Eryx practically had to drag me out of Professor Belladonna's classroom. I barely registered Rivena and Lilith saying goodbye as they headed out to another class.

My thoughts were still trapped back in the Contracts Chamber, circling around one horrifying fact.

Someone owned my soul.

Every time my fingers brushed the mark hidden beneath my uniform, Belladonna's obedient contractee flashed through my mind. His empty smile. The way he'd moved without hesitation. The way he'd surrendered every choice with nothing more than an order.

I wasn't entirely sure my feet were carrying me towards my next class.

They seemed to be following Eryx on their own.

"This way," he said for what was probably the third time.

I blinked, forcing myself back into the present.

We climbed flight after flight of stairs until the air became noticeably cooler. The corridors widened, voices echoed through the stone halls, and streams of students merged together, all heading in the same direction.

Eventually the corridor opened onto a vast gallery overlooking what Lilith had enthusiastically referred to as 'the combat arena.'

Yesterday I'd barely glanced inside before she'd dragged me off to somewhere she'd apparently forgotten.

Now...

I understood why she'd wanted to show it off.

The arena was colossal.

Stone seating climbed upwards in great sweeping circles, rising level after level until it almost reached the jagged opening high above. Students poured through archways all around the stadium, conversations echoing from every direction as they found seats amongst the terraces. Hundreds of crimson banners hung between the arches, each embroidered with silver crests that shifted lazily in the breeze sweeping through the open structure.

At the centre floated a vast circular platform, hovering silently above an enormous chasm. A staircase of floating stone slabs stretched from the gallery towards the platform. Each step hung independently in the air, separated by empty space with nothing beneath them except a dizzying drop into darkness.

Far below...

Rivers of molten fire snaked through forests of jagged black spires, filling the depths with a dull crimson light that rose like the breath of some sleeping monster.

I instinctively took a small step backwards from the edge. "...People actually fight out there?"

Eryx followed my gaze towards the floating platform. "Every day."

He sounded so casual it almost made me question whether I was looking at the same thing.

"If someone falls," He said with a shrug. "They learn not to fall next time or they don't get back up."

I stared down into the glowing abyss again. "That doesn't sound very reassuring."

Eryx's crooked grin returned. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine."

Eryx led me down through the tiers of seating until we reached one of the lowest rows overlooking the arena.

From here the edge of the floating platform almost lined up with our eye level, making it feel far closer than it had from the entrance. I could just make out the intricate circles carved into its surface, though the abyss beneath it still yawned wide enough to make my stomach twist whenever I looked down.

Eryx dropped into one of the stone seats and motioned for me to sit beside him. "Best seats."

I glanced towards the platform. "For watching?"

"For surviving."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

He leaned back comfortably. 

"The professor usually picks volunteers from the upper tiers first." A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "So if you're down here you're less likely to be noticed."

That sounded suspiciously reassuring.

"You've fought before?"

Eryx gave one of his usual indifferent shrugs. "Everyone does eventually."

That didn't actually answer my question.

More and more students streamed into the arena until the stone terraces gradually filled with conversations echoing off the walls.

Something else caught my attention. Not everyone wore crimson. Among the sea of familiar black uniforms, flashes of colour appeared throughout the crowd. Silver trim shimmered along one student's collar while another wore deep violet. Emerald green, burnished gold and even midnight blue stood out amongst the crimson.

I nudged Eryx. "Their uniforms are different."

"They've already been accepted into a King's House." His eyes followed mine. "Mostly seniors."

"So they just come here to watch?"

"They come for the spectacle." He nodded towards the floating platform. Then towards the fiery abyss beneath it.

I followed his gaze.

Jagged black spires reached up from the molten depths like broken teeth, their tips disappearing into rivers of glowing lava that wound endlessly through the darkness below. 

"Spectacle?"

"The first years," he said,  sounding so casual it took me a moment to understand."They like seeing who survives."

A pause.

"And who doesn't."

I looked back towards the floating platform. "People actually fall?"

Eryx looked genuinely confused by the question. "Of course."

I swallowed.

Combat class was becoming significantly less appealing by the second.

Trying not to think about falling into a lake of lava, I let my gaze wander around the arena. Near one of the great archways stood a familiar figure, standing with arms folded and back resting casually against the black stone wall. Golden eyes quietly watched the students filling the arena.

Kian.

As I moved my gaze around the grounds, I saw someone else that filled me with dread.

Dmitri.

He stood near the lower seating, looking every bit as composed as he had in the Grand Hall. Beside him stood the red-haired student from Contract Studies. The one who'd answered Belladonna's questions. His sleeves were still rolled to his elbows, revealing forearms built more like a soldier than a student.

