Breakwater

I pulled myself up, but didn’t put my weapon away. “Where is she?”

“Requiem has her. And he requests that you attend them.”

“Tell me you don’t follow him.” I couldn’t believe it of Dolph. For the little I knew him, I had a hard time seeing him side with Requiem. Dolph seemed so level headed. So . . . good.

“We all do what we must. But if it makes you feel better, I side with Finley. She is the king’s legitimate daughter.” Dolph crooked a finger and I had no choice but to follow him. Finley . . . so that was the other heir to the throne—the rightful heir.

Once more, Dolph led me around the maze of buildings, over two low arched bridges. and finally into an open coliseum. Circular and tiered, opened to the night sky, it was full of Undines. That explained why there was no one at the docks. Around us the spires rose high into the sky. The tallest stood as sentinels farthest away, bridges glittering between them. Another set of spires encircled, closer and shorter than the others, and a third set even closer loomed above. Undines hung from windows in the closest spires, staring down at us.

I caught a glimpse of Ayu in the stands closest to the circular coliseum—saw her eyes as she looked away. Pity and sorrow had been heavy in that one glance. Not really a good sign, and not something I chose to dwell on.

Ahead of me, Requiem stood at a podium a foot above the main floor. Belladonna was beside him, shaking and trembling. Her wound had broken open, but it wasn’t gushing. Her face was pale though and the way her eyes glossed over I knew she was close to passing out.

“Larkspur, how nice of you to join us. Your ambassador here is in no shape to fight, which is a pity, considering her show of power on the beach. But as it is, we need you two to prove you are strong enough to stay here. You will fight for your ambassador. A proxy. You lose, we kill her and throw your bodies into the ocean. You win, and you may stay as our guests as long as I wish.”

As long as he wished? That was not a good sign, but I doubted we would actually have a choice when it came down to it.

Dolph jerked as if he’d been shot with a bolt from a crossbow. His voice was low and I doubted anyone but me could hear him. “He will never let you leave alive, Lark. You have to fight his champion. Mako.”

“A fight, I can handle.”

Dolph grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my bicep as he dragged me around to face him. “You will be in water up to your waist. To win you must drown your opponent. This is a very old tradition Requiem has brought forward. With his sister out of the picture, there is no one to stop him.”

I swallowed the fear that curled up my throat and tried to choke me. Across from us, a tightly muscled Undine stepped out from behind Requiem and Bella. He was a little shorter than me, but by the way he moved, he was all muscle. His shirt gaped at the belly giving a glimpse of a torso that seemed chiseled of pale blue stone. His eyes and hair matched the color of his skin. He looked like he’d been frozen and then thawed. Webbed hands and the slight flutter of gills just below his ears completed the package. His eyes never stopped moving, watching everything and nothing all at once.

“Is he an Ender?”

“No, he’s a killer.”

Startled, I looked to Dolph. “What?”

“Pulled from the cells to be Requiem’s personal fighter. He was the last serial killer we put away, almost a hundred years ago. He is mad, Lark. Mad and violent beyond reason. He has killed every challenger sent forward.”

“Enders?”

“Yes.”

I licked my lips, fear climbing my throat for a second time, and then I shrugged. There was little choice here, which meant I faced Mako no matter how afraid I was. I spun my spear out, pointing at Requiem. “What are the rules, if any?”

Requiem let out a long low laugh, but the crowd didn’t laugh with him. “There are only three rules, Ender. First. Kill or be killed. There will be no ties.”

Mako swayed where he stood, hands flexing. I looked at Bella. She would die if I failed, and once more, I would be the one who had fallen at the finish line. Requiem held up his hand. “Second. No weapons allowed. This is strength of body only. And third, no power of the earth or water may be used. Dolph, prepare her for the Depths.”

Behind me, Dolph let out a soft groan, he spun me to face him and as his hands stripped me of my weapons, he spoke in a low whisper. “Lark, I will create a diversion, and you will run. No one will stop you. I can’t save you both but you can get away.”

I put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m not leaving her.”

“You can’t beat him.” Dolph grabbed my arms. “He’s a survivor of the cells and has killed a dozen Enders already.”

“He’s not the only survivor standing in front of you, Dolph.” I pushed away from him and faced Requiem once more, a strange calm flowing over my body. I might die, but I would not do so without a knock-down, drag-out fight. Spreading my arms wide I turned a slow circle. “I have no weapons other than my hands. And now you will swear that my sister and I will go free when I kill your champion.”

The crowd gave a low murmur and Requiem laughed and gave me a mocking bow. “On the redemption of my soul, on being denied the grace of the Mother’s last embrace, I swear that if you defeat my champion, you and your sister will be honored guests for the remainder of your stay.” His black eyes glittered as he watched me. Not exactly what I’d asked for, but I would take it.