Chapter 28 #2
He’s here.
He’s here.
Before my eyes. Pulling me into his arms. In front of the eyes of his entire Court. Aurora’s voice fades. The whole arena holds its breath.
“I love you.” He blurts it out. Raw and unpolished. Then again—louder this time. “Cassandra, I love you.”
And I freeze.
Still as a stone in his arms.
I blink.
It’s possible everyone heard what he just said. Everyone but me.
It takes me a moment before I realise I didn’t dream this up out of desperation.
Kieran is here, and he’s saying he loves me.
Oh, Gods.
I throw myself at him, kissing him like the whole world isn’t watching—like I’m starved for air. And maybe I am. Lately, it’s been hard to breathe without him. Kieran hasn’t left my mind when I’m awake. I dream of him in my sleep.
Tears spill down my cheeks, no matter how hard I try to hold them back.
It’s no use.
I’m hopeless when it comes to him.
“I love you, too,” I whisper, not caring who the hell is listening. “Gods, I thought I’d never get to say it—I love you, Kieran.”
He exhales like he’s been holding his breath since we said goodbye, then he leans in to rest his forehead on mine.
“Be careful, all right?”
“I promise,” I mutter, though my voice wobbles.
Kieran draws a deep breath. His eyes are still filled with fear, but his lips are warm as they press against mine again. A promise sealed with a kiss. “I’ll see you later.”
And I nod.
Not a goodbye.
It’s not a goodbye this time.
Kieran lets go of my hand and watches as I step away. The whole arena is watching us. Even Lucas’s jaw is still hanging somewhere near the floor.
Aurora hasn’t continued speaking.
But Kieran’s eyes stay locked on me.
“Honestly,” Lucas murmurs, shaking his head slowly. “I may be a man, but that might’ve been the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.”
I chuckle, wiping at my eyes. “Oh, shut up.”
“Shut up?” He glances around like I’ve lost it. The arena erupts again—cheers, shouting, even a few boos. “I don’t think the whole Court will shut up for a long time after that.”
Heat flushes my cheeks, and Kieran is just standing there, arms crossed.
Oh, great.
Aurora clears her throat, voice cutting through the noise. “As I was saying—”
She lifts a hand.
From the ground, a vast mirror maze unfurls like blooming glass—towering walls of silver and light, hundreds of them, gleaming under the bright morning sun. Blinding. Disorienting. Terrifying.
“The rules are simple,” Aurora continues.
“Each pair will enter through separate entrances. Inside, you’ll face reflections of you or your teammate.
Some will turn on you.” She pauses, eyes narrowing.
“Find the real one—and walk out together. If you choose the wrong person, you lose. And your teammate wins.”
Gasps ripple across the arena.
Lucas stiffens beside me. I stare at the maze, heart sinking to my ankles.
Oliver chose to pair up with Leon, and since he was granted an advantage, Lucas and I figured he might know the twist wouldn’t force teammates to turn on each other. So, we teamed up, leaving Jordan and Daisy to end up together.
Oh, they’re going to kill each other dead.
“We need a safe word,” Lucas murmurs, low enough only I can hear. “So you know it’s really me.”
“Remember the first time Declan introduced me to you?” I ask.
“Yeah, it was at—”
“Don’t say it,” I cut in quickly, eyes darting around. “You never know who—or what—is listening.”
“Good point.”
“That’s our safe word,” I whisper, and he nods, agreeing in silence.
“Oliver,” Aurora calls out. “Since you won the mini-game, you’re given another advantage. You get to choose whether you’ll go first”—she smiles, winking at the crowd—“or last?”
“I’d like to go first,” Oliver replies without hesitation.
“Oh, boy,” Daisy mutters. “He’s not holding back. Wonder what the hell was in that letter.”
“Something useful.” Jordan crosses his arms, shooting a disgusted look at his own teammate. “Unlike you.”
“I hope my reflections eat your guts.”
“Well, I hope mine fuck you to death.”
Lucas and I exchange a look.
Oliver and Leon walk forward. They stop in front of an entrance, exchanging a few words. These two have been inseparable since day one, gardening and all that. And I get it—this must be a hell of a situation.
The crowd claps as they hug.
I expect one of them to step back, walk to the opposite entrance.
But then—
Light flashes off something metal. Quick and brutal, a blade plunges into Leon’s back.
The clapping dies mid-echo.
The crowd grasps.
I slap both hands over my mouth.
Daisy screams.
Oliver just stabbed Leon in the back—literally—right through the left side of his chest.
No scream escapes from Leon. His eyes are wide as he collapses to the ground, blood spreading dark and fast across the cold dirt.
For what feels like forever, no one moves.
No one breathes.
Then—the crowd erupts again, thunderous and cruel, cheering like they’ve just witnessed the climax they’ve been waiting for.
I drop to my knees, clutching my own head.
Leon’s eyes are still open.
Lifeless.
Just like that.
And Oliver wipes the blade clean on his leathers, not a trace of remorse on his face. He turns—then bows to the crowd.
The arena explodes.
Who the fuck is that?
Who have we all become?
Oh, Gods.
Aurora’s face looks pale, but she smiles. A practised, polished smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Well,” she breathes, voice sweet. “That works, too.”