CHAPTER 7 #2
Kara eyed Sienna’s ashen face and imagined her father’s expression if they came last. Her stomach clenched unpleasantly.
Dishonour on the family, Karalynna.
She shook the thought away. She needed to focus. Sebastian went first. Without his crimson strength, his landing on the first platform was rough – he stumbled – but made it. He turned back with a cocky grin. “See? Easy.”
Kara shook her head, exasperated, as he completed the five leaps to the pillar.
“We can’t afford to wait this long in between people,” Oryen said. His gaze was fixed on Team Three, who’d almost all made it across their floating platforms. Their Thorne delegate, Cass, went last, but she misjudged the final jump and pitched backwards, towards the arena floor below.
Sebastian’s grin vanished. “Cass!” he shouted as he lunged towards the edge. For one wild second Kara thought he was going to jump off after her.
Cass landed with a thud – but not on the ground. A Fatàn shieldweaver had cast a ruby net of magic just in time to catch her. But she’d fallen far enough that she’d landed awkwardly, her arm bent at a sharp, unnatural angle, face contorted in pain.
Fixable. It’s fixable.
“Hold on, Cass!” Sebastian called. “Someone will come and get you.”
Kara stared, caught by the intensity in his tone. Sebastian’s eyes were fixed on Cass, his hands clenched into fists. With visible effort, he forced himself to turn back to the course. There was no time to help, no way to climb down.
Oryen went next, calling for others to follow quickly. Morra jumped. Gregor followed. Jax hesitated.
“Will you be able to do this, Sienna?” he asked.
Sienna’s eyes were wide. “I–I don’t know.”
“You can,” Kara said firmly. “Just go Jax. We’ll be right behind you.”
Jax waited a second longer, torn, then launched himself forward. He cleared the gap easily.
Kara squeezed Sienna’s hand. “Ready?”
Sienna’s face filled with terror. But she nodded. Together, they jumped, and barely made it. Sienna landed with a sharp gasp, gripping the rope for dear life.
“It’s okay. You’re okay,” Kara said, crouching beside her. “Just breathe.”
“Next one,” Jax called from ahead. “We’ve got to keep going!”
Kara pulled Sienna to the edge. “We’ll stay together.” She counted them in. “Three... two... one...” – and leapt again, dragging Sienna with her.
By the second to last platform, Sienna looked like she was going to be sick. “Nearly there. You can do this,” Kara assured her.
It was on the last jump that it all went wrong.
Kara landed.
Sienna didn’t.
Her foot hit the edge of the platform rather than landing true.
“Kara–” The scream tore from her.
Sienna’s weight yanked Kara backwards – their hands locked together. Kara landed hard against the wood. Pain shot through her ribs, forcing the air from her lungs.
Ow.
She grasped desperately for one of the platform’s ropes with her free hand – the other still gripped around Sienna’s as she dangled over the edge.
“No–” Kara gasped as Sienna’s legs scrambled at thin air, her weight pulling them both forward. Cass’s fall flashed vivid in her mind. The crowd roared beneath them.
“I won’t let go,” Kara hissed, though her arm was already screaming. She gritted her teeth and tried to pull – Sienna didn’t move. The platform creaked beneath them as her grip began to loosen.
Sienna was slipping.
“I can’t – I need help!” Kara cried.
Sebastian dropped onto the platform beside her, the entire structure swaying dangerously under the force of his landing.
Please let the ropes hold.
Sebastian knelt, grabbing Sienna’s other arm. “I’ve got her,” he said.
As he spoke, Kara felt it – the faintest spark of energy humming beneath his skin. A surge of power below the surface. She saw it in his face: the temptation. The instinct to reach for magic. But the disqualification – the shame – it would follow him.
“We can pull her up without it,” Kara said. “Together.”
He looked at her for only a second, then nodded, his magic receding. “Ready?”
Together, they heaved. Sienna came up with a strangled cry, landing in a heap on the platform.
Kara collapsed next to her, sweat dripping down her back, breathing heavily.
Beside her, Sebastian stood, rolling his shoulders, and shifted back as much as he could on the narrow platform, giving Sienna room to breathe.
“Thanks,” Sienna cried as the crowd cheered below. Kara could barely hear them. Her heartbeat was pounding in her ears, drowning everything out.
Sebastian reached for Sienna’s hand but the moment she tried to stand, she buckled instantly, crying out in pain. Sebastian caught her before she fell, one arm around her waist, and swore under his breath.
“It’s my ankle,” Sienna whimpered.
“Let me see,” Kara demanded.
But Sebastian shook his head and pulled Sienna onto his back. Even without magic he made it look effortless. “Not here,” he said as the platform swayed under their feet. “I’ll jump with her. Hold on, Sienna.”