Dmitri said something.

The boy laughed.

Then...

Both of them looked directly at me.

The red-haired student smiled. A cold knot settled deep in my stomach.

I suddenly remembered Dmitri's parting words. "I'll make sure your first lesson is... memorable."

A deep silence swept through the arena. Conversations vanished as every student turned towards the highest gallery overlooking the arena.

A man stepped forward.

He was tall enough that he seemed to dominate the space around him without trying. A long black military-style coat trimmed in crimson hung neatly over broad shoulders, silver insignias catching the light as he moved. Dark hair had been combed neatly back from a face weathered by an old scar that cut from the corner of one eye to his jaw. His crimson-lined collar stood stiff around his neck, while polished black gloves were folded calmly behind his back.

Without raising his voice, he said, "Take your seats."

The arena obeyed instantly.

"I am Professor Kaidros Asmoday." His deep voice rolled through the arena. "Vice Headmaster."

A pause.

"And Head of Punishment."

Nobody laughed. Nobody even breathed loudly.

Kaidros unfolded a sheet of parchment. "Today's first-year matches."

Before he had a chance to read what was on the parchment, the red-haired boy stood.

Kaidros lowered the parchment. "What is it, Kaelen?"

The boy's grin widened. "If you don't mind, Professor..." His steel-grey eyes found me. "...I'd like to personally welcome our newest student."

Hundreds of heads turned.

Again.

Why was everyone so interested in me?

Kaidros slowly lifted his gaze until it settled on me.

For a long moment he simply looked.

Then he gave a single nod. "I see no issue." His expression never changed. "Consider it your baptism into the combat arena, Miss Gaap."

My stomach dropped.

Kaelen's grin somehow grew wider. "I can't wait."

Without another word, he bent his knees and launched himself into the air. He cleared the distance in a single effortless leap, landing in the centre of the floating platform with barely a sound.

The students erupted into cheers.

I stared at the platform that slightly shook as he landed. Then slowly looked towards the staircase.

Floating slabs of stone stretched across the abyss one after another. Each one looked barely wide enough for a single person.

I was definitely going to die.

There wasn't even a question anymore.

I caught sight of Dmitri. He was still standing exactly where he'd been before, watching me. He just continued looking at me as he mouthed two words.

Hurry up.

I clenched my jaw. If I backed down now, I'd be admitting I'd already lost.

Eryx gave me a gentle shove between the shoulder blades. "You'll only make it worse if you keep everyone waiting."

Easy for him to say.

I swallowed the lump lodged firmly in my throat before forcing my legs to move.

The floating staircase suddenly seemed much narrower than it had a few moments ago. The slabs hovered silently above the inferno below, each one separated by just enough empty space to make me question whether I was actually capable of jumping.

I took a breath, then jumped.

My foot landed awkwardly. The stone rocked ever so slightly beneath me.

Just wonderful.

Behind me, laughter drifted through the arena.

"If she can't even cross the stairs."

"She won't last thirty seconds."

"Place your bets now."

I gritted my teeth and kept moving. One jump. Then another. By the time my boots finally touched the arena platform, I was already breathing harder than I wanted to admit.

Kaelen stood near the centre circle, lazily rolling one shoulder before the other as though warming up for an afternoon stretch instead of what looked increasingly like my funeral.

He smiled.

"I've been asked to give you..." He cracked his neck. "...a little lesson."

I didn't answer.

Mostly because I was busy wondering which direction would hurt less if I fell.

Kaidros' voice echoed across the arena. "Begin."

Kaelen disappeared.

I barely registered him moving before something slammed into my ribs. 

Pain exploded through my side and the world spun.

I hit the stone, rolled twice, and suddenly there was...

Nothing.

My body stopped with my shoulder hanging over the edge of the platform. Below me was only empty air. Heat from the lava washed across my face.

My heart almost stopped.

I scrambled backwards before I even realised what I was doing.

Kaelen laughed.

"Oh." He sounded disappointed. "You almost made this easy."

He charged again.

This time I threw myself sideways.

His kick came down into the stone where I'd been standing. The impact cracked the platform.

Right. Getting hit wasn't an option.

I couldn't beat him.

He was taller, stronger and much, much faster than I was. So stop trying to fight him.

Think.

The next punch came from my left.

I ducked.

His elbow clipped my shoulder anyway, spinning me sideways.

Pain shot down my arm.

I stumbled backwards.

But he didn't stop.

Every attack flowed into the next with terrifying precision.

