“But he knew things,” I say, and then I lower my voice to a whisper. “Like how we visited Avalina.”

“No, you knew those things, and your mind used them to conjure up your worst fears. You’re safe, Saskia, I promise.”

But I’m not convinced. I press my fingers to my throat and they come away with a faint smear of blood.

A shiver goes through me.

“Just a scratch from one of the bones,” Bram says. I can still feel the press of Latham’s blade against my windpipe. What are the chances that a bone grazed my skin in that exact location? Master Kyra’s words dart through my mind. Whoever designed that challenge wasn’t pulling any punches, were they? What if Latham is designing our games? But he couldn’t be … unless someone at Ivory Hall gave him access to me. A lump forms in my throat. I hate not knowing who I can trust.

Bram studies my face, and his eyes go soft. “You’re safe now, I promise.”

He’s wrong, but there’s no point arguing with him, so I swallow my worry and take in my surroundings. We’re in a different room—a warmer one. I have feeling in my hands again. I stretch my fingers wide and curl them into fists. “How did I get here?”

“We couldn’t shake you out of the vision, so I carried you,” he says. “I thought it might help to be away from the bones.”

I feel my cheeks pinken, and I drop my gaze. “Did we finish the challenge, then?”

Bram pulls on the back of his neck. “I’m afraid not. But we’re hoping this is the final area.” He points to a window high above our heads that deposits a disk of sunlight on the floor. We must be close to the outside. Bram offers me his hand and pulls me to my feet.

The room is in the shape of a pentagon, with all five walls made of thick stone, and a round table in the center where the others are gathered, examining our available supplies. When Bram and I join them, Tessa reaches for my hand and laces her fingers through mine.

“That was intense,” she says. “How are you doing?”

“I’ve been better.” I glance around the table. “But I suspect that’s true for all of us.”

“Wasn’t that one of the instructors at Ivory Hall in your hallucination?” Talon asks.

I swallow. “He was. Not anymore.”

“Does he really want you dead?”

The question cracks something open inside me. Something about hearing the words said aloud gives them even more power.

“Yes.” I fold my arms across my chest, as if it might help me feel less exposed.

“Why?” Jacey asks.

“It doesn’t matter. Let’s just figure out how to get out of here.”

Jacey’s face goes tight. “Saskia—”