“I need some air.” Vic stalked out the room towards the hallway.

  I was about to follow when I heard, “Next, Sienna and Camilla.”

  My shoulders dropped.

  “I’ll go talk to her,” Theo said, giving me a pat on the back before he followed Vic out into the hallway. “Good luck,” he called over his shoulder.

  Great, now it was just Camilla and I. She stepped onto the mat, a smirk on her face as she waited for me to join her. I took my place across from her, and Instructor Yarik stood between us.

  The large training room had three circled mats to fight on. Two were being used, and the last, Camilla and I stood on. Equipment lined the far wall of the training room on one side, and the other was covered in two-way mirrors reflecting our own images back, but I knew someone was on the other side watching us. We were always being watched.

  “You know the rules; no hair pulling or eye gouging, no leaving the mat or you lose a point. When I say the match is over, you stop!” We both nodded, keeping our eyes on each other. “Good. Begin.”

  Camilla moved fast, bringing her fists up to guard her face as she assessed my first move.

  “I’m going to love beating you to the ground this time, Sienna.” Camilla smirked.

  I nearly rolled my eyes at her. “When have you ever beat me in the ring?”

  She lunged forward and aimed a hard swing at my head. I brought my right arm up to guard only seconds before I realized my mistake. I’d exposed my broken wrist. Her punch wasn’t aimed for my head, but for my arm.

  The contact sent blinding pain through my entire body, searing through my wrist and up my arm.

  I was going to faint.

  Jumping back, I did everything I could to keep my face neutral.

  “Oh, did that hurt?” Camilla tilted her head to the side. Stars and blackness edged around my vision, and I tried to blink them away. I should have known she’d find my weakness and go right for it.

  I gritted my teeth.

  “Turns out a little birdie told me you’ve been favouring your right arm. It seems they weren’t wrong.” She threw a hard kick at my right side, and I was forced to take the hit, not risking bringing my arm down again. I winced at the blow, the side of my leg red.

  Another punch, another hit. I tried to dodge out of the way, scrambling back like this was my first fight. I swung my good arm at her, but it never reached her body. She managed to land another hit to my right side.

  This wasn’t working. I couldn’t do anything to stop her advances on my right side. I couldn’t get close enough to do any damage and she knew it.

  “Want to throw in the white flag yet? Give up, and maybe I’ll go easy on Vic when we meet up outside the DEZ.”

  I saw red. Heat flashed through me, and I didn’t care about the broken wrist. I didn’t care that Vic had told me to stop protecting her. Nobody threatened my family and got away with it.

  I twisted my stance and brought my right leg back, my left side lined up with her. I tucked my right arm behind my back and smirked. “You could have just finished me if you’d kept your mouth shut, but that was never your strong suit, was it?” I jabbed with my left, hitting her by surprise right in the sternum, and her breath whooshed from her lungs. “It’s like you never learn, Camilla. Don’t poke the bear; that’s what they always say.” My left leg swept behind her, and she was on her back. I pounced, digging my knee into her chest and wrenching her arm back, twisting it at an awkward angle. All the while, my right arm stayed tucked away. “Want to throw in the white flag?”

  Camilla grimaced as a scream escaped her lips, and Yarik called the match before I dislocated her shoulder.

  I stood up, glaring down at Camilla. She was seething. Her whole body vibrated as she pushed herself to her knees.

  “You’ll pay for this,” she hissed.

  I made it to the hallway before I collapsed to my knees under the pain. Theo caught me before I fell onto my face and said into my ear, “Not here.” I let him pick me up, lifting me to my feet, so I could walk on my own, but he kept an arm wrapped around my waist, and I leaned into him.

  Vic rushed ahead, opening the heavy door of our quad before I collapsed onto the bed.

  “I’ll get some ice,” Theo said and rushed away while Vic rewrapped my wrist. The tightness of the brace caused the pain to flare with such strength I had to shove my face in a pillow to muffle my screams.

