Chapter 88

Kaan is dragged into Bulder’s pits, unshackled only to face neutralizing runes and a roaring crowd loyal to Arkyn. Across the smoke, Raeve—bearing Slátra’s flaming wings—meets his eyes, signaling resolve while Arkyn watches from a jutted balcony. Drums thunder and razah claw from molten ground, rushing first at Raeve, who purposely positions herself as bait.

As Raeve tears through the pack with feral precision, Kaan kills two razah, then throws his sword to save her from a trailing beast. When the last monsters fall, only the two remain, and Arkyn’s scrutiny forces them to feign enmity. Kaan tackles Raeve but whispers his love and apology; Slátra overpowers him and demands he fight to make the ruse convincing.

They duel with brutal grace, their blades clashing as Ignos churns in Raeve’s wings. Kaan collapses from blood loss and injuries just as Arkyn signals for the finish. Raeve sets twin blades to Kaan’s throat, vows to send a message to Raeve, then a silver shimmer wraps her hands as in Bothaim—Slátra yields. Raeve’s blue eyes return; she kisses Kaan, declares her love, and refuses to kill him.

Quakes rattle the mountain like a Moonfall. Kaan feels Rygun’s flame stir as tonic burns off. Raeve decides they cannot wait for mercy; Kyzari and Veya will die unless they break them out now. She faces Arkyn, raises silver-laced hands, and—after a crude gesture—speaks in Ignos’s tongue, commanding the Creator.

At her words, every ember and smolder in the pit erupts to life. The crowd realizes too late that they are trapped with an unleashed Creator as Raeve ignites the arena, turning their staged execution into the opening move of an uprising and prison break.