Page 13 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

I stare after him, dumbfounded. My head spins, and I’m not sure if I should be relieved or even more worried.

“Right,” the administrator says, a tad awkwardly, as if he’s not sure what to make of that either. His blue eyes flick to me for a second, and a scowl creases his brows, but then he simply clears his throat and presses on. “My name is Imar, and I am the overseer for this century’s Atonement Trials.”

Everyone who was staring at Draven immediately snaps their gaze to the blond dragon shifter still standing on the grass before us. He raises his eyebrows expectantly. We all dip our chins in a quick bow of acknowledgement and respect.

“The trials will begin tomorrow,” Imar says.

Relief washes through me. That’s great. That means that I can go home and get a good night’s sleep and pack everything that I need to bring before heading off to the Golden Palace.

A knowing smile blows across Imar’s lips as he watches us in silence for a second. Then he adds, “But the registrations will finish tonight.”

Some of the fae around me exchange glances since no one seems to understand what that’s supposed to mean.

The smile on Imar’s lips grows into a full-blown smirk as he spells it out. “You have until sundown to make it inside the iron walls. Anyone not inside the walls when the sun sets will not be allowed to compete in the Atonement Trials.”

Deafening silence falls over the grasslands.

We all turn our heads to look at the palace and the iron wall that circles it. The Iceheart monarchs and all the other clan leaders have already made it inside. And so have the restof the dragons who were guarding their leaders from the sky. I watch as Draven, in his half-shift form, flies the final stretch and disappears through the now open iron gate as well.

Clothes rustle faintly as we glance around at each other.

Because we all know what this means.

The trials haven’ttechnicallystarted yet, but they have started. The people who make it to the gate first can hold it so that no one else can enter. That way there will be less competition once the trials actually start.

I cast another worried glance at the people around me. I won’t be able to fight my way through the gate. Which means that I must make it there first.

Imar flashes us another broad grin filled with wicked glee. “Dismissed.”

We all sprint towards the gate.

CHAPTER FIVE

My breath saws through my lungs as I hurtle across the grass. Boots pound against the ground as everyone tries to make it to the gate first. I push myself to the limits, running with everything I have. But it’s with growing dread that I realize that I’m not fast enough.

The first two people reach the gate.

Both of them simply sprint through and disappear inside the palace grounds. The next four people do the same.

Hope swells in my chest as about half of the contestants simply run inside without trying to stop others from following. Maybe I can make it through anyway. If I can just?—

A group of five reaches the gate, spins around, and then spreads out to block the way.

Goddess damn it. Why did I have to jinx it?

The people who were right behind them throw themselves to the sides as the fae man with curly blond hair in the middle of the gate shoots a torrent of fire straight out.

“Shit,” I hiss under my breath, swerving to the side to escape the heat of the flames.

While slowing to a careful walk, I study the people now blocking the gate. I recognize them all, but I only know the nameof the guy in the middle with the curly blond hair and the green and orange eyes and the fire magic. His name is Alistair Geller, and he is an absolute bully.

I’ve only had a few run-ins with him myself, many years ago, but almost every time I see him around town, he is doing something to make other people feel small and helpless.

And now, he is blocking the damn gate.

Fantastic.

The other contestants around me watch them warily as well. Most of them have trailed to a halt, and some people cluster together in groups as if to strategize together.

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