and Lilly don’t have to—”
“Protector,” Bax interrupts, his eyes hard on me. “I need the contenders to create a distraction at the right moment for this to work. This has to be done in order for everything to align. I’m sorry.”
I shake my head, anger boiling in the pit of my stomach. “You said nothing of this before.” I glare at him. “If the Nactue weren’t successful in swaying the remaining contenders, it will be a close battle—too evenly matched. And we may not have enough numbers on our side to pull it off.”
Bax levels me with a knowing look. “Your sister will not fail.” He glances at Kaide. “And it’s a sacrifice he’ll make that will save many.”
“You scum,” I say. “He’s unaware of that sacrifice. We can draw out the stand-off. You don’t have to send Kaide out there.”
“Stop—” His red eyes rake over my face. He shakes his head, and I take a step backward. Alyah, help him. He presses his pale fingers to his temples, and says, “I won’t stand a chance against My Liege if he’s not taken completely by surprise. Just do as I say.”
His eyes have returned to black. I look at the ground and then at the Cage. I don’t want Lilly to fight. And I feel that Kaide would join us if we show him mercy right now. But I know Bax is right. Glancing to the corner, I watch Kaide prepare to enter the Cage. I swear under my breath and head for the barred door.
Caben intercepts me before I reach the bars. “She’ll be fine, Kal,” he says, his eyes searching mine. “She’ll make it.”
“I know.” I nod. “I know she will.”
When the horn echoes through the Otherworld, my chest tightens with anticipation. I latch on to the bars as I wait to see my best friend enter the Cage.
Nervous energy pools in my stomach as Lilly and Kaide circle each other.
They’ve been staring each other down for minutes now, neither one willing to make the first move. The Otherworlders sling insults and curses from the risers, and the dark priest watches with a scowl etched on his pasty face.
“One of them has to strike,” Caben says, his hand gripping the bars just as tightly as mine.
“They’re going to fuck everything up,” Lena snarls. She levels me with a cool glare. “I thought you said your protectors were in? What the is she doing?”
“Shut the hell up, Lena,” Caben snaps, and grips my hand. “It doesn’t matter. They’ll toss us all in, regardless.”
I turn my back to them and stomp toward Bax. “Put us in,” I say. “Now.”
He shakes his head. “Your girl better fight or else the priest will have them both killed.”
I run toward the barred door and shout, “Lilly!” Her head jerks my way, but it’s too late. Three guards are already entering the Cage. The dark priest follows behind them, a vissa display covering one eye.
“Otherworlders,” his raspy voice booms. “This is your sport, your bets. Would you have these contenders slain for breaking the rules?”
Glancing around at the standing crowd, I take in the glowing red eyes of the Otherworlders. They’re silent—their minds are not their own. At once, they shout for the contenders’ death.
Panic spurs my chest and I push Bax aside. He stumbles backward, and I lunge toward the controls on the side of the door. I slam my hand against the blue button and the giant gears spin. The door begins to open.
“Kal!” Caben calls as he darts toward me. One guard latches on to him while the other raises his rod to strike me—but I’m already slipping through the cracked opening.
The dark priest’s eyes lock on to me, and I jerk to a stop mid-run. Something wraps around my neck, squeezing off my air supply. I claw at my neck, trying to break whatever hold is there, but there’s nothing. Just the stale air of this realm. The priest sneers as I gasp and try to gulp in air.