Page 42 of Creatures of Chaos

He searches my gaze, and I’m pretty sure he reads the truth in my eyes, but he gives a resigned nod.

“Okay, let’s do this, then.”

I like the way he included himself in that statement, like we were really doing this together.

My knees are a little shaky as we approach the door, but I force steel into my spine. The same shimmer that covered the mouth of the cavern blankets the industrial warehouse as well. I don’t let myself pause as I walk through the magical barrier and push open the doors. Just like at the Chaos party, I’m assaulted by noise and lights the moment we enter the space.

Bass thumps in my chest, and it takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the flashing lights, but when they do I focus in on two square cages set in the middle of a ring of bleachers. Half the stands are already full of spectators, and some of the Chaos competitors, blocking a clear view of the cages, but as we near I note that they are roughly the size of a sparring ring, which is somewhat comforting since the sparring ring at Peet’s Gym is practically my second home. But unlike the ring I’m used to, the floor is rough concrete and the bars along the cage are lined with two-inch metal spikes, making it so that if someone slams into them they’ll get seriously hurt.

Becks shifts closer, putting a protective hand on the small of my back, and I have to stop myself from melting into him. WhenI glance over, his face is leached of color and his eyes are wide as they run over the cages. It doesn’t take a genius to realize I’m going to have to get in one of those at least once tonight.

Someone shouts Becks’ name and we both turn, spotting some of his fellow dragon shifters mid-way up the bleachers waving us over. Taking my hand, Becks leads me to where they’re sitting, letting go to greet some of them with fist bumps and high fives. I sit down on the cool metal bleacher a few feet away from where Becks is catching up with the shifters, my eyes on the spiked steel bars of the cages below.

“You’re Locklyn, right?” comes a voice next to me, and I look over to see a girl I recognize from Nightlark but never had any interaction with. I think she might be a year or two younger than me and a shifter of some sort.

“Yeah,” I say with a nod, having to raise my voice over the EDM music pumping through the cavernous space.

A smile curves her mouth that lights up her bright hazel eyes. Her skin is a beautiful rich brown color, and her hair falls down her back in hundreds of small teal and black braids. I don’t know why she’s talking to me right now, but I’m instantly wary.

“Wicked, I’m Shayla,” she says, and holds out her hand for me to shake.

“Nice to meet you,” I say lamely because I’m not sure what else to say.

“I was watching you during the last trial. You’re really brave,” she says, surprising me.

“Oh. Um. Thanks?”

Her smile widens and a dimple pops out in one cheek. “My boyfriend, Owen, entered the contest too but couldn’t find a coin in time.” She looks over and points out one of the beefy dragon shifters talking to Becks. He has shaggy brown hair and blue eyes. He’s nice looking, but next to Becks he’s just average. But that’s how most everyone looks next to Becks.

Even Talon?my mind whispers, and I tell it to shut up.

“It was nerve racking watching him. I’m not sorry he was disqualified. I’m sure Becks was a mess as well.”

“Oh. But Becks isn’t . . . I mean he and I aren’t?—”

She holds up her hands, a stricken look on her face. “Oh yeah, I know that. I just meant that everyone knows you guys are close, so it was probably hard for him to watch.”

“Right. Yeah, he didn’t love it.”

I glance over at Becks to find him staring back at me, his gaze moving between me and Shayla questioningly. I give him a small smile to let him know that everything is okay.

“You guys have been friends a long time, right?” Shayla asks, cutting off the silent communication between me and Becks. When I look back at her she looks sincere, but I don’t know if she’s fishing for information or just making conversation.

“Since first grade,” I confirm.

Shayla leans in. “Is it true—” she starts, but then just like back at the caverns the lights and music cut suddenly.

Unlike last time, hysteria doesn’t hit the crowd because they know what’s coming, but an excited buzz fills the space. Someone sits down next to me as faelights start appearing around the room.

“It’s just me,” Becks says in my ear, and goose bumps break out on my arms as his breath washes over my neck. He scoots over until his hip is pressed up against mine.

A spotlight appears in the space between the cages, illuminating the red-robed game master. His hood is once again hanging low over his face, hiding his identity.

“Tonight’s trial will pit competitor against competitor in a hand-to-hand battle,” he says, not wasting any time getting to the point.

A roar goes up from the crowd and Becks tenses next to me. I keep it together, at least on the outside. I knew this was comingthe moment I laid eyes on those cages, and I remind myself that I know my way around a ring.

The game master goes on to explain how two battles, one in each cage, will be going on simultaneously. Each of the fights will last ten minutes, or until one of the competitors is unconscious. There’s no tapping out. We’re required to fight through broken bones or any other injuries that don’t knock us out. We’ll fight multiple times until we are ranked, and the bottom third of the competitors will be eliminated.

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