Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
The rest of the cavern is covered in blooming vines, the sparkling light of their pollen dancing between petals—like walls with a million floating candles.
“Mesmerising,” Megaera murmurs and I halt her before she dreamily reaches for one of the flowers.
“Puffers grow under them. That’s how people get poisoned.”
Movement across the cavern has us looking over to the royal team, their faces also covered, entering from the opposite side. A third and fourth team join us from other entrances.
All three teams immediately send spells to retrieve the lifesaving nectar, and my stomach dives to my feet. “Megaera, hold the flame up to the vine—”
Before she can lift the fire starter, a shriek echoes around the cavern. Someone has disturbed the vine—all those hidden flowers are bursting into puff, triggering those nearby to puff too. Clouds of dusty poison smother the two teams by the far wall, and the cloud is swiftly moving towards the royal team—and us.
Florentius instinctively throws a bubble shield around himself and his team and I see relieved shoulders sagging against the shield as puff passes over them without effect.
We can’t conjure such a shield. Our masks might be good against spores but will be useless against this. If it touches our skin or we breathe it in, our limbs will become sluggish. Movement will become painful, our minds will blur, and our hands will shake. We might make it back to the clearing, but it’ll damage our chances of completing the trial.
I knock the fire starter to the ground. “Hold your breath!”
I shove Megaera into the lake and jump in after her. Cold water rushes around us, colder than the first icy breath of the cave, the type of cold that stings and numbs your mind. It’s dark under the water, too dark to see Megaera, but her cloak tangles around my arm and I’m pulling it down. To make sure she stays under long enough . . .
How long until the puff settles? A minute?
My heartbeat is loud in my ears; it feels like it vibrates in the water around us. It’s so cold, and then . . . then it’s not. My limbs warm like I’m sinking into a cozy sleep. My eyelids are heavy.
I hear Quin’s voice telling me to look at him and I frantically turn, searching through the darkness until—there, light. Quin. He glides towards me, his face so frustratingly beautiful I start choking. He keeps closing the distance, this time with his lip curling. “Let me help you.”
He hauls me against his chest and his mouth descends upon mine with a flood of warmth and air—
“Cael! Wake up!”
A startling slap has me pinging my eyes open to a twinkling cavern and Megaera’s looming face.
I scramble into a sitting position, catching my breath, steadying my damn heart. “What just happened?”
I’m not talking about nearly drowning. “Dragged you out with me,” Megaera says. “Lucky you were caught in my cloak.”
I scan the cavern. We’re alone.
I slam my eyes shut, my wet clothes heavy and cold against my skin. Even my loosened hair adds pressure to my shoulders. The silence feels poignant, even the dripping from earlier has momentarily ceased.
I’ve overestimated myself. I’ve wished too hard. Yearning to win, to free him . . . it’s not enough. We’re an outcast non-magic team up against the most refined magical healers. Young vitalians who have grown up studying just to pursue this contest.
There’s always been little chance. I’ve been a fool to hope otherwise.
I drop back, hitting the floor of the cave with an agonised whimper. It won’t just be us who pay the price. Quin’s life hangs in the balance, as do the lives of those on the longboat. Failure isn’t an option. But right now, it feels inevitable.
I’ve lost this.
I’ve killed my . . . king.
Another stinging slap meets my cheek. I startle upright and blink up at Megaera, who bites out fiercely, “The surest way to lose is to give up.”
I touch my cheek with a pained wince, and when she pulls a hand back to slap me again, I spring up like the sting has given me clarity, has knotted my stomach into steely resolve.
It’s something Quin would have done, if he were here. I can see him now, a storm in his eyes as he asks me savagely if that’s all I’ve got. I feel a surge of anger, a need to show him; to prove myself to him.
He’d goad me, and I’d rise to it.
I’ll fight to the end. I’ll fight until it kills me.
I scramble to the vines, whip out my clasp and use the sharpest point to scratch our life-saving nectar into a hollowed rock. It’s an intricate task; a lot could go wrong, but my teeth are clenched with a determination that simply won’t let that happen.