The Genesis Wars by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Author:Akemi Dawn Bowman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2022-04-19T00:00:00+00:00

20

SHURA STANDS ACROSS THE SAND from me, freckles hidden beneath a layer of ash. She no longer looks like the frantic girl in the cell. She looks feral.

I take a step forward, and I’m about to tell her who I am, when I hear a voice.

“Let the battle begin!” Prince Ettore shouts into the arena.

I glance up at the elaborate box several levels high. Stone gargoyles are perched in the corners, mouths spitting fire. Ettore’s throne is made of sharp bone and red velvet, spread outward like a display of teeth.

I remember his wild black hair and golden eyes. I remember the evil that spun around him like smoke. And I remember how angry he was when he didn’t get the chance to break me apart.

But the figure beside him is much, much worse.

Prince Caelan stands next to Ettore’s throne, hands folded behind his white furs and a crown of silver branches on his head.

My bones become ice, shattering in every direction.

What is he doing here?

My mind stumbles, but I catch myself. I can’t let my mask drop. Not with my friend still so much at risk. But the realization that Caelan may have sent her here… that he may have brought her here himself…

A curse snakes its way up my throat, but I keep it in. If Caelan’s the reason Shura is in War, his expression reveals nothing. The only thing he offers is a cold, vacant stare into the pit below.

Shura approaches. She’s already picked up one of the weapons scattered around the arena: a short sword, still coated in fresh blood.

I hold up my hands. “You don’t have to do this,” I say quickly. “I’m not going to fight you.”

She snarls, swinging her blade, but I dodge to the side.

“Shura, please,” I insist, trying to keep my voice low. “It’s me.”

But either she doesn’t believe me or she doesn’t care, because she swings again, and I leap out of the way just before the blade can find my leg.

A rumble of disapproval breaks out through the crowd. They want a show, and I’m getting in the way of that.

Good, my mind hisses toward the Residents. If they want a show, they can come down here themselves and I’ll happily oblige them. My eyes land on Caelan for only a moment—he’s speaking to Ettore, his face the portrait of boredom.

It fuels me with rage. He treated Shura like a friend. Like a sister. And now he has the gall to stand there and feel nothing? To not even watch her fight for her life?

I don’t care if he let me go—there’s no coming back from this kind of cruelty.

Shura’s blade swings at my head, and I duck low before spinning behind her in one fluid motion, using my arms to pin her tight.

“This is what they want,” I growl in her ear. “We can’t let them win. We can’t play their games.”

She slams the back of her head against my face, drawing blood.

My heels dig into the sand to keep my balance.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.