Page 88 of Blooms of Darkness

My mouth hung open, and when Ian rose, he shook his head in a daze.

Lord West was a siphon and he’d just drained Ian’s magic. For how long, I didn’t know.

“Ian,run,” I tried shouting again, not knowing if he could hear my voice over the crowds.

The razorven approached him now, head lowered, prepared to pounce. Ian swayed, still regaining his composure, but he gripped his sword, holding it tightly.

Black, inky shadows crept near Ian’s feet as the beast leapt in the air toward my best friend.

Ian’s body jerked to the side, blackness surrounding him, before he reappeared next to Kade.

I sighed with relief. This time Ian held his sword steady as he and Kade faced off against the razorven.

Fates, how had a creature so dangerous gotten in?

Hale sprinted up to the pair, having been only shortly behind them, but when he slowed, appearing conflicted about helping Ian and Kade, Ian made the choice for him.

“Go,” Ian directed him. “Keep going.”

His head swiveled between the men and the razorven. Ultimately, he listened to Ian and continued running.

A pit formed in my stomach, growing stronger with each passing moment as I watched Kade and Ian’s battle against the wild creature with no business being on palace grounds.

A prickle on the back of my neck added to the rising unease.

Kade’s shadows rose, wrapping around the beast and finally holding him in place, while Ian plunged his sword into the razorven’s chest.

A monstrous howl came from the animal before it crashed to the ground with a mightythud.

Relief should have been the only emotion coursing through me, and yet the pit growing in my gut didn’t dissipate, even though their fight had ended in triumph.

Andras shifted in his seat on the other side of my mother, leaning forward and watching the arena with rapt attention. Too much attention. In fact, he seemed to be teeming with excitement, a rarity if someone wasn’t being tortured. Perhaps he delighted in setting my nerves on fire. Nothing good could happen when Andras felt happy.

When my father and my mother’s eyes widened, I jerked my attention back to the field. A skirmish had broken out between two more contenders. Edmund and Frederich were locked in a one-on-one battle.

Frederich angered many, but Edmund had been so reserved, I couldn’t imagine what would have set him off. Or what could have happened to make those two feel the need to fight in the middle of the trials? Edmund’s movements were rigid yet wild, and stronger than they should be. In fact, I would have sworn he had mid-level magic at most with how he acted and carried himself. Yet, he wielded some sort of power that frightened Frederich immensely. A prickling sensation crawled up my skin. The magic here didn’t feel right.

In fact, the longer I sat and observed, the more I realized this entire thing didn’t feel right.

The two of them had made it up the wooden platforms and onto the narrow bridge. Frederich stepped out backward onto it, and Edmund pursued.

My heart beat erratically. The only time I had sensed this hum of energy before, occurred when we’d been around the dark ones.

But we weren’t at the borders. We were safe inside the walls of Ellevail, and Edmund had previously been fine.

Now, the mediocre contestant had overpowered Frederich, moving him backward across the narrow bridge at a harrowing pace.

I thought the obstacle course may have some fighting involved, but this far exceeded my expectations. If someone didn’t stop this battle, one of them would be seriously hurt. Frederich backed himself down the path and tripped at the platform, falling onto his back as he inched toward the forested part of the course.

The crowds’ cheers had quieted, an eerie silence descending as we all watched the duel unfold.

“What are you doing? Stopattackingme,” Frederich screamed at Edmund, desperation in his tone. His pudgy body scooted backward, unable to gather himself. He rolled forward into a sitting position, flinging his hand out toward Edmund. The gust of wind ruffled Edmund’s hair, but it didn’t deter him.

In fact, the entire time Frederich continued flinging his hands outward, Edmund dodged the attacks with apparent ease. It was as though he could detect what was coming, or perhaps Frederich no longer possessed the strength to put up any sort of fight.

This felt wrong.

“Father,” I said, fear clouding my voice. My eyes widened, before I could say another word, as Fredrich screamed.

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