Page 74 of Court of Lies and Deceit

Oh Goddess above, I have the spare key. The second white key that we took from the Yellow Faction.

My head pounds as I stop trying to get the whip away from my neck and instead reach into my belt pouch. I can barely concentrate enough to get it out, and my fingers fumble so much that I nearly drop it, but I at last manage to pull out the white key.

“Well, look at that,” the man behind me says in a smug voice. “Just what we need.”

I choke, still trying to get air into my lungs. He doesn’t let up for so much as one moment.

“Hand it over,” he orders.

And through the ringing panic in my skull, a sudden breath of clarity hits me like a blow to the gut. He is going to kill me. Even if I give him the key, he’s going to kill me.

Choking and gasping weakly, I try to think through the pain and terror. My vision is starting to turn black at the edges.

Before me, the other eight players have stopped fighting each other and are instead now watching me. When he started choking me, I lost the grip on my magic, which means that they are no longer distracted. Fuck, I need to?—

An idea smacks into me.

Raising my hand, I hold up the key.

The guy behind me reaches for it.

I throw it across the corridor.

It lands there on the sand, halfway between us and the three members of the blue team. Their eyes light up.

“Shit,” the guy behind me snaps.

Releasing me in a flash, he sprints forward and dives towards the key while the three players from the Blue Faction lurch towards it as well.

I gasp air back into my lungs, ripping the whip away from my neck. Pain pulses around my entire throat, and I can barely swallow, but I continue forcing air in and out of my lungs. The flickering blackness at the edges of my vision begins retreating.

Up ahead, my attacker snatches up the key right before the Blue Faction can reach it. His team members immediately start shooting magic at the three Blue Faction players, forcing them back while their companion darts back towards them. Once hereaches them, they sprint back out through the opening that leads deeper into the arena.

For a moment, it looks like the Blue Faction is going to pursue them. But then they cast uncertain glances towards the corridor on the other side of the wall where Draven is fighting their three other companions.

Still on my hands and knees, I drag in strained breaths.

The three members of the Blue Faction turn towards me.

Murder shines in their eyes.

And now, there are no members of the Red Faction left to distract them. And no more keys to trade.

Sunlight glints against their swords and magic crackles in the air as they take a step towards me.

Oh shit.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Still trying to gasp air back into my aching throat, I snatch up the dagger I dropped on the sand earlier and scramble to my feet. Panic pulses inside me as I try to come up with some kind of plan for how to survive this. I’m outnumbered three to one, and there is nothing in this corridor except for stone statues.

The crowd yells from the stands. It’s a deafening, rumbling sound that rolls over me like thunder. Bright sunlight streams down from the open ceiling high above, heating my black fighting leathers. A bead of sweat rolls down my spine.

Water magic swirls in the air as two of my opponents make their magic dance. It seems to be the most common type of magic in the Unseelie Court. Or at least in this city. Though given that the city is surrounded by waterfalls and full of rivers, I suppose that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.

My mind churns as I try to think of a plan. Can I somehow use?—

Torrents of water shoot towards me.

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