“Yes, we’re allied with the Tower,” he said. “And that alliance is more important to Avalon than you are.”
His words were a punch in the gut. “I’m risking everything to help Selena,” I said. “The prophetess chose me for this mission. Avalon will protect me in return.”
“Selena is the Earth Angel’s daughter,” he said. “She was taken against her will. You entered into this agreement on your own. If you fail, you’ll be expected to keep your word.”
“We won’t fail,” Sage said.
“No, we won’t.” Reed stood up and headed for the steps. “Because we’re giving that staff back to Circe. Right now.”
“You can’t control the yacht,” Thomas said calmly. “It’s under my control.”
Reed raised his hand and blasted Thomas with his magic.
Thomas crashed into the wall behind him and crumpled to the floor.
Sage shifted and pounced on Reed, but he blasted her to the ground while she was mid-air.
“Stop!” I ran to Reed and gripped his wrists in my hands. He glared at me, but he didn’t use his magic against me. “What are you doing?”
“I’m doing what’s necessary to get this boat back to that island so we can return that cursed staff.”
We stood like that for a few seconds, locked in a standstill. His eyes were pools of ink, his skin ridiculously warm against mine. The memory of his kiss tingled on my lips as his magic called to me, tendrils of it licking my skin and begging me to let it in. A breeze blew around us. His magic was so raw, so powerful, so alive. If I let it, I knew it would consume me completely.
He would consume me completely.
So I envisioned a shield of my purple magic surrounding me, blocking his out.
“What do you care if I end up on Aeaea for all of eternity?” I searched his eyes for answers, but I found none. “You hate me.”
He pulled out of my grip and stepped back. The air around us was still again. “You’re one of the most impulsive people I’ve ever met, and I find you frustrating as hell,” he said. “But you don’t deserve to end up in that place for all eternity. No one does.”
“Then help me get the staff back from King Devin before the three months are over.”
Suddenly, Sage and Thomas zipped around to stand to our sides. Sage held Circe’s staff, and the top of it was angled at Reed. “Use your magic against us again, and I’ll turn you back into a pig,” she said.
“You’re telling me that you’re okay with what she did?” He glanced at me, and then turned his attention back to Sage.
“It was my decision,” I said. “I didn’t need anyone’s permission.”
“It was a stupid decision,” Reed said.
Thomas stepped forward and held both his hands out to stop Reed and me from fighting. “What’s done is done,” he said. “We have the staff, and all four of us made it off the island unscathed. We can’t delay the mission further. We have to move on, and handle the repercussions of Torrence’s decision when the time comes.”
“King Devin is willing to trade the items we need to enter the Otherworld for the items he requested,” I said. “Once our mission is complete, all we have to do is offer him another trade. Then we can get Circe’s staff back to her before the three months are up.”
“Your confidence is either courageous or naive,” Reed said. “I’m not sure which one yet.”
“I guess we’ll find out in the next three months,” I replied.
“I guess we will,” he said. “Although if I hadn’t gotten myself turned into a pig, you wouldn’t have been in this position at all. So it’s only right that I stay by your side until that staff is back in Circe’s hands.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
That was the last thing I’d expected him to say.
“Thanks,” I finally said. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”
He simply nodded, and turned to Thomas. “I’m sorry for using my magic against you,” he said, glancing at Sage as well. “Against both of you. It won’t happen again.”
Sage lowered the staff. “Thank you for the apology,” she said.
“Yes,” Thomas agreed. “Thank you.” Then he turned to face me. “Your actions today were brave.”
“I did what was necessary to help Selena.”
“You did,” he said. “And once she’s safely home, I promise to do everything in my power to convince Avalon to give you whatever support they can in helping you return that staff.”
I smiled, since I knew he’d help me. Everyone on Avalon would come through for me. They were my family.
“But for now, we need to stay focused on the mission,” he said. “Because we still have two more objects to find, and after losing three days on that island, we need to find them quickly.”
37
Selena
The day was here. The final Emperor of the Villa competition—and the final day of the Faerie Games. Because with only four of us left, whoever won this Emperor competition wouldn’t have a choice to make about who they were sending to the arena.
Instead, the four of us would be brought straight to the Coliseum, where the Emperor of the Villa would watch the three others fight it out. Once the first of those three champions was out, the Emperor of the Villa would join the remaining two in the arena, and the three of them would battle it out until only one remained.
The winner of this year’s Faerie Games.
As my private carriage flew toward the city, reality set in.
The Nephilim army isn’t coming for me. And both Julian and I might not make it through this day alive.
The Nephilim army had been my clutch for the entire two months that I’d been in the Otherworld. They were the light that had kept me from descending into total darkness.
No, that wasn’t true. I also had Julian.
I have Julian.
All wasn’t lost until one or both of us were dead. And we had zero intentions of letting it get that far.
Maybe my belief that Julian and I could get through this together was foolish, just like my belief in the Nephilim army had been. But last night, when Julian and I had solidified our love, I’d felt invincible.
