We walked in silence. Ryker kept his distance and didn’t bother me about practice. Didn’t say much of anything. No one did. We all settled down for sleep early.

Sleep didn’t come for me, and I was grateful. I knew I’d dream of Sinsy if I did. I lay awake instead, rethinking every moment before her death. If she’d gone before me, if I’d asked the worm, if I’d gone across a little faster, would she have already been in the water when the chewers came? Every possible variable ran through my head. Would she still be alive if even one of those things had happened?

I heard Ryker, Burn, and Sneak getting up. I squinted and watched them leave the area, probably to go hunt breakfast.

Five minutes wouldn’t put a ton of distance between us and them, but it was all we had. I jumped to my feet and shook Ruck. “We’re leaving.”

“We’re breaking camp already?” Ruck asked, eyes barely open as he looked around. “Where’s Ryker and—”

“They’re close by and we have to leave.” I tried to pull him to his feet.

“You mean leave without them?”

“Yes.”

He pulled away from me. “No. You’ll die.”

“And if we go with them, you’ll die.”

“We’re not leaving. I could die. You definitely will. It’s a death sentence for you.”

“We don’t have time for this. Get up.” I grabbed Ruck’s arm again and tried to drag him to his feet. He wouldn’t get up, and he was too strong to force.

He pulled his arm free. “No. I won’t leave knowing this is your only chance.”

“I can’t see you die.” Why didn’t he understand? He had to leave.

Ruck tilted his head back, his stare intense. “You are the strongest person I’ve ever met. You are going to do this, and then Ryker is going to help you fix this with the Debt collector. You’re not the only one who gets to try and save people.”

I heard a noise and knew it was Ryker because of the wave of magic that was also heading our way. Great, our opportunity was lost.

We’d stopped to make camp for the night, and I watched Ruck eating roasted meat in between Sneak and Burn. He wouldn’t leave and now he was avoiding me, so he didn’t have to hear me tell him how he should go.

He thought he was saving me by staying. He wasn’t. Even if we made it out of the forest alive, if Ruck came with us, he would be dead, just like Sinsy. Why couldn’t he see this? If I ever made it back to the Valley, I didn’t know how I’d tell Marra her sister was gone. And then I’d watch the rest of my crew die in the war that would follow. There was only one option left.

I walked over to where Ryker was standing beside Burn, eating dinner. The two of them looked like they were in the midst of a strategy session, which they probably were. Ryker wasn’t the small-talk kind, and I doubted he was gabbing about some local fauna.

I stopped in front of Ryker, took the dagger that hung from my hip, and threw it into the dirt between us, the handle wobbling a moment.

He looked down and then met my stare. “What do you think you’re doing?”

He knew exactly what I was doing. I was calling him out. There wasn’t a person in this world that didn’t know what throwing a knife down in front of someone meant. The silence that swept through our little group proved it. All you heard were the crickets.

“No.” The word sounded like thunder clapping down between us. He took his time turning toward Burn, giving me his back.

He couldn’t turn down a challenge. No Wyrd Blood could. You didn’t walk away from a challenge unless you were a coward, which Ryker was not. “I threw my knife in between us.”

I stood, staring at his back as he spoke to Burn. It was more of a monologue, as Burn was having a hard time keeping his concentration, splitting it between the two of us.

“I issued a challenge,” I said.

I felt a hand tugging my arm and saw that Ruck had snuck up on me. “What are you doing?”

I shrugged it off and forced myself in between Ryker and Burn, giving Burn my back. It wasn’t much of a fight, as Burn stepped back, eager to stay out of what was about to go down.

“I issued you a challenge. You have no choice.”

“I just made one.”

Ryker’s eyes weren’t as hard as I’d thought they’d be. We both knew the outcome. I wasn’t challenging him with any hope of winning—not the fight, anyway. I had another win in mind.

“Accept the challenge or I’ll make you.”

“Don’t do this. It won’t end well.” His voice was so soft that, even in the silence, I wasn’t sure if anyone beyond us heard. It was as close to begging as I’d ever imagine Ryker getting.

I felt the tendrils of his magic snaking out, prodding at me. Pushing me back, trying to subdue me or hint at how bad it could be. I knew how bad it would be. I’d die. But I was dying anyway. And if my death kept Ruck alive, I’d offer my life up on a platter.

What Ryker didn’t understand was that I was ready to die. I wasn’t doing this to prove a point or because I thought I’d win. Odds were against me working something out with the Debt Collector. Chances of making it out of Bedlam were even worse. Even if I made it past those, once the war started because of my actions, I was really on borrowed time. My life was worth nothing at this point, but Ruck could go on, and so could Fetch and Marra. If I’d done this sooner, maybe Sinsy would’ve been with them.

Ryker waited, his magic near smothering me until I could barely think straight. He thought it would scare me off, but it urged me on. He was dangerous. He was a storm brewing, and I didn’t want anyone I loved around when the sky burst open and rained down hell. I wanted this storm to wipe me out of the equation.

I stiffened under his gaze, but I knew most people here would’ve crumbled. Maybe I was too stubborn by half, as he often accused me of, but I’d chosen my course and I would hold to it.

