eapons woke Ly

e screamed when she tried to move, but the harsh voices outside the stone

barked through the d

grip, her ribs sore from his kick, but she refused to limp. She pulled her ta

ned along the walls, casting long shadows across racks of weapons: swords, axes, spears,

rm, their fur bristling as they clashed, claws tearing across stone floors. Others fought with weapon

ned to her as

spicion, hunger. To them, she was an outsider, a flame dropped int

rdered, shoving her into

yes were sharp as knives, her arms corded with muscle. She

the guard said. "

mpressed. "So the little flame th

led. "I di

Here, your words mean nothi

Veyra drew her

hing inches from her face. She stu

re you

"If you can't handle me, you

ghter. Warriors circled, eager to s

eashed, but she hesitated. If she lost control,

p gasping. Her body screamed with every movement,

. She didn't have claw

the

h both hands. The steel sliced across her forearm, pain burning white-hot, but she held on.

es narrowing. T

slammed her knee into Veyra's gut.

illed t

a raised her chin. "I'm n

o something that wasn't

struck where she could. Each move left her more exhausted, but the fire inside her w

t heaved and her arms trembled. At last,

Lyra, and for the first time, there was no

red, some grudging

voice cut th

balcony above, his storm-gray gaze sw

l fell

ry eye following him. His presence fil

not to flinch as his gaze raked over her-sw

ve yourself?" Ka

ed, her thro

ned. "Then fac

all. Warriors exchanged glances, som

. "Alpha, she

Kaelen said,

m, and you earn your place here. Fail..." His gaze sharpened, cutt

, but the fire inside

she asked, surpri

ved into a danger

t trial

azed around it, their flames unnaturally high, fed by somethin

burns away weakness. You'll face pain, temp

nder her feet, the flames licking higher. Sweat

her stirred, w

m the flames. Soft a

re no

ie like t

't want y

never

drilling into her skull. The heat s

ice, faint but fier

don'

wo

s bent toward her, wrapping around her body. Her skin gl

her fire blaze outward. For a heartbeat, the torch

le

red, Lyra stood sh

stared in stu

nreadable. "The flame do

pressing against her, his voic

rm-gray eyes locked on hers, sharp as