Page 70 of Golden Star

Zoey rolls forward, although her tumble is perfectly graceful—the type you’d expect from a trained gymnast.

I can’t say the same about my own.

A powerful whoosh sounds from behind us, and Ghost lands with a heavy thud on the ground beside me, with Riven steady and calm on his back.

Riven dismounts with practiced ease, so focused on me that you’d never guess the entire bridge was crashing to the bottom of the ravine behind him.

Ghost, however, leans his massive head down toward me and sniffs my hair, as if double-checking that I’m in one piece. His presence is comforting—even more so when I see the hardness in Riven’s eyes soften as he watches the two of us.

“You’re remarkably good at not dying, Summer Fae,” he says, glancing back at the splintered remains of the wooden planks dangling over the ravine.

“Or maybe I have a good teacher.” I raise an eyebrow, suddenly finding it impossible to not goad him, despite the three knights who are watching us and taking in every word.

The other knight is still at the other side of the ravine, stranded.

Riven’s hand goes to the hilt of his sword. “Are you willing to reveal his name?” he challenges.

“No.” I keep my gaze locked on his, since we both knowexactlywhich teacher I’m referring to.

The same one who coached me through breathing underwater.

The same one whose silver eyes are staring down at me over the gleaming tip of his sword.

And I’m keeping our secret. As much as I hate it, having him on my side is the best chance I have at getting out of this realm alive.

Zoey stands up and brushes some snow from her pants, bringing our attention to her.

“Well, that was fun,” she says, her hands on her hips as she gazes over the ravine like it’s the setting of a grand adventure.

“Fun?” Riven’s voice drops to a dangerously low rumble, and I reach inside myself for my magic, ready to dosomethingwith it in case he decides to attack her. “Let’s see how much ‘fun’ you have when you’re being hunted through the forest for the final trial.”

“Then we’ll have to bring our A-game, won’t we?” I ask, trying to sound alotmore confident than I feel after nearly drowning in the lake and plummeting into a ravine.

His frosty gaze locks onto mine, seemingly unimpressed by my attempt at a joke. “I’d suggest more than just your ‘A-game,’ Summer Fae,” he says. “We’re not holding back in this hunt. There will be nowhere to hide, and if you think taking a long ice bath and crossing an old bridge was difficult…” His voice trails off, leaving the threat hanging in the air like a blade ready to drop.

“Then what?” I ask. “Because we passed your first two trials, even though they weren’t fair from the start. We can pass the next one, too.”

“This is the Winter Court,” he says—as if I needed reminding. “Fairness doesn’t exist here. Only strength, survival, and sacrifice. You might have demonstrated the first two so far, but as for the third…”

His gaze drifts to Zoey in a way I don’t like.

The third.

Sacrifice.

Zoey and I would never sacrifice each other or leave the other behind.

Not now, and not ever.

And if that’s what the final trial requires of us, then I guess we’ll be stuck figuring out how to turn this insane, deadly realm into our new home.

Sapphire

Riven,Ghost, and his three remaining knights lead the way to the final trial. The fourth knight—the one he told the story to—had to head back to the palace after getting stranded on the other side of the ravine.

We arrive at the start of the forest just in time for sunset. The bare trees loom ahead, sharp icicles hanging like fangs, each branch twisted and glistening in the cold winter air.

“This is your final trial,” Riven says. “Make it to the silver tree, and you’ll find your way home.”

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