  Four hours and an entire ice bucket later, I had regained enough strength for us to head out. It was later than I’d planned to leave, and I wasn’t sure where we’d find Jayla or how long she’d give us, but I didn’t want to find out. Even if every step had me wincing.

  We’d head towards Ava’s place. If Jayla found us first, we’d have to make sure the meeting was brief—even though I still didn’t know if I had an answer. I didn’t know how much farther my strength could take me, but Vic helped me along the way.

  “I’ll keep watch, don’t worry,” Theo reassured us again before we left him outside our quad. He would stay to ensure no one would notice our absence. His presence there, seemingly waiting for us, wouldn’t be suspicious to many of the others, but he’d still have to rotate between watching and roaming to avoid too many questions.

  We were almost at the mechanical room when we rounded the last corner, and my heart leapt into my throat.

  Two figures stood before us, arms crossed, as though they had been waiting for us. They had expected us to come there. Vic took a step back, and we were greeted by two more strong bodies blocking our exit. My eyes darted around, looking for a way out. Vic trembled beside me, and I gripped her hand, ready to protect her.

  Camilla took a step forward, and her eyes narrowed as she tilted her head to the side. “I said you’d pay… Blaze.”

  Chapter 12

  Sienna

  The hallway suddenly felt too small, and everything around me went in and out of view. Blaze. She’d called me Blaze.

  Vic was tucked behind me, our backs to the wall, and the second half of Camilla’s gang covered our way out. Scott and James were to my right, Camilla and Blane to my left. I knew their plan. I knew how they would make me pay, and I wouldn’t let them lay a finger on Vic.

  Before anyone could react, I brought my knee up hard on Scott who was closest to me, hitting him right where it’d hurt the most. He doubled over, and I took that brief opportunity to shove Vic away.

  “Go,” I screamed and she didn’t hesitate. She sprinted. James briefly followed, but Vic was too quick. Her speed was one of the only skills she had that were stronger than mine, and I was beyond glad for it tonight.

  Someone shoved me, and my knees stung as they hit the cold cement, Camilla hovering over me with a grin. “Guess you’ll pay for the both of you,” she said before kicking me square in the ribs. Once, twice…and then I couldn’t breathe.

  “Did you think you were the only one who knew how to sneak out of this place?” Camilla gripped my face as she forced my eyes to look into hers. “You aren’t the only one with secrets, Blaze.”

  A pair of hands pulled me to my feet, and I couldn’t stand on my own. They held me in place as Camilla aimed hard punches to my face, over and over again. My eye swelled shut, and I couldn’t see. The other lid was heavy, and I still couldn’t find my breath, couldn’t find strength in my own legs to move or fight back.

  In the distance, I heard her laughter. She was right beside me, but the ringing in my ears was too loud. “Where did you stash all your winnings, Sienna? We just might let you live if you hand them over.”

  My head was shaking, but no sound escaped.

  Her breath brushed against my ear as she leaned in closer and whispered, “I was hoping you’d refuse. I’d hate for you to spoil all my fun too quickly by being weak and giving in. But not to worry, I’m sure Vic will yield much quicker than you once you’re dead.”

  My knees buckled, but James and Scott held me tight. I could feel their rumbled laughs against my back, enjoying every punch hitting my face.

  Camilla stepped forward, and a sharp, blinding pain hit my midsection. I gasped and tried to scream, but with no air in my lungs, all I could manage was a muffled cry. Camilla pulled her arm back, and the knife in her hand was coated with blood. My blood.

  Everything spun, fading in and out of view.

  I felt numb to everything but the pain. It reached every part of me until I could barely see who stood before me. Everything around me was dotted with dots of black and blinding white as my vision sparked.

  Someone grabbed me, pulling me away from James and Scott. Both held tight to my arms, and somehow all three of us ended up on the ground. James and Scott let go of me just as I heard him speak.

  A low voice snarled, “Get up.” Anger and rage escaped Theo with every ragged breath he took. When I glanced up at him under heavy, tired eyes, I saw raw power coursing through him, like a spark of energy finally feeling its release.