A kick.

Then a punch.

Then another kick.

I barely avoided each one, throwing myself across the platform more than actually dodging.

He wasn't trying to knock me unconscious. He was enjoying himself too much for that.

The crowd cheered every near miss.

Another punch caught my stomach. Air exploded from my lungs, and I doubled over.

Before I had time to right myself, a knee struck my shoulder, sending me tumbling across the stone again.

Kaelen swung again.

Instead of backing away I stepped towards him.

His eyes widened for the briefest moment.

I drove both hands into his chest. The hit barely moved him. But it wasn't meant to.

His own punch carried him forward just enough that he stumbled half a step.

The crowd gasped.

Kaelen looked down at himself.

Then slowly back at me.

His smile vanished. "...Cute."

The next second, his hand closed around the front of my jacket.

Before I could react, my feet left the ground.

He casually walked towards the edge of the platform.

He held me over the abyss with one hand.

My boots kicked uselessly at empty air.

Heat rose from the lava far below.

One finger slipped from my jacket.

Then another.

"You know..." Kaelen smiled pleasantly. "I don't think Dmitri will mind if this looks like an accident."

Panic flooded my body.

Think.

Think!

Nothing.

I couldn't reach him.

Couldn't kick him.

Couldn't...

I leaned forward and did the only thing I could.

I bit him.

Hard.

Kaelen's yell echoed through the arena.

"You little—"

His hand instinctively opened.

I dropped.

For one terrifying heartbeat, there was nothing beneath me. Then my fingers caught the lip of the platform. The force nearly tore my shoulder from its socket. I swung violently against the edge before managing to hook one knee onto the stone. With every ounce of strength I had left, I hauled myself back onto the platform.

I rolled away just as Kaelen reached for me again.

Blood dripped from the bite mark on his hand.

He stared at it.

Then at me.

Something inside him finally snapped.

"...Bitch."

The word came out as a growl.

Dark fire burst around him as black wings exploded from his back. Crimson horns curled from his forehead. Flames raced across his arms as his entire body expanded into something far larger than the boy I'd been fighting only moments before.

The arena fell silent.

I couldn't move.

Not because I wanted to.

Because every instinct in my body screamed at me that I was standing before a predator.

Kaelen raised one burning hand. Fire gathered in his palm.

My own hands suddenly felt...

Hot.

Uncomfortably hot.

I glanced down.

Heat shimmered around my fingertips.

What—

There wasn't time.

Kaelen thrust his hand forward.

A torrent of black fire roared towards me.

I froze.

A shadow dropped from the sky.

Black wings spread wide between me and the flames.

The fire slammed into the newcomer, exploding harmlessly against feathers blacker than midnight.

At almost the same instant, another figure flashed as Kian landed beside him, one arm raised as dark energy tore through the remaining flames before they could reach me.

The arena erupted into shocked voices.

Kaelen snarled.

"Stay out of this, mutt." His burning eyes shifted. "And you too, bird."

The boy with black wings didn't even look at him.

Instead, emerald-green eyes briefly studied me over one shoulder.

Then he sighed. "You really, really shouldn't do that."

I had no idea what he was talking about, and I had no chance to find out before Kian let out an annoyed growl.

Kian's golden eyes never left Kaelen. "The match is over." He looked up towards the highest gallery. "Professor."

Professor Kaidros had not moved. His expression remained carved from stone.

"You transformed." His deep voice echoed throughout the arena. "Disqualification."

Silence.

"The winner..." His crimson gaze settled on me. "...Miss Ashe Gaap."

The arena remained completely still.

Kaelen stared at me for another long moment before the flames surrounding him slowly disappeared.

His wings folded away. His horns vanished. And within seconds he looked human once more.

He clicked his tongue. "Tch." Then looked at Kian. "You always ruin the fun." His gaze shifted briefly to the winged boy. "You too."

Without another word, he stepped from the edge of the platform.

The boy with black wings folded his own wings behind him. He glanced sideways at Kian. "You need to do a better job protecting her."

Then, before Kian could answer, he pushed off the platform. His wings caught the air. Within moments, he had disappeared into the open sky above the arena.

Kian let out a low growl beneath his breath. He walked straight past me.

Close enough that only I could hear him.

"If you intend to survive..." He didn't even look at me."...meet me behind the academy."

A pause.

"Midnight."

Then he reached the edge.

Stepped off.

And disappeared.

I slowly turned.

Hundreds of students stared back at me.

I had absolutely no idea what I'd just done.

But judging by the silence hanging over the arena...

Neither did anyone else.