Page 41 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

Panic crackles through me.

Throwing my hand out, I search desperately for the hilt of my knife.

The burnt line on the ground draws closer at an alarming rate.

I scream in frustration as I finally yank the blade out. My muscles are still weak from last night, but I throw everything I have into a desperate move as I curl up in a sitting position and slash the knife straight across his wrist.

A howl rips from his throat.

My body skids to a halt as he snatches his hand back. Blood runs down from the cut across the front of his wrist, staining his fingers red. I gasp in a breath and stagger to my feet. Small rocks that were stuck to the back of my shirt clatter down on the ground behind me. My head spins and my stomach rolls, even though there is nothing left in it to expel.

I drag in another shuddering breath as I sprint away.

But Blondie whips his head towards me. Rage burns in his eyes as he clutches his injured wrist. Then he takes off.

He moves so fast that I can barely track his body.

I dash across the ground, but I know that I will never be fast enough to escape him.

The scorched line looms just a few steps to my left. If he catches me, it’s over. But I can’t outrun him. I need?—

I screech to a halt and spin around.

Blondie is moving so fast that he doesn’t have time to adjust his course. He barrels straight into me, but I was prepared for it and twist with the motion, spinning him with me.

His increased speed works against him, and he practically flies across the arena floor as I let go of him.

He stumbles across the ground, cutting off his magic, but still crashes down on the packed dirt. Shooting to his feet, he whirls on me.

I grin at him.

Because he’s now outside the circle.

He growls curses at me, but I don’t have time to listen to them, because three more people are coming my way.

Channeling my magic, I push hard at a spark of calm in their chests.

Only an empty void meets me.

Shit.

Taking off across the ground, I run towards the other side of the circle while I push desperately with my magic at everyoneI meet. None of them has so much as a single spark of calm emotion inside them.

Dread washes over me. How the hell am I supposed to keep them from attacking me?

A block of stone shoots through the air.

I leap back, barely managing to get out of the way. The guy who threw it aims another one. But right before he can hurl it at me, Lavendera slams an entire tree trunk into his slide. He flies away and hits the ground close to the circle. But before she can finish the job, Alistair throws a fireball at her.

Backing away, I try to make myself invisible. If I can just stay away from the fight, I’ll be fine. It’s not?—

Pain cracks through my side.

I gasp as a wave of agony rips through my whole soul.

It’s so intense that I barely even register that I stagger several steps to the side from the force of the blow.

With black spots swimming in my vision, I stumble and twist towards the source of the blow.

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