  He spared no kindness as his foot came down on Scott’s face. James scrambled to his feet, pushed me away from him, and sprinted down the hallway as fast as he could.

  I couldn’t even lift my head. Blood seeped down my face, and I could taste the metallic tang of it as it hit my lips. I felt the body beside me, Scott, crawl to his feet before he followed James. Theo turned his attention to the last two remaining. His glare narrowed on Camilla, who had done her worst, as promised. Bones were broken all over my body; I could feel them with every beat of my heart.

  And the wound at my stomach…so much blood. Too much.

  Theo took a step towards them. His face contorted with a rage I’d never seen before. The pure, feral wrath of an animal ran through him. I angled my head, blinking away the spots as I lay in a pool of my own blood. I wanted to see what he would do to them.

  The fluorescent lights of the dim hallway flickered in a way that made shadows dance overhead, and I could almost picture a coal black crown glimmering on his head. He was a prince who had come to slay the dragons and save the princess.

  The pain in my side made my breathing laboured. My body trembled, shivering against the cold, as the warm blood continued to pool around my fingers. The people before me swirled across my vision, and I blinked just as Theo’s fist connected with Camilla’s face, before it was all gone.

  “We have to get her to the MediBot,” I heard Vic say beside me. Her voice was muffled. The ringing in my ear made my head hurt.

  “We can’t. It’d take too long for one to get here, and she doesn’t have that much time. Ava can heal her,” Theo said. I heard him better because I was in his arms. I turned my head and buried my face in his chest, the warmth of him seeping through me. A citrusy smell wafted from him. He stopped as I stirred. “Sienna? Can you hear me?”

  I opened my mouth to reply but I couldn’t speak.

  Theo swore and kept moving.

  “They will punish you for leaving the DEZ, Theo,” Vic countered. As I peeked open the single eye that wasn’t swollen shut, I realized we were walking towards the artificial lights near the front entrance of the DEZ.

  I stirred again, wanting to stop him. I didn’t want him getting in trouble for me, but I couldn’t speak and only one eye half blinked open.

  “I don’t care,” Theo said before he spun back to face where I assumed Vic trailed behind us. “Go back to your quad and stay there. Don’t open the door for anyone but me. Do you understand?”

  A small hand squeezed my own. “Please save her.”

  I knew from the break in her voice I must have looked as bad as I felt. The life was being drained out of me. I wanted to say goodbye. I wanted to say I was sorry, but Theo turned away, and the hand gripping mine released.

  “I will,” Theo promised, and then he was running.

  “Stop,” someone yelled but Theo didn’t.

  A warm breeze brushed against my slick skin as soon as he stepped through the doors. Every jostled movement in his arms hurt like hell.

  “Hey! You can’t leave here,” one of the guards yelled as we passed, but Theo didn’t stop.

  “Get back here,” another ordered, but their voices were already a good distance away.

  I wasn’t sure if they were following us or if we’d get very far, but I knew Theo would try everything he could to get me to Ava. She was the only one who could heal me.

  I stopped hearing the shouts of the guards after a few moments. More would come; the other guards would call it in and wait for backup to arrive. They wouldn’t leave their post unmanned though, so for now, we were free.

  I could feel Theo’s heart beating steady like a drum as he held me tight against his chest. With the little strength I had left, I clutched his shirt and pulled myself closer. If I was going to die, at least it would be in the arms of someone I loved, someone I cared about.

  His pace slowed, and he swore under his breath. “Sienna, I need you to wake up. I need you to tell me where Ava’s place is.”

  We had only been there once together, and I’d led the way there and back. Cytos was filled with identical skyscrapers, buildings sometimes weaving and melting into each other as if they were one full block of apartments. It was hard to navigate, even when I knew where I was going and using specific landmarks to direct me.

  My mouth moved, and one eye opened a crack. Theo was peering down at me, and the panic on his face made my pulse race even more. This was bad…real bad.

  I tried to say something, anything, but my throat was so dry, and my lips only moved up and down. Another swear word before Theo began running again.

