Page 112 of Fall Before Her Throne

His grin was feral. “The gauntlet.”

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MAX

“What are we doing?” I asked as the Shadows led us all outside. Obi waited in the grass, his arms crossed. The sun was already shining on the back patio, the morning light glowing through the trees surrounding the house. With only a few weeks until fall, we could still feel the humid warmth beginning to blanket the backyard.

“You’ll see,” Ciel said cryptically. The hacker and I hadn’t gotten to know each other—he seemed to keep to himself—but he seemed almost excited.

I glanced at Leona to see if she had any clues, but she also looked confused. She pursed her lips. “What’s happening?”

“The gauntlet,” Ryu said, grinning.

Wynn placed a couple of bottles of water on the wooden railing of the patio. Obi gave Leona a hard kiss and a whispered good morning before all four of the Shadows walked into the grass and stood in a line, one by one. Obi began wrapping his knuckles with the tape they used to spar.

“What the fuck is the gauntlet?” Cas asked. Once Obi was done, he tossed the wrap to Wynn. It only took a second for their actions to click in my head.

“It’s a test.” I watched as Wynn handed the tape to Ciel. My heart thumped inside my chest. “A test for me.”

Obi inclined his head. “The gauntlet is a challenge to earn a position in the Shadows. To gauge your loyalty. We’ve all done it.”

“It’s changed over the years,” Wynn said. “The more members we’ve gained, we’ve had to switch up how it works.”

A test. Ever since I showed up on their doorstep, I knew the Shadows didn’t want me here. I didn’t blame them, but I had worried at what point they were going to make their decision whether I was worthy of staying. It seemed like the time had arrived.

My back straightened. “Okay. I’ll do it.”

I consciously avoided looking at Leona, but her gaze burned the side of my face.

“It’s a physical and mental test. Are you sure you’re up for it?” Wynn said as he glanced at my side, where my wound was still healing. The stitches were out, but the skin was still tender and sore. In the mornings, when I’d worked out with Wynn, I’d not even been close to my best.

“Yes.”

“You’re still recovering,” Wynn added.

“I know.”

“You don’t have to do this,” Ryuji said, cocking his head to the side. For once, his face was serious. He wasn’t teasing.

“I do.” What were the consequences if I said no? “If this is your test, I’m doing it.”

Leona spoke up from my side. “What about me?”

Ryu let out a breath. “What about you, hanii?”

“If there’s some sort of test to join the Shadows, I should have done it ages ago,” she replied, hands on her hips.

“I told you she’d say that,” Ryu quipped.

Ciel shook his head. “Our agreement cemented your position as a Shadow. Same with Cas. You don’t have to do it.”

My situation was different. I had been their enemy. Of course, they would test my loyalty.

“But what if I want to?” Leona pressed.

“I told you⁠—”

“Shh, Ryu,” Ciel cut him off. “You got shot yesterday. Are you sure?”