I’d never done what I was about to attempt. Never even seen it. I’d only heard it whispered of, and the retellings had only been a handful. I wasn’t sure if I was going to do it right, but I didn’t let that stop me. I clapped my hands together in front of me, focusing as best I could on where they joined, not sure if I’d appear to be applauding him sarcastically or achieving my goal.

Ryker’s eyes narrowed, confirming I had it right. He knew what I was about to do, and I saw his head shake slightly. A final plea to turn away from my decision? I still wasn’t sure why he cared. He hated me. I hated him. This wasn’t such a bad thing. I was helping us both. I’d scare Ruck away and keep Ryker from starting a war.

I pulled my hands apart slowly, and the glow I’d hoped for was there. I opened them up, as if a book lay upon them.

If Ryker’s magic was stronger, and I knew it was, once I demanded the challenge, he’d be forced to fight. A lesser Wyrd Blood could call out someone of greater magic and force a fight, but it didn’t work the other way around. The idea behind it was that if someone with lesser magic was so wronged by someone stronger, that they were willing to risk death, then they should have their opportunity. Or that was the common belief.

I opened my mouth, nothing left but to say the words, and I hesitated for a split second as I saw regret in Ryker’s face. What was that for? It couldn’t be because he truly cared if I died. I felt the magic waving in my hands, and there wasn’t any time to hesitate or debate. When I’d heard the stories, no one had stopped and restarted again. It was now or never. I wasn’t going to end up as the only person who began a challenge and then tried to suck it back in.

“By the magic in the air, the magic that surrounds, the magic in my blood and yours, I challenge you.”

The magic vibrated. A swell of air seemed to burst around us, propelling everyone back. It knocked Ruck on his ass, as a field of magic surrounded us, creating a force field that would keep Ryker and I in and the rest out until the end of the fight.

Ruck would’ve dashed forward if he could’ve gotten through the shield of magic. He still tried, punching at the barrier between us.

There was no going back now. I’d done it. Ryker was stuck and he knew it. But then again, so was I. The magic would contain us in this circle alone until one of us was dead. Death wasn’t the hardest part. Getting to that point was going to be worse. I’d taken plenty of beatings in my life, and none of them were fond memories. Hopefully he’d be merciful and do it quickly.

I could see Ryker’s jaw tense; his whole body tensed. His magic was off the charts, and none of it felt even a little bit good.

He stood and stared as if he were contemplating murder, and he didn’t look so sad right now. I hoped he didn’t drag it out.

“I know you’re upset, but if you could make it quick?”

He narrowed his eyes, as if he didn’t know what I was talking about.

I looked at the dirt at my feet, because it was easier than looking at his accusing eyes. “And also, I know you like my crew. If you could send them away with some supplies after I’m dead? I know I don’t have a right to ask, but it’s really rough out there—”

“You’re not dying. I’m not letting you die.”

My gaze shot up. “What? I thought this was to the death?”

“That’s what you get for listening to stories. When I win, you will stay and help me until I let you die.” He was furious, and his magic was ricocheting all over our magical enclosure.

There was no way I was going to win, and now I couldn’t even die. What the hell had I just done?

He was waiting for me to speak, probably expecting my terms. I couldn’t waste my terms, just in case. “If I win, you force my people away from you. I’ll still hold to my bargain, but not with any of them around.”

He nodded, and now there was nothing left to do but hope for a swell of magic to come save me. I had to win. Had to. How was I going to do that? I had punched him before. That was at least a place to start.

We separated, both of us feeling out the perimeters of our magical arena.

I took one step toward him, and my feet were yanked forward until I slammed onto my back, the wind immediately knocked from my lungs. I was still trying to get my chest to inflate fully when he was standing over me.

“Concede.”

No. I said the word, but nothing came out.

He kneeled beside me. “You can’t win. You won’t even put on a good show.” Ryker looked to the sidelines, where Ruck stood, before turning his attention back to me. “But you knew you’d lose. Didn’t you?” He stood. “Concede.”

“No.” This time the word came out. I jumped to my feet, the anger sending my magic into a rage. He was right. I was going to lose, but I was going to get one good shot off before I did. Just one shot for Sinsy, who never should’ve been with us. I shoved my magic at him, and it bounced. It slammed back into me, and I landed in a crash a foot away.

Damn, that had been rough. Maybe I was stronger than I thought.

I tried to get off the ground and found I was pinned there by an invisible force weighing down on my legs and arms.

“Are you done yet?” he asked as he stepped closer.

I tried to shove up again and couldn’t. I struggled against the invisible bonds, and knew I must’ve looked pathetic to all. I’d been ready to lose, but not like this. I pushed with everything I had and then felt the magic churning up higher. That strange feeling was building. I looked at Ryker, and he looked as uncomfortable as I was feeling. If I could wait him out, he’d crack.

I couldn’t.

“I concede.” All the magic instantly disappeared. That was all it took to get me to quit. Pathetic.

I got to my feet, a bit worse off than when I’d started but not as bad as I’d expected.

Ryker walked over and stopped a few inches away. “You force my hand like that again and the payment will be worse.”

Worse than indentured servitude for life? Not sure how that was possible. And why was it that he was the mad one, again?

I walked over to Ruck. “I’m not as strong as you guys think. You’re walking to your death.” I could see the doubt finally shining in Ruck’s eyes.

He shrugged. “Then we’ll die together.”

Then he walked away from me, too.