  I couldn’t tell you how long we’d been searching as I went in and out of consciousness. It could have been minutes; it could have been hours. Suddenly, Theo jolted to a stop, and I heard another familiar voice.

  No amusement filled Jayla’s voice like the last time we met. “What happened?”

  “She was attacked in the DEZ.”

  I heard the quiet snarl from someone beside Jayla. As I lifted my heavy lid, I saw pure rage fill the pretty face of Jayla’s second, Em.

  “There’s a healer, someone who can fix her, but…I don’t know where she lives.” Desperation coated Theo’s voice.

  Jayla looked to Em, who nodded. “I know whom you speak of. This way.”

  They wasted no time racing down the streets. Not bothering to stay in the shadows, as we had no more time. I could feel my body…ending.

  I looked back up to Theo whose gaze was focused ahead of him, and even though the slightest movement hurt, I smiled. His eyes flickered to me.

  I didn’t know if I said the words out loud or if they stayed in my head, but I said one last time, for the first time, actually, “I love you.”

  I woke up to sunshine blinding me through large windows. I blinked away the sleep but didn’t move. At first I thought the light was of the afterlife, that I was dead. I no longer felt any pain.

  I took a deep breath and realized it was real air I breathed into my lungs—I was still alive.

  The body seated at the foot of my bed stirred, and a gentle hand rested against my shoulder when I tried to sit up.

  “Don’t move,” Theo said, his hand warm against my cold skin. His eyes searched me, appearing bloodshot, like he hadn’t gotten any sleep. He probably hadn’t. His hair was ruffled, and blood covered his clothes. My blood.

  “Where…am…?” My throat was dry and my voice hoarse.

  “Don’t speak, child. Drink this; it will help.” Ava stood beside me, a small glass of tea in her hand.

  Theo helped me sit up just enough to get the sweet honey-and-lemon-flavoured tea down my throat and I sighed.

  “I’ve healed you as best I can, but you’ll need to take it easy for a few weeks. Nothing I could do to speed up everything, but you’ll live.” Ava sat back down at her table near the small bed I lay in. Her bed. She mustn’t have slept either.

  Another person sat at the table beside Ava I hadn’t noticed before. Jayla. She looked more accustomed to staying up all night as she lounged in the chair beside Ava with her own glass of tea in her hand.

  She grinned. “Not the kind of meeting I was hoping for.”

  I tried a smile, but the small movement hurt my face. I reached my hand up, feeling no broken bones, no blood as before, although my clothes were covered in dry bits of it, as was the bed linen.

  “I’m sorry,” I squeaked out to both Ava and Jayla. The latter waved a hand in dismissal. “Vic?” I asked, remembering that Camilla hadn’t been after just me.

  “Safe. Emery checked in on her a few hours ago,” Jayla stated.

  “How?” I asked.

  “Em knows a lot about the DEZ. Getting in and out unseen isn’t hard for someone like her.” Darkness filled Jayla’s eyes as she spoke, and I wondered if Emery was from the DEZ as well.

  “Now that you’re awake, do you have an answer for me?” Jayla pushed right to it.

  “Don’t you think that can wait?” Theo replied, his thumb brushing against my arm so slowly I wondered if he knew he was doing it.

  “Unfortunately, no, it can’t wait. And I’d think from the events of last night, you’d agree.” Jayla kept her eyes cold as she spoke. All business.

  Theo opened his mouth to argue but I stopped him.

  “It’s fine. You’re right.” I looked to Jayla, not letting myself give it a second thought. “I will help you in exchange for you taking care of Vic until I’m out of the DEZ.”

  Jayla quirked a smile and inclined her head. “Of course.”

  I had told Vic she’d have a choice, but after what happened, I had to keep her safe. Even if she was mad at me for it, I would make sure no one hurt her as they had hurt me.

  Jayla downed her tea before she stood to leave. “Emery left instructions on what we need from you with Victoria.”

  My brows creased. “How did you know I’d say yes?”

  The corner of her mouth moved into an amused but sad smile. “Because it’s what I’d do for a friend.”