Anger flared within me, a burning desire to strike back at this man who held our fates so carelessly in his hands. But raw emotion would not save us; we needed control now.
“You will complete the five hardest tasks,” Pasha Hassan continued, his sneer deepening. “If you fail, you will be given the worst death imaginable. But first, you will watch your children die.”
Searing hatred for Pasha Hassan scorched through me, a loathing deeper than any I had ever known.
“I know you’re Timebornes and are lying to my face,” he added, his voice laced with mockery. “But I’m willing to let you plead your case. Pass, and I will help you unravel the blades’ mystery. It’s that simple. Your tests will begin in a couple of hours.”
A heavy silence filled the room, each of his words reverberating with the weight of an impending storm.
“Stay here and prepare,” Pasha Hassan said, his voice echoing off the ornate walls of the underground chamber as he turned and left, his shadow lingering long after he disappeared.
When the door shut behind him, Olivia’s breath hitched, her wide, tear-filled eyes searching mine for answers I didn’t have. Dirt streaked her cheeks, and her trembling hands gripped my arm tightly.
“We’re not going to survive this,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “What if we’re asked to jump off a building? Why did you say anything to Pasha Hassan? Why on earth did you tell him we’re Timehunters?”
I took her hands in mine, feeling the tremor that mirrored the dread in my chest. The cold knot of fear in my stomach threatened to overwhelm me, but I pushed it down, forcing steadiness into my voice.
“I promise we’ll get through this together,” I said, trying to infuse my words with conviction for both our sakes. I held her gaze, hoping she could see the strength I was clinging to. “You’re a warrior, Olivia. We’ll survive this. We have to—for Rosie and Luna.”
She shook her head, fresh tears spilling over. “I am not the same woman I used to be. I’ve had a baby! Do you think we can pass these tests? We don’t even know what they are!”
Her vulnerability struck me harder than any blow I’d endured in the gladiator pits.
“Yes, you had a baby, but you’re still a warrior—a strong, courageous woman with whom I fell in love.” I brushed my thumbs over the backs of her hands, willing her to believe not just my words but the unspoken vow within them. We were in this together—I wouldn’t let our challenges end here without a fight.
Before Olivia could respond, the door creaked open, and Reyna stepped inside. Her presence was like oil poured onto the fire, reigniting our anger. The urge to strike mingled with the sting of betrayal.
Olivia lunged forward, but Reyna raised her hands in a gesture of surrender.
“I know you’re mad at me. I can explain.”
“Explain?” Olivia’s voice cracked, her protest ringing through the room. “You led us into this! You put my children’s lives in danger!”
“Look,” Reyna began, urgency lacing her tone. “I risked my life sneaking in here. I came to tell you what the tests are.”
“Do you think we’ll believe you?” I spat, each word dripping with disdain. “You betrayed us. Your father is despicable.”
Reyna’s expression hardened. “That’s why I’m here. You have the power to overthrow him. You have two hours to learn and strategize.”
I locked eyes with Olivia, searching for a sliver of trust or willingness to listen. Our lives—and our children’s—hung precariously in the balance.
“The first test is called the Venomous Chalice,” Reyna said, and Olivia’s grip on my arm tightened.
“Please don’t tell us this has something to do with snakes,” Olivia whispered, her voice laced with dread, echoing the tightening knot in my stomach.
Reyna nodded solemnly. “You must enter a snake pit, find the largest one, drain its venom, and pour it into a chalice.”
Olivia’s breath hitched in a silent scream. Instinctively, I wrapped my arms around her, drawing her close to my chest. My touch was meant to shield her from the terror of Reyna’s words, though my pulse thundered at the thought of facing those serpentine horrors.
“We will face it together,” I murmured into her hair, trying to imbue the words with a confidence I didn’t entirely feel.
Reyna continued, indifferent to the panic she was sowing. “The second test is the Alchemist’s Crucible. Both of you will ingest a deadly poison. You’ll have eight hours to create an antidote. Fail, and you die.”
“Die?” Olivia echoed, her voice trembling. The color drained from her face, leaving her ashen. She was no stranger to danger, but this... this was different. The stakes were higher than ever before.
Reyna pressed on, as relentless as the trials she described. “The third is called the Labyrinth of Shadows—a darkened dungeon with no light. You’ll hunt opponents you cannot see. The only way out is everyone inside must be dead before you can exit.”
Olivia’s body tensed in my arms, her fear so palpable I could almost feel it coursing through my veins. I tightened my hold on her, hoping to anchor her—and myself—in the face of the mounting horrors.
