Chapter 41
Annalise
It was Day 5—the final day. The day when everything would be decided. I st ood there, my heart racing, trying to anchor myself in the reality that I had made it this far. I was a finalist. Me. So close to winning that I could almost taste it.
The surroundings shifted, forming a massive arena. The air crackled with anticipation, but I stood alone, clueless about what awaited me.
Since they had taken Lucien away yesterday, my portal had plunged into an eerie silence. I hadn’t even heard the announcer’s voice after my victory was declared. And Dane? He’d shut me out entirely—not that I cared. After his disgusting stunt and that outrageous demand, I wanted nothing to do with him.
But I couldn’t stop replaying Dane’s words in my mind. He’d mentioned his brothers breakin
