Page 77 of A Sky of Storms
“Did he just…” Kayden said under his breath, then walked away, scratching his head as though unsure what to do with that information.
I was inclined to agree.
“Fallon,” Zane called. “You’d better come look at this.”
I ran over to find a hawk perched on Zane’s arm, which Zane was beaming about. “It came out of nowhere and landed right on me,” he said excitedly. “It’s got a note.”
“Hello,” I said gently to the creature. I stroked the bird’s brown head tentatively, cautious it might bite me, but it just ruffled its feathers impatiently and pinned me with one eye. “Err … you want me to grab the note?”
It bobbed its head and I reached out, untying the message carefully. I swallowed my trepidation, reading the contents quickly.
“What does it say?” Zane asked impatiently.
“Nothing good.” I took a breath, reading the words several times over before opening my mouth and relaying it to him.
On the final day of the trial, follow the beacon to true glory. But be warned, those without a key cannot pass the gate. Redemption lies in gold, and death awaits all who fail to purchase their freedom.
The hawk squawked and then took to the skies. I gritted my teeth. When I got out of here, I was going to strangle that Overseer. We’d overcome all obstacles, only to face a final hurdle at the end.
I was beginning to think surprises like these would be a running theme at the academy.
Whatever we had to face at this beacon, it couldn’t be good. There was no way in hell we would all survive this—they’d made the threat clear enough in the message.
Gold.
Gold was the answer to our freedom and I would damn well make sure I’d get it. Zane and Kendra, too, if I could manage it.
But at the end of the day, this was life or death. As much as he was a bastard, Ace had a point when he mentioned there were no friends in competitions like these. Anyone who stood in my way of becoming queen was my enemy. Anyone who prevented me from getting that gold and getting out of here was no friend.
I had a job to do. So where did the line blur in a trial like this? At what point could I forget my humanity and look out only for number one?
I didn’t know if I could. And maybe that was stupid, but I couldn’t turn my back on Kendra and Zane. For the first time, I’d found others who I could imagine myself coming to care for deeply. People who were kind and brave and loyal and wanted to see change in this world just like I did.
If they needed me I’d be there, just like Zane and I would be for Noah. I wasn’t going to let my family hurt anyone else.
We had two days to rescue Noah, get the gold, and get the fuck out of here.
Or die trying.
Igrittedmyteeth.My ribs screamed as I hunched on the floor and tried to calm the twisting pain and anger coiling within. Victoria Auger and her lackeys didn’t play by the rules and they certainly didn’t play fair. Her minions had grabbed me back at the garrison and teamed up to overpower me before shoving a gag in my mouth, a bag over my head, and tying my wrists behind my back. I’d been stupid enough to be lured away from the others and I’d put up a damn good fight, but four against one, not to mention the pulse gun they shoved in my face, had me quickly on my knees with a couple of broken ribs and a smashed nose.
They’d dragged me from my garrison before dropping me here—wherever that was—earning me a couple of extra bruises and a whole lot of pain. Broken ribs combined with being dragged through marshes was not ideal in the least. Not that they cared.
I hated that my power was blocked. Not being able to use my restorative power to heal myself was infuriating. I’d never felt so weak in my life and if I didn’t have the stupid chip in my arm, they’d never have been able to capture me.
Victoria may have me tied up, but she wouldn’t have gone to the effort unless she wanted something from me. That’s what kept me going. She hadn’t won because I still had something she wanted and I wasnevergoing to give it to her.
“Noah Hawthorn,” Victoria purred, pulling off my hood and crouching beside me.
I blinked, looking at my surroundings. It looked exactly like the garrison we’d come from. Same stone walls, same supply crates. It must have been the one she’d stolen from Kayden.
I cursed at her through the gag, cracking my forehead against hers. She swore viciously, and her cronies kicked me in the ribs. Repeatedly. My vision blurred and I hung my head, pressing my forehead to the floor as I waited for it to pass. If it weren’t for the adrenaline coursing through me, I’d have gone into shock and probably thrown up all over the place.
“As I was saying,” she continued, a little further back now. Blood trickled from her forehead and the sight made me smile. She still saw me as a threat, even with my hands bound. “This is how our little meeting is going to go. You’re going to tell me everything you know about Mark Leroy and his business dealings, then you are going to tell me everything you have learnt about Fallon. Your death can either be quick and painless or slow and agonising. If you don’t tell me anything, I’ll tie you up and dump you in the marshes for the monsters to tear you apart. Got it?”
One of the Potentials pulled the gag from my mouth, and I swallowed, wetting my dry mouth and tasting blood.
“Sounds like a terrible offer, so you can understand why I must politely decline,” I told her, earning a punch to the jaw.
