Shadowborn Royals - G. Bailey Page 0,14

chuckles and I must have hit a nerve because Tyler’s face turns a deep red. He steps forward, his eyes darkening. His thugs move with him like trained pups and I brace myself for a good fight when footsteps register in the distance. I turn to see Scott, Memphis, and Axel walking through one of the doors. They look ridiculously hot like they’ve stepped out of a fantasy romance book or something and they’re here to fuck shit up. My guys—because that’s who they are to me now—surround me.

“Is there a problem here?” Axel’s mouth twitches, his arms folding over his chest.

Tyler glances at his guys before resting his eyes on me. He knows a straight-up fight, even when he has the only weapon, is not going to end well for him. His thugs might be big, but they don’t look like good fighters to me. Not compared to my guys.

“Be seeing you in the Trials, Izora,” Tyler growls with a smirk that I want to punch off his face. He then turns and clicks his fingers. His little pups follow him out to the common area, which is now filled with inmates making their way to the mess hall.

“Death threats before breakfast,” Scott mutters at my side. “Welcome to the Light Fae prison.”

Death threats are the least of my worries right now. My heart hammers in my chest at the sight of the double doors leading to the next phase of the Blood Trials. I barely finish breakfast when the guards usher everyone outside and into a steel hall at the back of the prison. My breath fogs as I rub the chill from my arms and my gaze locks on Eva. It’s not just her that catches my attention, but the Shadow Warden at her side.

Warden Kyle stands tall with his arms clasped behind his back, the buttons on his black uniform gleaming. He scans the hall and smirks when his gaze lands on me.

Out of all the wardens who could’ve been on her side, why him? I guess it makes sense when I think about it. He was the one who brought me to this hellhole, and the sight of him makes me even more certain I was framed. It’s all making sense now. Eva’s the one who’s been orchestrating this shit show all along with her minions like Warden Kyle at her side, doing the dirty work for her. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that she got the wardens to abduct me from the academy in the first place.

I glance over the hall at Luke standing with the other guards.

He’s looking back at me as if he, too, is realizing what I am. A crease forms between his brows as he looks between me and Warden Kyle.

Axel’s hand wraps around my waist and I look up at him, hating the pained expression I find on his face. Memphis hasn’t said a word since we got here.

Scott, on the other hand, has been going over strategy plans.

“Are you and Memphis okay?” I whisper, ignoring Eva’s spiel about how great and honorable the Blood Trials are. “I know you both lost someone you cared about in the Trials.”

“Eli.” Axel nods, his eyes flicking over to Memphis and then back again. “I’ll be okay, cutie, but I’m not so sure about the big guy. Losing his fiance the way he did… he was never the same after it.”

My eyes sting with tears at the thought of Memphis’ pain. I can’t imagine how traumatic it must’ve been to lose his loved one. It makes me all the more determined to protect my guys as much as I can and make sure I don’t lose any of them.

I move beside Memphis and take his hand in mine, giving him a reassuring smile. To my delight, he returns it, though he sniffs and clears his throat as though he was choked up.

“Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for.” Eva sweeps a hand to the doors towering behind her. “I’m sure many of you will be familiar with the Blood Trials, for those who are not, listen up and listen well.”

With a nod from Eva, Warden Kyle unclasps his hands and crosses his arms over his chest. “The object of the Trials remains the same: try not to fucking die.”

“Now isn’t that reassuring?” Memphis mutters, winking at me.

“And remember that King Ares is watching,” Eva adds, giving us all that sickly sweet smile of hers, “so put on a good show.