She couldn’t quite make out what it meant, but the emotions were powerful. Intoxicating. Startling.
Cleo’s words played back in her mind. Her heart was supposed to guide her. Why was it so undecided?
Time froze over as she treaded water.
Had it been a few moments?
Or minutes?
Or longer?
Snap out of it,a voice in her mind sounded.
She wanted freedom, that was for sure.
But was that truly all she wanted?
A whistle sounded somewhere, breaking her out of her thoughts. The first ruler had reached the end of their maze.
Isla was so far behind. It was time to make a choice.
To follow her heart.
She chose a direction and swam, reinvigorated, her chest full of frost, white plumes coming out of her mouth each time she gulped for air.
Her hair had divided into thick, frozen strands; her clothes did nothing to keep her warm. Her skin felt too stiff, her muscles fighting to flex in the unrelenting temperature of the water.
Just a little longer,she pleaded with her body, knowing it had been through worse. She had trained for this.
Her lungs began to shut down first, choking with water that had somehow broken through her mouth.
Another turn.
The maze seemed to be closing in around her; each time she went up for air, the crowd became blurrier. Their cheers farther away.
Was she even moving anymore? She couldn’t feel her arms.
Everything became colder. Her lungs lurched.
Her eyes fought to blink open, one more time, and all she saw was light, retreating.
She was sinking.
If the trial killed her, she wondered if part of the prophecy would be fulfilled. Perhaps the Moonling ruler had chosen this trial, knowing it might kill one of the weaker rulers for her, without having to break the rules. At least, in that scenario, Celeste would live.
But her people wouldn’t.
Terra and Poppy wouldn’t.
This was not death. This death was too quiet. Too much like slipping into sleep.
She wanted all life had to offer. The long life of a ruler with powers, exploring all Lightlark, a lifetime of friendship with Celeste, perhaps even ... love. Something she had judged others for. Including her own mother. Something she had always seen as reckless. Shewanted,wanted so strongly, selfish things beyond just saving her realm and breaking the curses—
Slowly, her fingers uncurled from their fists. A groan sounded in the back of her throat, and she fought the urge to keep her eyes closed, willed her limbs back to life.
She clawed through the ice-cold water like it was the only thing standing between her and everything held in her heart.
Her vision went in and out, but she felt the end of the maze. She grabbed the glowing tablet of ice waiting there and hauled herself out of the water with all her remaining strength.
