Page 61 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

Jeb gasps air into his lungs as he lies there on his side on the wet stones. My fingers skim over his belt on the way back. Then I slip my hand into my clothes again before bracing my palms on the wet stone bridge and pushing to my feet.

I blink and cast a confused glance around me. The storm has stopped. Frowning, I sweep my gaze over the castle before us. When did the storm stop?

Draven is nowhere to be seen.

But before I can dwell on that any longer, Jeb struggles to his feet in front of me. He immediately reaches towards his side. Relief washes over his face when he finds a small wooden box still attached to his belt. Then he raises his gaze to me and narrows his eyes.

“Why?” he asks.

I hold his suspicious stare with calm eyes. “Because I want a truce.”

Understanding blows across his features. After casting a quick glance at the ground that I saved him from plummeting down to, he meets my eyes again and gives me a slow nod. “I’ll talk to Alistair.”

I nod back.

The scent of wet stones and fallen leaves envelop us as we carefully make our way across the bridge and towards the window. Jeb climbs in first. I follow him.

Inside, most of the contestants are already waiting. Some of them are seated against the walls, looking heartbroken. Open boxes with cracked or shattered glass eggs rest next to them. Others are standing on the opposite side of the room with satisfied expressions on their faces. Isera, Alistair, Fenriel, and Lavendera are among them.

When I enter the room, Tommen looks up from where he is sitting on the floor. His egg, along with the entire box, is broken from when I made him fall from the ice wall, and the splinters and shards lay scattered next to his feet. As soon as he sees me, he clenches his fist in anger.

I ignore him and instead approach the dragon shifters who are also waiting in the room.

Empress Jessina and Emperor Bane are seated on a pair of white wooden chairs in the middle of the room. The other clan leaders are most likely still out somewhere over the hedge maze, creating or maintaining nasty obstacles for the contestants who still remain inside. Imar stands a short distance from the open window. As does Draven. He is leaning his hip against the windowsill, and his golden eyes are fixed on me as I walk up to Imar.

I swear I can feel the smirk lurking on Draven’s lips when I take out my small wooden box. Next to me, Jeb does the same.

“You made it through the maze,” Imar says. “Congratulations.” A sharp glint creeps into his eyes. “Now, let’s see if you have treated the symbols of our mercy with the care they deserve.”

Snapping his fingers, he points at me and raises an eyebrow expectantly.

My heart thumps in my chest as I lift my box and open it.

“A spotless and entirely unbroken egg,” Imar announces as he looks down into my box. “Well done. Congrats on making it through the second trial.”

Draven stumbles by the window. Straightening, he tries to quickly compose himself, but his eyes are wide with shock as he stares at me. I suppress the urge to smirk at him.

Imar snaps his fingers at Jeb, who also opens his box.

“A completely shattered egg,” Imar declares, and shakes his head at Jeb. “Careless. Go and join the other ungrateful losers. I want you out of this castle before first light tomorrow.”

I’m not even sure if Jeb hears that second part, because he is standing completely frozen, staring down at the shattered remains of his glass egg.Myglass egg. The one that I swapped right after pulling him up onto the bridge. He really should have been paying more attention. Because the real threat was never the fall from the bridge. It was me.

At last, Jeb seems to realize what must have happened. With his mouth still open in shock, he slowly turns towards me. And when he meets my gaze, his expression darkens like the veil of death.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

My muscles tremble with exhaustion as I stagger through the castle and back towards the south wing. But nothing can dim the sparkling victory in my heart. Not even the dark looks that Tommen and Jeb shot me when I strode out of the room with the rest of the winning contestants.

Because I did it.

Despite Draven’s attempt to sabotage me, I made it through the second trial. I’m halfway through the competition now. Only two more trials to go. Two trials that will take our group from twenty-four people to three. And by Mabona, I am going to be one of those three.

Afternoon sunlight streams in through the windows along the corridor, casting pale light over the white stone walls. Despite the brightness, the torches on the wall are burning as well. A reminder of who controls this palace now. As if we would ever forget.

A hand shoots out from the doorway on my right, and strong fingers wrap around my upper arm.

My stomach lurches as I’m yanked through the door.

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