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“Hit us with everything you’ve got,” Ada requests.
Ecaeris frowns. “Everything?”
“Everything,” she repeats. “Don’t hold back.”
Both men look uncomfortable, chancing glances at Talodus. The guard dips his head, and that’s all they need. If he has faith in their abilities, then the princes have no reason to be hesitant with either goddess. Other than their love for the women.
I have no doubts about Ada’s power, but I almost want to close my eyes. It’s difficult not to watch the spectacle before me, though. Especially when I know one of them is a goddess chosen by Spiran, and I firmly believe the other woman is, too.
Ecaeris calls water from the atmosphere, pulling all the humidity out of the air and into a large sphere between his hands. It grows and grows until the surface wavers under its size, begging to be used.
Flames dance over Lyell’s fingers, gaining intensity as the colors change. He holds a pyre in his grasp, stretching out before him in a mesmerizing display of his control.
Ada stares at the Shade prince, tracking his every breath. Water flows from her skin, coating her arms like clothing. The ball of liquid in her hand is no bigger than the cork top from William’s mead bottles, and she loosely holds it as she patiently waits.
Madigan shakes her arms out, and vivid embers float through the sky. Bright fire creeps across her chest, licking at her neck. She swipes her jaw, pulling the smallest of flares away from her face, keeping her vision clear.
Ecaeris takes half a step forward, and I stop breathing as I witness the quickest fight in the Mongrels’ history.
Ada takes the hit from Lyell’s element, her feet barely sliding across the dirt field of the Colosseum. Only… He doesn’t do any damage. His flames didn’t even touch her. They disappear into a plume of smoke as they reach her water shield. She doesn’t boast a single burn or blister.
My Mongrel goddess flicks the cork-top-sized ball of water at the Shade prince, and the impact sends him skittering across the ground. He tumbles, unable to stop himself, until he ends up lying flat on his back.
Ecaeris watches the Shade prince fly by before he makes his move. Though, at this point, I’m not sure why he follows through with it. That landing was enough to make me want to surrender.
That would have been the smart choice, but he makes the stubborn choice.
His water attack evaporates within feet of Madigan, the steam clouding around her before it suddenly clears thanks to her partner in training. The Shade’s cheeks are pink from the heat of her element, but not one burn has appeared on her fire-covered skin.
Madigan rotates her hand, shoving the minuscule flame at the Mongrel Prince, and he tries to counter. Only he doesn’t know which way it’s coming from and overestimates his defense. He aims toward the left, following the direction of her move. But he’s hit from the right by a stray flame and sent sailing into the air to land beside his fellow fallen royal with a grunt.
I frantically blink, trying to understand what just happened. And while I saw every bit of it, I’m not sure I can comprehend each separate part of their attacks.
The first thing I register is Lyell’s strained cackle as he stares at the sky.
Ada scrambles toward them, worry creasing her brow. “Are you okay? Are either of you hurt? Should I send for Imy?”
“We’re fine, Ada,” Ecaeris replies, though he wheezes through the words.
“Did you see how high he went?” Lyell asks, struggling to catch his breath. “That was amazing. Definitely worth taking the first hit.”
Ada sighs heavily as her concern wanes. She slowly alters her direction, walking toward the fence.
Talodus elbows me as he pushes away, quietly whispering, “Grab her.”
I grin at her, but she stares beyond me like she can’t see me. Her steps falter as her face loses color… And I run, sliding across the dirt to catch her before she hits the ground.
I turn to find Talodus, preparing to yell at him, but he’s carrying Madi toward the grassy area at the fence. The new Shade queen glares at him, her arms crossed over her chest, but the Mongrel guard pretends not to notice.
“You scared me,” I murmur to Ada as I adjust her in my arms. “Are you okay?”
“Sorry,” she mutters, weakened but attempting a smile. “I knew it was coming; I couldn’t get the words out. We’ve pushed too far today, but it’s the only way we can grow.”
“Training is done for the day,” I gently tell her. “If Imy knew you’d just passed out, he would lose his mind.”
“I didn’t pass out,” she argues. “I got lightheaded.”
I chuckle as I hold her closer. “You can explain that to him after you take a nap and a bath.”
