is yours. Tobias had chosen another option entirely: to use his arrows toward his own survival.
Glass shattered, and he flinched. The orb had been reduced to shards, revealing a red flame that quickly died, leaving the darkness heavier in its wake. Tobias’s arrow was up and aimed, and he slowly lowered his bow, trying to ease his nerves—until a crunching sounded.
Footsteps.
Tobias’s arms sprang to action, his arrow aimed once again. Slick with sweat, he slid his back against the wall—and then the wall ended beside him, and the footsteps silenced.
He’s on the other side.
Holding his breath, he threw himself around the wall.
An arrow barely gleamed through the darkness, pointed at his nose. Tobias’s vision cleared, making out large hands, a towering figure, and a full beard.
“Orion.” He exhaled, letting his arms fall to his sides.
Orion frowned, lowering his weapon. “You drop your bow too quickly. Reward goes to the man who kills another.”
“I won’t kill a good man.”
“There may come a time when that’ll need to change—”
“That’ll never change.”
Orion nodded. Tobias cocked his head at the shattered orb. “Was that you?”
“Indeed it was.”
The space between them became tense. They were supposed to be competing, something Tobias had no intention of doing. But now Orion stood before him, and suddenly throwing the challenge had become significantly more difficult.
“We’ll travel together. You’ll look for the others, be our line of defense. I’ll take out the targets.” Orion held out his hand. “Fair?”
Tobias wasted no time shaking his hand. “Fair.”
With a nod, Orion continued through the arena, Tobias trailing behind him. Tobias’s eyes strayed from the path ahead to the pews, boring through the blanket of black in search of the Sovereign. “Do you think he’s watching us?”
“I imagine he is.”
“He can’t be too pleased to see us working together.”
A whoosh sounded, followed by the clank of broken glass. Orion eyed his conquest—the shattered orb, its flame snuffed—and turned to Tobias.
“Then let’s make it harder for him to see.”
A rumbling echoed behind them—a gate rising, locking into place.
“What the fuck was that?” Tobias said.
Orion wavered. “I take it someone’s joining us.”
Footsteps sounded, faint but hurried. Tobias’s mouth went dry, his lungs tight. Whoever was coming was moving quickly—no, whatever was coming, as the stride was four-legged. The stride of an animal. He peered through the shadows, searching for the creature, and one of the shadows hurtled toward him, snapping its jaws.
“Tobias!” Orion barked.
Tobias’s hands reacted before his mind could, taking aim and shooting in one swoop. The creature yelped and tumbled to the sand, landing in a lifeless pile with the arrow lodged in its chest.
Tobias sucked in a few shallow breaths, struggling to regain his composure. Orion squatted beside the creature—a wolf, its black coat the perfect mask in their conditions—and ran his hand through its fur, checking to make sure it was dead.
“Good shot.” He gestured at Tobias’s bow. “You ever use one of those before?”
Tobias gazed down at the weapon wedged in his sweaty palm. “No.”
“Beginner’s luck then, eh?”
More footsteps—closer, slow and stalking, and Tobias swiped an arrow from his quiver and took aim. Orion followed suit, the two staring into the nothingness, waiting for the lupine growl and glint of fangs.
Raphael stumbled into view, his weapon hastily aimed.
“Oh, it’s just you.” He exhaled, arms flopping at his sides. “You scared the shit out of me. I swear I nearly pissed myself. The Sovereign set something loose out here, you know.”
Tobias and Orion dropped their weapons, pointing at the body at their feet. “Wolves,” Orion mumbled.
“God. Wonderful.” Raphael shook his head. “Are you working together?”
Tobias nodded, and an awkward silence lingered.
“Tag along?” Orion asked.
“We guard,” Tobias said. “Orion takes out the targets.”
Orion led the way through the arena, while Tobias and Raphael scanned their surroundings. Each noise sent Tobias to action, his arrow aimed at the wall, the ground, or at something else equally harmless. A rustling sounded, and he spun toward it, preparing to fight the nothingness in front of him.
“Fucking wolves, I swear…” Raphael elbowed Tobias in the ribs. “How much coin would you bet they’re conveniently avoiding Drake and Kaleo?”
Something flitted in Tobias’s periphery, and his eyes panned the darkness. Nothing—until a stirring sounded. Scampering.
Orion leaned into Tobias, his bow drawn. “Wolf.”
“See?” Raphael hissed. “What did I tell you?”
More scampering, this time behind him, and Tobias spun around, tracking its movements. Next the scampering was in front of him, then everywhere, sending the men shuffling from side to