Page 107 of What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

“Let’s go Talenciya! Show us what you got!” someone screamed from the crowd.

Being a light and energy manipulator, Talenciya raised her palms once more. Energy thrummed around her fingers in small branches of lightning, and her smile crackled across her face, baring teeth as the soldier bounded forward.

Powerexploded. Vaulting the armored female ten feet backward.

She moved, thank Maker of the Skies, on buckling arms, but the female could now only yell and exit the arena.Out.

“Are you fighting tonight?” Alora screamed, barely loud enough for Thalon to hear even inches between them.

“Yes! But not until the fight gets more interesting!” he shouted back, throwing his fist high into the air as Garrik called the next round to begin.

Only one roundremained until the victors would fight. Thalon had won with minimal effort. It’s no wonder he was a general in the High Prince’s Shadow Order with his incredible sword skills and flawless magic. He portaled effortlessly through the arena, grabbing his opponents from behind, forcing them to yield at theend of his blade while warding off impressive attacks until he was the last.

Jade had jumped in the round after. Her fiery red hair swung in the wind as she exemplified impeccable maneuvers of her blade, befalling every opponent in her path. Her impressive attacks and defenses led her to a striking victory against three males double her size. She seamlessly knocked them on their asses before sticking a blade to the last one’s throat. They might as well have been trees ready for her axe.

In all the excitement of the victory, Alora’s eyes turned feisty as she pulled her sword from her sheath. “It’s my turn.”

“You think you can handle it?” Thalon’s eyes glistened with intrigue.

“I know I can!” Alora leapt from the platform and landed in the arena with dust clouding around her boots. In the madness, she could have sworn she heard a deep voice call out. But it was too late.

She was in the ring.No turning back.

The crowd roared around her as the next set of fighters entered.

Sparring against Thalon and even Jade was one thing. But, there, she may actually have a chance of winning her round.

The last of the fighters jumped down beside her, trembling the earth.

Ready to stare them down with an intimidating grin and wrist rotation of her sword, Alora turned.

And her face instantly paled.

Familiar silver eyes glowered behind wisps of magnificent gray hair. Blustering arms half-covered by a black button-up tunic tucked into his pants clung against his sculpted torso and biceps.

He didn’t have a weapon.

Hewasthe weapon.

The dirt beneath their feet vibrated as the sea of faces erupted louder than ever before.

And then … the thirteen faces around them panicked.

Nobody moved.

Nobodydared.

Nobody wanted to be the first. Glistening metal and trembling fists stood staring each other down, contemplating their first move.

Garrik didn’t look at Alora, but she assessed him. That same menacing and bloodthirsty face that she saw against the High King’s soldiers in the alley—and the gamroara—plagued his face.

His eyes …

Went …black.

Someone flinched.

Six fighters sprinted toward Garrik as Alora tucked and rolled under a faerie twice her size with his sword drawn. She twirled around on her knee in time to slam the pommel of her sword into his muscled back. The perfect positioning of the impact forced him forward onto his face.

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