Page 27 of Creatures of Chaos

“Me too. Let’s let all these idiots battle it out and go grab a shake at Sloan’s instead.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll go see if Ensley wants to come with or stick around.”

“All right.” Apparently all I was capable of in the moment were one-word answers.

Becks gives me a long look, his eyes a muddled mix of sadness and concern. I force a wooden smile that I’m sure isn’t convincing at all. With a sigh, Becks turns and weaves through the crowd until he reaches his sister. My eyes are locked on him, but my mind drifts to Shadow Striker. Like a bird stuck in a tar pit, I can’t free myself from my obsession over the magical blade.

Righteous anger rises inside me.

This isn’t fair. My lack of magic isn’t something I can change.

But what if it is?my mind whispers.

What if Shadow Striker really can give powers? And if by some miracle if I could win Chaos, then I’d become worthy of Becks. We’d be free to explore what could be between us because if I were powerful the dragon council couldn’t deny we’d make a good match.

I think back to our moment together, to Becks’ hands on me, to the hungry look in his eyes when his gaze dropped to my mouth, the desperate way he whispered my name as his breath softly brushed over my lips. My mouth starts to tingle at thethought, and I bring a hand up to touch my lips, finding them sensitive.

I glance over at the tunnel that was revealed when the game master disappeared, and my feet take me toward the starting line. Some creatures have already crossed the yellow beam of light and are just waiting for the trial to begin. The competitors are a mixture of males and females. Some of the faces are familiar to me, but not all.

Moving closer to the start line my mind easily supplies an image of what it would be like if I had magic. Becks smiling down at me as we walk down the academy hallways together, hand-in-hand. Stolen kisses in between classes. Date nights at Sloan’s as jealous females glare daggers at me, but not being concerned at all by their anger because I’m powerful enough to defend myself.

I want it so badly I start to shake. There’s just one thing standing in the way, and Chaos is offering a way to smash through that obstacle. How can I not at least try?

When I glance over at the hovering clock, it’s ticking down with only thirty seconds remaining. Once the timer runs out, the chance to enter Chaos, the chance to someday claim Shadow Striker, will be gone.

I take another step forward, stopping with the toes of my boots only inches from the yellow beam. All it will take is one more small step. One more small step can put me on a course to change my life. On a course to bring me what I’ve always wanted. And I’m not just thinking about Becks anymore—although that’s certainly the biggest motivator—but gaining respect as a creature.

“Locklyn!” Someone shouts my name, and I glance over my shoulder to see Becks’ surprised face as he jogs toward me.

There are only mere seconds on the clock, and I know if Becks reaches me he’ll convince me not to do this, so before he can stop me I lift my foot and take one tiny step over the line.

Nine

An alarm sounds,signaling that the clock has run out. I spin around. Becks stands opposite me, his eyes wide and his mouth moving, but I can’t hear anything he’s saying. In fact, I can’t hear anything happening beyond the line I just crossed.

Lifting my hand, I move it toward Becks but hit an invisible barrier. It’s smooth, like a sheet of glass, hard and impenetrable, preventing me from walking back over the line I just crossed.

Bony fingers of fear drag down my spine.

What have I done?

“Not to sound like a broken record, but I didn’t expect to see you here, Freckles.”

Talon’s voice is as much a comfort right now as it is unnerving. Becks’ gaze flicks over my shoulder to where Talon stands, and then hardens to granite. When I turn to Talon, I catch him wiggle his fingers at Becks, a full grin splitting his face.

Becks slaps his hand against the barrier, and shouts something at Talon neither one of us can hear.

“Don’t provoke him,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest as Talon’s gaze shifts to me.

“Who, me?” he says innocently, like that wasn’t just what he was doing. I shoot him a look that only makes him chuckle. “Too bad time just ran out. It certainly looks like he wants to be over here.”

Becks paces back and forth in front of the line, tendrils of smoke coming off of him. If he doesn’t chill, he’s going to shift. Unable to hold his gaze, which is heavy with a mix of anger and betrayal, I turn away from him.

“Becks never would have entered. He’s too controlled to do something so reckless.”

Talon tilts his head, his blue-gray gaze assessing. “You really think so?”

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