I refused to let this be the end for us.
At the thought of last night, electricity crackled and sparked inside of me, ready to unleash its full force on whatever challenge I was facing next. Because I was going to fight with every last bit of magic inside me to make sure Julian and I had a future—not in the Underworld, but in this world—together.
The carriage landed in an open, grassy field, in line with the other three. Julian’s was on one side of mine, and Felix’s on the other.
Our coachmen jumped off their seats at the front of the carriages. They untied the pegasi, jumped on their backs, and flew off.
I tried to open the carriage door, but it was sealed shut. I pushed my bodyweight into it a few times, but nothing happened. And judging by how Julian also couldn’t get out—and he was the physically strongest of us all—none of us were escaping. At least not until the gods allowed it.
I sat back down on the seat and surveyed the surroundings. The grassy field looked the same as the rest of the Otherworld countryside outside of the city. No people were anywhere to be seen. The only signs of life were the golden orbs buzzing around the carriages. They had, of course, followed us there.
The field went on for about a hundred yards ahead, ending at a grouping of hills. A giant, gaping cave entrance was right in the center of the tall hill in the middle.
Nothing good could be inside there.
We only sat in the carriages for about a minute more before a cloud overhead turned purple, and Bacchus flew out of it. With no crowd cheering him on, he didn’t waste time with the dramatics of flying his chariot around in circles. He simply landed on the ground in front of us and stepped down.
The door to my carriage flew open, and I got out to face him. The others did the same.
I caught Julian’s eyes for
a second. He gave me a reassuring nod before turning his attention back to Bacchus.
No matter what happened in this competition, Julian and I could get through it. We’d discussed all the possible ways it could play out last night.
The best-case scenario would be if Felix won the emperor competition. He’d have to send me, Julian, and Octavia to the arena. From there, Julian and I would team up to take Octavia out in the first round of the final fight. It would be easy to take down Felix afterward, which would put Julian and me in the final two.
If Octavia won, it would be Julian and me against Felix. We could easily take him down. Then we just had to take down Octavia, and again—it would be one of our best bets to the final two.
If either Julian or I won, it would be the other one of us against Octavia and Felix in the first round of the arena fight. That was the least desirable of all the options. Because then the two of them would gang up against one of us, which would lower the chance of both of us making it to the final two. And even though Felix wasn’t much of a physical threat, we still wanted to keep the odds in our favor.
Therefore, our strategy for this final emperor competition was simple.
Throw it to either Felix or Octavia.
And once Julian and I were in the final two, we had to pray that the rest of our plan worked, and that we’d both stay alive to see another day.
38
Selena
Bacchus faced the closest orb, adjusted his purple toga, and gave his trademark grin. “Welcome to the final day of the Faerie Games!” he said. “This Emperor of the Villa competition is the first of the three events to happen today. Unlike the previous Emperor of the Villa competitions, the outgoing Empress of the Villa is eligible to compete.” He glanced at me, and then turned his attention back to the orb. “The winner of this competition will be safe for the first part of the final, two part fight in the arena. As always, the three other champions will fight until one of them is dead. But then, the Emperor of the Villa will immediately enter the arena, and the three finalists will fight until there’s only one left standing—the winner of this year’s Faerie Games!”
It was strange to hear his usual enthusiasm without a crowd behind him cheering. But he didn’t let the lack of a crowd detract from his performance.
“The way to become the final Emperor of the Villa is simple,” he continued. “You see that cave over there?” The orbs in front of the cave glowed brighter, buzzing around to get a full view of it. “The Minotaur waits inside of it. Yes, that Minotaur—we borrowed him from his labyrinth so he could be with us today.”
Bacchus raised his scepter and shot his purple magic toward the cave. The entrance shimmered, and the ground vibrated with the steady beat of giant footsteps.
Out came one of the most frightening monsters I’d ever seen.
It was as tall as a house, with the head of a bull and the body of a hairy troll. And as if the two horns sticking out of its head weren’t dangerous enough, one of its hands had fingernails as long and pointy as swords. The other wasn’t a hand at all, but an ax that started where its wrist should have been.
It growled at us, curling up its lips to show us its sharp pointy teeth. I would have thought it wanted to slice us up and eat us if I didn’t know it was spelled by the gods to keep us alive.
It took four more steps forward, but the chains attached to its feet pulled tight, keeping it from going any farther. We weren’t given any weapons, meaning we were supposed to fight the Minotaur using only our magic. Although with Julian there, we’d still be able to use weapons if we wanted to, since he could pull them out of the ether.
“The Minotaur will remain in chains for the entirety of the competition,” Bacchus told us. “It won’t attack unless provoked. So the question is—who wants to win this competition the most?”
Not me, I thought, keeping my eyes focused on the monster.
Bacchus climbed back into his chariot. “We’re about to find out,” he said, and the jaguars lifted him off the ground until he was floating higher than the Minotaur’s head. “Because the competition starts NOW!”
None of us moved.
I glanced over at Octavia.
