Page 174 of Their Rejected Queen

You’ll watch them die slowly.

Your spirit will break so that I can mold it.

Then you’ll join my court and be a prize no one can ever win.

Because you will be mine.

You’re going to bring so many powerful monsters to my isle.

So many souls.

Nausea winds through my stomach as I tear my gaze away from the awful king, finding that the males are disappearing into the Deadlands.

There’s no visible barrier that I can see. It’s just a stretch of land with wisps of shadows that remind me of Arwan’s power.

But every male who steps onto the dusty ground vanishes from my sight a moment later.

Arwan and Renalt must have already stepped through. I’m not sure where Godric or Ze’ev might be, but I have a bad feeling about all of this.

“What’s happening?” I ask Sofia.

The blood has drained from her face. “I think we’re supposed to find them in there.”

That’s not good.

“What else is in there?” I wonder aloud as the strange beating rhythm grows even stronger. My chest vibrates with each strike, and my uneasiness deepens with every short breath I struggle to take.

“Ladies!” the host says as he takes the stage and sweeps his arms wide, sending his sheer sleeves draping at his sides. “When the countdown ends, you can witness the games taking place across the world. See how it’s done, learn from others’ mistakes, and then you’ll have your shot.” He takes one of the crystals and flicks it with his wrist. “If you manage to snatch one of these, you’ll have a better chance of finding your sponsor and avoiding any participants who have succumbed to… well. You’ll see,” he says with a grin, then throws the crystal into the crowd.

The girls screech and nearly kill each other to get to it.

Of course, Ferra comes out on top with a bloody scratch across her cheek. “Mine!” she says triumphantly as she tucks it into her cleavage.

The other girls grumble but give her space, aside from Violet, who looks like she’s ready to tear her eyes out.

Looks like the mean girls aren’t getting along now that the game is actually on.

“The goal is not just to reunite with your sponsor, or sponsors,” the host adds, looking directly at me with a sly smile, “but also to reach Monster Isle’s castle.” He waves dramatically to the massive structure in the distance. “Once inside, you will receive a new set of instructions. Because whoever reaches the top could potentially be named the Monster Games winner!”

“And what does one earn for winning?” I wonder as I whisper to Sofia.

She bites her lip and shrugs. “Renalt said there’s only been one or two winners in the past. They’re pretty rare. And all they got was more screen time beyond the initial games and otherwise died young.”

I nod, thinking of Godric’s mother, who had been one of the “winners.”

All the damn good that did her.

“Long live the king!” the host bellows, earning a cheer from the attending royals on the dais.

King Njord bows at the comment as shadows curl around him and drip to the ground as if they’ve turned to liquid.

Then the countdown begins.

“Ten!”

“Nine!”

My stomach drops as the sky turns completely dark and shadows curl up from the ground. King Njord isn’t speaking in my head anymore, but I can hear his laughter as it rolls over the entire isle.