Gates of Thread and Stone

CHAPTER 32

I LOOKED BACK at my teammates. Avan’s face was grim, his mouth set into a hard line. My throat closed.

Reev was 22.

“Hey!” Tariza shouted. “That guy’s a sentinel. What’s going on?”

No one answered. I had to stop this. My foot moved forward. A loud clang of the bell made me jump.

From the platform above, the announcer said, “Please remain where you are until the start of the match. Violation will result in forfeit of victory.”

I didn’t care about that. Reev looked right at me, but there was no sign of life in his face. His eyes were as empty as the sentinel’s in the cafeteria.

The bell for the match sounded. I started forward again.

“Wait,” I said, hands outstretched. Then I gasped and ducked. Reev’s knuckles grazed my jaw.

He advanced, his expression cool and focused—but not on me. Only on the match, the attack. I was nothing but his opponent.

“Reev.” I didn’t care that my voice wavered and broke. I blocked another punch, but the blow vibrated down my arms. I fell back with a cry.

Reev didn’t let up. I knew his moves. I knew how to dodge and to deflect his strength. Reev had taught me all this. But he didn’t remember.

I had to make him remember.

I blocked a kick, grunting as the impact jarred my shoulders, and then I struck hard. My fist connected with his jaw. It felt like punching a wall. My knuckles throbbed. Reev slowed for barely an instant.

He was faster than when we used to spar. Either Ninu had made him faster or he had held back with me. But he wasn’t holding back now. His foot kicked my chest. The air rushed from my lungs as I fell. Pain again as I hit the ground and skidded across the arena floor, no breath left even to cry out. The dirt scraped my cheek and hands. Everything ached. The ground swam in front of me. I rolled onto my back, gasping as yellow blobs floated overhead. I blinked, making out the clouds. Air finally filled my chest.

Dust burned my eyes and settled in a bitter film on my tongue. This isn’t happening. I rose to my elbows, groaning.

Reev stalked toward the stands and reached into an empty seat. He withdrew a sword with a silvery blade.

“That’s illegal!”

“Hey! Stop the match!”

I could hardly hear Tariza and Grene shouting behind me. My awareness had narrowed on Reev, moving closer, raising the blade at his side. Sentinels aimed for a clean strike. Mason had said so.

“Reev,” I whispered. “Stop.” This couldn’t be right. I had just talked to him last night. No. No no no.” We had a plan. Don’t you remember?” What should I do? I don’t know what to do.

“Get up! Kai, get the drek up!”

Avan’s voice jolted through me. I scrambled backward, my palms sliding against the dirt. The scrapes stung. I glanced toward my boot where the knife was hidden, but every instinct I possessed repelled the very thought of reaching for it, of using it against Reev.

Reev didn’t hesitate, though. He followed me and swung his blade.

I threw my mind against the threads. Time crawled nearly to a stop. This close, his eyes were clearly visible. They were hollow. Devoid of emotion or thought. He intended to kill me. No one rushed onto the arena floor to stop him—not the announcer or the other sentinels. This had been planned.

I blinked away tears. I only wanted to save him. Everything I had done had been for Reev.

And, if I was honest, maybe a little for myself, because I didn’t know how to be without him. It was pathetic, a seventeen-year-old girl this scared to be alone. Even now, with his blade blurring the air in slowed time, I couldn’t give up. I had to believe in Reev, I had to—

Time snapped forward. I flinched, watching Reev’s face. With time speeded up, this would be quick.

Reev’s blade flashed, followed by a streak of movement. A ruffle of black tunic. A spray of red. A cloud of raised dust.

Time adjusted itself. I stared up at a broad back. Avan knelt in front of me, his head bowed. Blood spread out around him in a crimson fan. Then he slumped to the side and hit the dirt with a thud that echoed in my chest.