I stand there, frozen to the spot as I stare around me. My emotions are high, my morality caught in a loop, churning until it ripens, then rots.

At one point in my life, I would have regretted this, but now I can't.

Four fewer people to compete against. Four fewer people contending for the prize. It's selfish, I know. But in the grand scheme of things, it's them or Nikki.

Slowly lifting my gaze, I meet Ze's absent one. We stare at each other for moments on end, the buzz of adrenaline the only sound as everything fades away.

There's a glint in his eyes, the swirling darkness giving way to a hint of color. Yet as he blinks, it's gone, as is his murderous rage. He slowly puts his sword away, his features clearing up. He's covered from head to toe in fox blood, but as I take a step forward to go to his side, I catch sight of something on the ground.

Red blood. But next to it, there's black blood. I follow the trail around, watching a pattern unfold and remembering something Cer had said about the black magic dust.

It's made from his blood.

Without caring for the pain in my limbs or my pounding heart, I dash to him. Reaching his side, I note the small hole in his shirt as well as the slightly deeper black staining the edges.

God, he got hit. When he put himself in front of me, he must have absorbed the blow meant for me—that's the only possible explanation. Panic swells inside of me as I grab onto the material, ripping at it to check for the damage.

Smooth skin meets my eyes, and I have to blink several times to make sure I'm seeing correctly.

TWENTY-SIX

"Are you done ogling me, human?" he drawls, amused.

I slowly lift my gaze to his face.

"You got hit. The blood. That's your blood." I point to the black liquid on the grass.

He grabs my hands, stopping me from inspecting his skin further.

"I'm fine," he replies curtly.

"But... How... How can you be fine..." I stammer, belatedly realizing I'm likely still in a state of shock. Yet if his saliva can heal, is it any wonder that he can heal himself, too?

"We need to go." Cer's voice resounds from behind me. "We already have an audience."

Tens of other contestants have gathered around the garden, all watching the spectacle with curiosity. Whispers travel through the air, and though I can't quite make out what they're saying, I imagine they're all in awe of Ze.

Good.

Maybe this will deter them from coming after us again.

"Let them stare." Ze shrugs.

"Are you all right, Luce? You're bleeding," Thea says as she touches my arm.