Page 109 of The Blood Moon Oath

He doesn’t answer right away, his focus sharp and unyielding. Then his jaw tightens. “Rothgar’s gone.”

I whip my head around, following his line of sight. He’sright. Rothgar is nowhere to be seen, and unease coils in my stomach like a living thing. “What does that mean?” I ask, my voice trembling slightly.

Finn turns to me, his expression unreadable. “Do you trust me?”

I blink, caught off guard by the question. “What?”

“Do you trust me?” he repeats, his tone urgent.

I hesitate, but then I nod. “Yes, I trust you.”

He holds my gaze for a moment longer, then steps back. “I’ll be back for you. I promise.”

Before I can say anything, he’s gone, vanishing into the crowd like a shadow slipping into the night. I exhale shakily, my eyes darting around the arena. The fight continues, but my focus is split, my unease growing by the second.

My gaze lands on Kael, and our eyes lock. His expression is tight, his concern bleeding through the bond. I can feel it, the weight of his worry pressing against my chest.

And then I feel it—a shift in the air, a presence behind me.

The realization hits me a second too late. Cold steel presses against my throat, and a hot, foul breath ghosts against my ear.

“Did you really think you could walk out of here alive, little witch?” Rothgar’s voice is low and menacing, sending a shiver down my spine.

My heart pounds as I try to twist away, but his grip is like iron. My gaze darts back to the arena just in time to see Kael falter. His opponent strikes, and Kael goes down, blood blooming from his side.

I scream, the sound ripping from my throat as panic crashes over me. Rothgar’s laughter echoes in my ear, cruel and triumphant, and for the first time, I feel truly, utterly helpless.

Rothgar’s grip tightens on my throat, his voice drippingwith malice. “Here’s how this works, little witch. You tell your precious sabers to throw the fight, or I’ll slit your throat right here in front of them. Let them watch as you bleed out like the fragile thing you are.”

I force myself to steady my breathing, swallowing the panic threatening to choke me. “I’d rather die at your blade,” I spit, the words sharper than the knife pressed against my skin. “I won’t help you.”

He chuckles darkly, the sound reverberating against my ear. “Brave words, but foolish. Do you think they’ll survive your loss? They're bound to you now. I see the markings on your wrist.” He leans closer, his breath hot and rancid against my cheek. “Your death is their death. But if death is what you want, little witch, that can be arranged.”

The blade presses harder against my throat, the sting of steel biting into my skin as the crowd roars around us, oblivious to what’s happening on the sidelines. My heart pounds wildly, the world narrowing to the edge of his knife and the cruel triumph in his voice.

Chapter

Fifty-Nine

FINN

The shadows cling to me as I move through the crowd, slipping between bodies like a ghost. Rothgar is nowhere to be seen, and that realization settles uneasily in my chest. He’s not in the ring, not where he should be. My gut tells me exactly what he’s up to, and I hate that I have to leave Sable alone, even for a moment. But this isn’t just about her—this is about the tribe. If Rothgar is a coward, if he won’t face us in the Trials, exposing that cowardice will do more than any blade could.

Still, every instinct I have screams at me to go back to her.

The crowd roars as Kael takes a hit, stumbling to his knees in the dirt. My heart skips a beat, but I see it in his movements—he’s not out of the fight yet. The strike wasn’t fatal; he’ll recover.

I push my magic outward, cloaking myself in shadow, and weave closer to the edge of the arena. That’s when I see him—Rothgar, slipping through the chaos, his blade glinting in thetorchlight as he holds it against Sable. My stomach twists as I see her standing there, her focus entirely on the fight.

She doesn’t see him yet. But I do.

Her bond hums in the back of my mind, an echo of her emotions. Fear pulses faintly, but beneath it is something far stronger. Determination. Grit. She’s not panicking—she’s bracing herself, ready for whatever’s coming. My respect for her swells all over again. Gods, this woman.

Kael stumbles again in the ring, blood staining his side, his movements sluggish and labored. My chest tightens, and I feel the need to act, but I push it down. He’s not done. Not yet.

My voice slips into his mind, soft but firm.“This is it, Kael. Your moment. Stand up.”

For a heartbeat, he doesn’t respond. I feel his frustration, his anger, and the crushing weight of his pride. But then his head lifts, his gaze locking onto mine from across the chaos. His jaw tightens, and I see it—the moment my words hit home. The moment he understands what I mean.

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