Page 122 of Saints & Sinners

Joe stiffened from where he stood on the other side.

“Touch the wrong stone, and you will face visions of your worst fears. Loved ones in danger. Enemies begging for mercy. These lies and half-truths are designed to break your focus. You must decide whether to trust what you see or leave it behind.” Nadael turned toward the massive painting on the stone wall—a vast glade bathed in pale moonlight. She raised a hand, her palm glowing faintly as she pressed it against the canvas.

The surface rippled like water, and the glade inside the painting seemed to sway as if alive.

Hunter shifted slightly, and his eyes finally met mine for a brief second, but there was something raw and distant in them.

“Good luck,” I mouthed, and his jaw tightened before he looked away.

Disappointment crashed into my chest, and I wanted nothing more than for him to look back at me.

“Competitors,” Nadael called, but I couldn’t physically bring myself to glance at her when I was so focused on Hunter. “Prepare yourself.”

But I couldn’t prepare myself.

“Deep breaths, deep breaths,” Marnie was muttering to herself just as everyone surrounding Nadael flexed their hands and pumped themselves up with energy. Brandon was jogging on the spot as if this were just a race and nothing more, while Silas was already tying his hair into a low ponytail.

My gaze found Hunter again. It always did, even when I didn’t mean for it to. I should have looked away.

But I didn’t.

And for the briefest moment, neither did he.

The space between us seemed to stretch and shrink at once as we slowly moved closer towards one another until we stood side by side. Nadael kept talking, but it was a distant hum to me. Then, barely noticeable, Hunter’s hand shifted—ever so slightly,so deliberately that I might have thought I imagined it if not for the warmth that brushed my skin.

Our pinkies touched, and the world stopped turning.

Neither of us pulled away.

Neither of us breathed.

Neither of us looked at each other.

His fingers twitched, like he wanted to grab my hand, but he knew he shouldn’t. Knew he couldn’t.

I should have pulled away. I should have stepped back and created distance before it swallowed me whole. But... I stayed.

And so did he.

Until the moment shattered, and Nadael’s hand lifted toward the painting. “Competitors,” she said as the glade shimmered brighter. “You may begin.”

I could no longer feel Hunter’s touch as everyone went for it, all running towards the painting and letting it swallow them whole.

Marnie tugged at me, and my legs barely moved as I stumbled forward, letting the cold air of the glade slam into my face.

I was no longer staring at a painting.

I was inside of it.

It was real. Just like the day I went to the Council’s headquarters.

The wind howled through the dark trees and the moon was covered by fog as the scent of damp earth filled my lungs.

I didn’t have time to think because everyone was already running, and I was right behind them.

As I sprinted forward, branches clawed at my arms, weaving through the dense trees. The cold air stung my face, but thankfully, it kept me awake and alert.

The glade was massive, stretching endlessly in every direction as shadows shifted between the trees.

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