Ror

lmost reverent. "Better pra

y Ha

y name shatter

head t

ined from

red. "No, tha

ss stated coldly. "Let us see

forward into the circle. Dariu

he drawled.

ace his eyes. "I don

arked, his voice silky but vicious

nsion as he circled me, h

ourself,"

t," I m

n bu

nd light. Scales shimmered down his arms, his te

ed. Someone

e globe bur

filling my eyes. Heat surged into me with furious forceI threw

che never

ned m

y... yet not scorching. Not even aching. It seemed like the flame

illed t

a's voice pierced t

e, his flames choking into smoke.

the faint golden glow lingering on my skin.

fear, bewilderment, wrath a

e snarled. "No one survi

g right here

arsh with panic. "And that means

at me with wonder, others with hunger, but al

twisted into the slighte

she mumbled. "V

heaving, his voice lowerin

e you, R

voice breaking.

is buried firm

t prey. Maybe I wa

stead, the dragon fire had

the flame

er the walls. My army cursed arm began to glo

t through

rked One," so

t the radiance like it

s head. "Not Marked. Somethin

er blasted a

stress clapped her hands once.

ed. Except..." Her stare fastened on me

nst my skin. Darius didn't move. He just kept staring at m

.. it won't be because you're lucky. It'll be beca

d like smoke as he t

e. "You should be dead. Yet here you stand. Tell

"I don't know what

Oh, but I do. And very

oser, her whisper curling

. why didn't the

im, the air in the cla

sunlight. His coat was black, too clean for this dilapidated schoo

is eyes that

e. And when they found

muttered. Not l

nt throug

omach

e

ising to my face. My voice s

ike steel. "No. But

e other students muttered, their

ss stated from the doorway, her

tiffened.

ing his name across the board with s

"He looked at you like you were dinner and d