Page 3 of Forged in Flame and Shadow

“Then she must continue with us to our destination, where I’ve arranged for her to get more help with her magic. I want her word that if she loses, she’ll cooperate on the journey and won’t attempt any more escapes. As for you, Tira, frankly you’re already free to do as you wish. If you want to go, then go. The Temple may want you dead, but hardly anyone can identify you, and you have a much smaller target on your back. Returning to Trova wouldn’t be so dangerous for you.”

Tira scowls. “I’m not going anywhere without Ana.”

Leon nods. “That’s what I thought.”

I’m still considering the offer. I’ve fought Leon before in my dreams, so I have some idea of what to expect. Besides, thiscould be our only chance to get out of here now. The fae will keep a close eye on Tira after this, so there’ll be no more sneaking around.

“Alright,” I say, then turn to speak to the blond fae gathered with the others. “Alastor, will you confirm that Leon will let us go if I win?”

He looks between Leon and me. “The captain’s word is sound,” he says.

“No. Use your magic,” I demand. “I want to hear it from his lips, knowing he can’t lie.”

I fix Leon with an unapologetic stare. If he thinks I’m ever going to blindly trust him again, he’s a fool. As foolish as I was when I bought all his talk about parting ways at the border. I won’t make that mistake again.

Leon frowns at my request but nods his permission to Alastor. The air fills with the fizz of Alastor’s magic before he speaks.

“Leon, do you promise to uphold your end of the deal if Morgana wins the fight?”

“I do,” Leon says.

The magic’s aura fades, and Alastor shrugs at me. “There you go.”

“Fine,” I say. “Let’s do this then.”

“Maybe somewhere away from the horses?” Alastor suggests. “We could do without them getting fried or stabbed.”

Before anyone can answer, Etusca’s voice cuts shrilly through the air. “Morgana, don’t do this. It’s not safe.”

I ignore her, just as I have every day since she sold me out to the fae.

“Where should we start?” I ask.

They find a clearing safely away from the horses. I pull my knife from my pack and sheathe it in my belt. The fae took it off me at the border, but Tira managed to sneak it back for me. When Damia sees it, her eyes narrow.

“Remind me to hide that better in future.”

Tira catches my elbow, looking nervous. “Youwillbe careful, won’t you?”

I nod. I’m doing this for both of us, even if she isn’t stuck with the fae like I am.

“We’ll stop at first blood, or whoever surrenders first,” Leon says.

I loosen my stance a little, readying myself for quick movement. The others put as much space between us and them as they can while still staying close enough to follow what’s happening.

My hand wanders to my knife, double-checking that it’s still there. I hope I won’t have to use it in close quarters. When it comes to physical strength, I’m completely outmatched, so my plan is to bring him down at a distance with my magic. Even then, I’ll need to do it quickly—surprise him with brute force early. I don’t like my chances if this drags out.

“Ready…” Eryx’s growling voice rings out through the trees.

Leon drops into a crouch, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m a fluffy little prey animal in front of a wolf. I focus my thoughts, finding the rage and heat in my veins.

“Begin!” Eryx shouts.

I throw my palms forward, hurling a four-foot-wide stream of searing light in Leon’s direction.

But he’s ready for it, and his crouching position allows him to roll swiftly out of the way.

I summon more sunlight, but it takes a little longer after the intensity of my first blast. I expect Leon to charge at me, but instead he straightens up, watching me from the edge of the clearing.

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