Page 32 of Bonded to the Fallen Shadow King

I knew better than to trust any of those twatwaffles. The pale-blue-haired woman knew it too, but Kaylen had stolen her crystals. Maybe she thought that meant Kaylen owed her.

“Don’t trust her!” I gasped, my throat raw and lungs barely working. “Come to my circle. You can share with us.”

Her eyes flicked from Kaylen to me to my dark-teal circle, still several yards away.

Aelir raised her arms, white hair whipping as she forced the air outward in weak blasts, tears streaming down her dirt-streaked face. Her magic splattered into the swarm, scattering some bugs, but it wasn’t enough. Not alone. “Help her!” she cried out, spinning toward the others. “For Fate's sake, please—just help her!”

For a second, no one moved. Then Myantha stepped up beside her. Her face was tight with fear, and her medallion glowed that weak pink, but her boots thudded against the concrete as she braced herself. Her earth magic cracked a stone and swiped along the path to smash some of the scorpions and centipedes out of the way.

Thalira stood behind them, water coiling at her feet but not moving. Her mouth was drawn tight, eyes fixed on me like she wasn’t sure if this was worth the risk or if she should save her strength. Velessa held her injured arm, hunched in the center. Rhielle stood like a statue, elegant and still, shadows curling at her wrists. Brow pinched, she didn’t lift a hand.

Kaylen’s voice cut through it all, slicing over Ceana's shrill laugh and the other woman's nasally one. “Come on, Naevys. You know you can't make it. Briar, if the winds can forget, then why can't we? I found your little display inspiring. Let's all be friends!"

I didn’t even look in her direction. The pale-haired girl beside me slowed, her feet dragging like she wasn’t sure which way to go.

A stinger drove deep into my heel. Cold fire licked up my leg. I stumbled, caught myself, then shoved forward again.

I hit the stone edge of the platform hard, my knees slamming down. My shoulder cracked into the side as I slid forward, pain exploding up my arm. The crystal pieces spilled across the platform, one nearly sliding over the edge.

Gasping, I crawled and jammed it into the slot.

The circle’s light flared under me, shifting from dark teal to a stronger teal.

Breaths scraped my throat like broken glass. Pain surged through every limb, a steady drumbeat of bruises, cuts, and stings. My arms trembled as I tried to sit upright, the jagged edges of the broken crystal digging into my palm like teeth.

Aelir crouched beside me, her pale hands shaking as she offered me my clothes. One more gong sounded, and a large glass-like bubble formed over our platform.

“I thought you weren’t going to make it.” Her voice broke as she leaned in closer. “I’m so glad you’re alive. Come on. Let's get you dressed. Oh, Fate help us, you're covered in stings.”

I nodded once, barely able to lift my head. Every muscle ached. My lungs still wouldn't fill completely. The welts burned, my skin was wet with blood, sweat, and bug guts. I was alive, even if just barely. But the entire world was spinning like it was off its axis.

Footsteps clicked softly on the stone behind us. I forced my head to turn.

Rhielle stood at the edge of the circle, shadows curling around her. Her expression remained smooth, almost bored, but something sharp glinted in her eyes.

“That was an impressive showing.” One brow arched as she pursed her lips. "Not sure if it was smart, but damn, you’ve got follow-through. Even if it was foolish, I can admire that."

Screams tore through the air, interrupting us and I turned toward them.

Siray stood at the edge of her circle, holding a short woman by the throat. The short woman’s bronze skin did not burn beneath Siray's fiery grasp, but she couldn't break free either. Fire flared from the shorter woman’s hands. Her crimson eyes blazed as she thrashed against Siray’s grip. Siray didn't even flinch.

The short woman yelled, "Let go, you pyre pot!"

Siray smirked. “Let’s have our own little competition and see how the unknowns fight. Malron, Deallan, get your contestant. Ready, Quen?”

The other two fae in her circle backed away, pressing into the opposite side of their shield like Quen might infect them just by being near.

In her own circle, Malron, her indigo hair loose around her shoulders, held one arm of a smaller fae. Deallan, unmistakable with her bright pink eyes and the yellow flower in her hair, held another. Mossy green hair clung to the woman's face as she struggled between them, her feet slipping on the stone.

“Please,” she cried, looking between them desperately. Her breaths came in terrified pants, and her face had gone pale as ash. “Don’t do this. I brought over half the crystals!”

“If you kill Quen,” Deallan said to the moss-green-haired fae, loud enough for all of us to hear, “we’ll let you back in.”

"That's right, Quen," Siray said, tightening her grip. "You kill Yuki, and you're back in."

In the other circle, Naevys stood behind Kaylen, body drawn tight, arms wrapped around herself. Ceana laughed beside her, joined by another woman with sharp eyes and a cruel smile. Kaylen watched like a queen surveying a feast.

Naevys’s gaze flicked to me. Her mouth pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t move, fear bright in her eyes.

---