The morning of the quarterfinals arrived with a gray sky and a chill in the air.
Kael stood in the tunnel beneath the arena, waiting for his name to be called. His mask was on. His hood was up. Zephyr was beside him, its golden scales glowing faintly in the dim light. The creature was restless. It could feel the tension in the air. It could feel the weight of what was coming.
Mira stood beside him. Her face was pale. Her hands were trembling. She had been gathering information all night, and what she had learned was not good.
"The hunters are getting bolder," she said. "They were asking questions at the tavern last night. They showed sketches of your face. They offered a reward. A big one. People are starting to talk."
Kael nodded. He had expected this. He had known it was only a matte
