Page 28 of This Shattered Star

“Looks like they already have.” Theia’s dread mirrored my own.

We broke into a sprint.

The glow at the end of the corridor expanded until it formed an archway. And past that archway… I halted just outside of it, careful to avoid the others careening through.

Wedged between intricately carved railings of diamond-embedded black stone, thousands upon thousands of people cheered, seated in circling rows high enough that they had an exquisite view of the terrain spread before us.

The terrain itself had to be at least a thousand square feet, enough that it would take great effort to run across it if need be. Nothing but smooth, unturned dirt lay beneath our feet. Though that could change at any moment.

It felt strange, seeing things in reverse. I’d sat in those rows countless times, watching competitors viciously tear at each other. Now, I stood where their blood had dried. And would likely add my own.

Never would I have imagined being among those I’d once judged so deeply. For using magic to destroy, to maim, instead of creating something beautiful. I’d hated them.

I’denviedthem.

And I was now one of them. But I wasn’t, not truly. I didn’t think I ever would be.

Even if I managed to break the curse.

The Dome had no ceiling, exposing all those inside to the shifting colors and stars above. Maverick cast a similar magic to the Veil overtop of it to protect us from the elements, but the gods themselves could peer down on us if they wished. The stars winked at me like they knew what awaited. Like they couldseedeath staring me right in the face.

“Come on.” Kodhan’s arm brushed against mine, drawing me out of the stars’ grip. Even from this close, I could hardly hear him over the roar of the audience. “We need to move out of the way.”

Mutely, I obliged. But no one noticed us, too enthralled by the excitement that radiated from above. I counted every face as they arrived, each paler than the last. Well aware of what would happen if they were the last to arrive.

When the final two popped out of the archway, ice pooled at the bottom of my stomach. One of them began to sob hysterically, her hair fiery red, brighter than Theia’s. The other, a boy with eyes almost as dark as Maverick’s, stood deathly still, fists clenched as if he believed he could fight his way out of the fate that awaited him.

“Welcome, competitors!” Maverick’s voice boomed from my left. He sat in one of the lowest rows, the one closest to us.Still, he was high enough that I had to tilt my head again to see him properly. He must’ve been using magic to amplify his voice over all the noise. The cheers did not cease. They became near deafening as he spread his arms wide.

Not one of us moved. No one knew what to expect next. But that didn’t matter. Not to the spectators, and certainly not to Maverick.

Diana sat two seats to his left, and Kodhan’s father directly to his right. Even from up there, her scowl was prominent, rendering her an unmoving statue of stone and disapproval. She’d switched out her elaborate gown for a mist-grey dress much simpler in style, but still screamed elegance, nonetheless. Gone was the diamond necklace, though the ones that dangled heavily from her earlobes had to be worth twice as much.

Purchased with money she’d made from the blood on my hands.

If I spiraled down into that train of thought, I’d never make it out. So instead I forced my attention back to Maverick, who returned my stare with one that bore right into my soul. The right corner of his lips tipped up just a fraction—a gesture anyone else would’ve missed.

“I must applaud you all for your efforts in making it here.” Another round of cheers at that. “Each and every one of you are here to compete for something that will change your lives entirely. Your mothers and fathers, your siblings, cousins, and friends, have died for the same reasons you stand before us now. Your choices will determine if you make their memories proud, or if you will plague their names with disgrace.”

I shifted my weight uneasily, tracing a line in the dirt with my feet. Beyond the stars, my parents watched. Would witness my failure if I was too weak. They’d died trying to find a cure for me. If I didn’t win, then they would have died for nothing.

I’d already wrought enough shame upon them.No more.

“Let’s not waste anytime,” Maverick called out, chuckling on the final word. A wave of laughter followed from the crowd as if answering to an inside joke we were not privy to.

The ground began to rumble beneath my feet. I would’ve lost my footing had I not shot my arms out for balance.

“Here we go,” Brannon muttered, his tone catching me by surprise. Anything could happen—anyone could die in a matter of seconds—but he soundedannoyed.

Kodhan had the nerve to look bored, the extent of it practically seeping through his pores. Only Theia’s reaction was reasonable. Worry lines creased her mouth and forehead.

“Stars, help me,” I muttered to myself just as we began torise, the dirt under our feet giving way to a wooden platform large enough to hold us all.

Kodhan shook his head, hearing my plea despite the still-deafening cacophony of the audience. “The stars cannot do anything for you here, little viper.”

I fixed as much poison in my glare as I possibly could. “The gods certainly won’t do any better where I’m involved. Might as well pray to the ones who actually listen.”

He ignored my glare completely, sucking his bottom lip between his teeth as if to refrain from whatever retort sat readily on his tongue. Instead, he stepped closer to my side once the platform finally stopped trembling.