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“I am aware of who serves my soft-hearted, wayward brother.” Her black eyes peer over the rift before her body finishes traversing it. Flames waltz above her head.

Her fluid movements mesmerize me, threatening to disrupt my train of thought. “One of the champions will die. Will be killed by the other.”

“Death is merely another state of existing. This battle is about the very nature of existence. The fight will determine whether, and how, mortals serve gods.” Her voice rises, crackling like embers. “This is about maintaining, or restoring, the order that worked well for the protection of mortals for so long. Recent events have bumped the relationship between humans and gods out of balance. You can restore that balance.”

Whether we serve the gods? What does that mean? Does a possible future exist where we don’t have to? If so, who’s fighting for that?

All questions I dare not ask. Especially not with that gaping rift behind her. The stars are always watching, and right now, the realm of the gods has an open view to this discussion.

The goddess leans closer, her warmth a caress that both lures me in and urges me to bolt. “If you agree to be our champion, to fight for Zeru’s faction in order to protect the way of life you’ve always known, you would be richly rewarded.”

Dread sucker punches me in the gut.

“No.” I somehow grate out the refusal through my dry mouth and throat.

Ziva’s expression changes into something less benevolent. Less human. “That’s very bad news. For all those living, including the dragon hatchlings you love so dearly. I don’t see how they can survive what’s coming unless you help me.”

I stumble backward as if kicked by an alicorn. My heart pounds so hard I can feel my pulse throbbing in my fingertips. My temples. The Goddess of Fire just threatened the newborns. While the dragons continue to sing for her.

Ziva advances on me, invading my personal space.

Her heat no longer feels comforting. It scorches, sucking up the moisture from my eyes and cracking my lips. “And your own thread in life’s tapestry may become unexpectedly short. Along with everyone who lives in this delicate stone palace.” Her black eyes flicker over my shoulder in the direction of the fire paddock where my group probably still waits.

“Why are you doing this?” My heart wrenches in agony. I’ve always admired Ziva. I’ve prayed to her, told myself she was the flame and life of the world. My learning how to control my magic was a tribute to her. And now…

If I don’t agree to fight for her, to face Sterling in a death match, she’ll end the lives of everyone else I love?

My desperate mind grasps at straws. There must be an alternative. Another way. I could talk Sterling down. I could take his place and agree to throw the fight.

Something. Anything.

But Ziva is already taking her leave, her amber light sliding into the opening in the air.

She disappears until all that remains are spots in my vision, the acrid smell of smoke…and the pain of my heart shattering into a million pieces.

I drop onto the stony rim of the courtyard fountain, my legs suddenly unable to hold my weight. She threatened the dragons. She threatened me. And everyone else too.

Why?

“Be our champion.”

The words stab at me, sharp as knives in my skull. Harsher than Ziva’s flames against my skin.

The cold stone seeps through my clothes, but I barely notice. My thoughts spiral in tight, panicked circles. Is this some sort of twisted divine punishment? Did I do something to bring this on myself? Did the others who live within this “delicate stone palace”?

Only a goddess would consider a marble palace delicate.

Staring at the gleaming arches, my mind paints terrible pictures. I know what my fires can do to this place. But Ziva’s?

The marble would melt. The wood would incinerate. The air would fill with noxious gases. Anyone who managed to survive those horrors would need to stumble over molten floors to escape. Feathers would wither to ash.

Little Rose’s sweet smiling face flashes behind my eyes.

I suck in several deep breaths before pushing to my feet. There must be a way out of this. A solution that hasn’t yet occurred to me because I’m too worked up. Maybe someone else could⁠—

The courtyard is empty.

I’ve no idea when the others left or what they heard. Even the dragons have disappeared from the paddock. I’m alone in the darkness.