The Last Wildcard

TER

t Protec

oded from

Riven's right. Then the horn sounded, low, a

re already on their feet. Witches reached for magic that sputtered like broken wiring

e ground trembled. A voice

Two b

c er

ind of

ere no r

is ins

oice continued calmly.

ed. Contestants screamed as the ground caved into a jagged pit lined with stone

mming back. The grip loosened. A witch stumbled past her a

en

kin. Roots snagged her boots. The horn boomed again

d hard into a tree. Pain flared through her

t

t just as something b

ay skin. Its mouth split too wide, teeth jagged, eyes burn

bbed a broken branch and swung. The wood cracked against

he ground beneath the creature softened, sucking at its feet. Vines lashed up, coili

r knees, shaking. The pain burned.

cameras jittered, static

*

ent Section – Cam

EE THAT?! The plants j

an girl always in the mid

eature was a CONTESTA

s the guy who keeps

dark wolf-man protecting th

*

ream followed. Magic detonated somewhere,

were

parted for her, branches pulling back, roots easing jus

r own skin before the ground swallowed her whole. Nearby, a siren lay bro

inking. Riven staggered b

iv

ght. His face was smeared with blood.

leeding,"

napped, though

lasted aga

ov

mething massive crashed after them. Th

nd fury. Riven stared, breath caught, as Jace tore into the creatur

ted back, chest heaving. Bl

a contestant,"

es

ing people in

he said quiet

idn't it attack me first?

ightened him. "Maybe because you're t

oarsely. "You have fans. People

t speak. Then his hand

e right now

The voice rolled thr

unt to

nt to s

unt to

out knowing what t

immed. Jace caught her as

k her was the ground humming beneath her, l