She just stood there, her arms crossed, smiling smugly. “Go on,” she said, tilting her head toward the Minotaur. The monster was patiently waiting. “Unless both of you are too scared to face me solo in the first round in the arena?”
“Of course we’re not,” Julian said. “It’s just strategy.”
“Or cowardice.” She shrugged. “That’s the last thing I expected from the chosen champions of Mars and Jupiter. But hey, they can’t pick winners every time, can they?”
“Goading us isn’t going to work,” I told her. “So you might as well stop trying.”
Felix walked over to Octavia, took her hands, and looked down at her like she was the light of his life. “They’re not going for it,” he said. “But you’re strong enough to fight them on your own. You can beat them in both rounds in the arena.”
“I know.” She stood on her tiptoes and pressed a soft, lingering kiss onto his lips.
“So help me win this competition.” He spoke to her so sweetly that he was clearly lacing his words with magic. “Bring me with you to the final two. Then, your hand will be the one to send me to Elysium. Just like we’ve wanted.”
It sounded like bullshit to me. Felix was playing his odds, just like the rest of us. Because if he and Octavia made it to the final two—which Julian and I would make sure didn’t happen—he’d likely try to pull off a move commonly used by chosen champions of Venus.
He was hoping that Octavia was so in love with him that she’d be unable to take his life, and that she’d take her own instead.
Octavia didn’t strike me as someone who’d do something so selfless.
But from the way she was staring lovingly up into his eyes, it seemed to be working.
Then she blinked and took a step back, like she needed to put distance between them to think clearly. “I know I’m strong,” she said. “But I’ll also do everything I can to get both of us to the final two. Which means making sure neither of us wins this competition.”
She pulled back her fist and swung it at Felix’s head.
Julian was over there in less than a second. He shoved Felix to the side, and Octavia’s punch whizzed through the air, hitting nothing.
Felix rolled over, betrayal shining in his eyes as he looked up at Octavia. It didn’t stop her from moving to try knocking him out again. But Julian was on her in a heartbeat. The two of them fought using only their bodies—no weapons, and no powers.
The hand-to-hand combat was only a dance. They weren’t actually hurting each other. Because they both wanted the other to remain physically able to beat the Minotaur.
Felix scurried out of the way.
“Only one of us can win,” Octavia said to me in between punches. “You won’t be able to hurt Julian.” He nearly knocked her to the side, but she avoided his fist just in time. She aimed for his chest, but he blocked her again.
Julian sideswiped her leg and knocked her flat on her back. Then he called a sword from the ether and tossed it to me.
I easily caught it by the handle.
“Help Felix win,” he said. “I’ll keep the ice queen occupied.”
Octavia stood up and blasted him with water. But he had a shield in front of him in a second, and he blocked her attack.
“Don’t be stupid, Selena.” Octavia snarled as she continued to try knocking Julian down with her water. But no matter how hard she pushed, he didn’t break. “My magic is stronger than his. You know I can beat him.”
“You’re not doing a good job of it now,” I pointed out.
She stopped blasting him with water and switched to icicles. He blocked them so easily with the shield that I suspected he could have read a book at the same time. “Only because I can’t risk killing him,” she said. “Win this competition. Send him to the arena with me and Felix, and le
t me do what you can’t.”
Julian ran at her, slashing through her icicles until he was close enough to slice off her hands. Instead, he flipped his sword around and jabbed the handle into her throat.
She fell back to the ground, her hands around her neck as she gasped for air.
Julian hovered over her, his sword held high. But he didn’t take those final swings to eliminate her from the competition.
We needed to keep her in play in case Felix’s attempt at taking down the Minotaur failed. And Julian was doing an excellent job keeping her controlled.
So I turned to Felix, who was standing hunched to the side as he watched all of this go down. His normal confidence was gone. All I saw was a meek little mouse.
“Do you want to win this competition?” I asked.
He glanced at where Julian and Octavia were fighting it out. Then he straightened and smirked, the meek mouse gone. “You bet I do.”
“I thought as much.” I walked forward and placed the sword on the grass between us. I didn’t think he’d take a swing at me, but it was best to keep some space between us, just in case. “Take the sword. I’ll go with you to the Minotaur to keep you protected. I’ll fry it with my lightning, and once it’s knocked out, you’ll take the killing blow.”
He picked up the sword and held it in front of him, getting used to its weight. “Sounds easy enough,” he said, although his normal confidence was gone from his tone.
“The Minotaur will be knocked out.” My electricity sparked under my palms, but I held in my impatience. “You’ll be fine.”
He glanced over at the Minotaur. The monster was shifting its weight from one leg to the other, looking as ready to get this over with as I was.
“All right,” he said. “Lead the way.”
I glanced back at Julian and Octavia. The two of them were a blur as they continued exchanging blows.
Perfect.
Everything was going exactly as we’d wanted it to.
I gave Felix the go and headed toward the Minotaur. Felix followed at my heels.
The Faerie Mates (Dark World: The Faerie Games Book 3) Page 15