Visha glanced over at me. “So, what’s your decision? You going to fuck this up and get us both killed or you going to catch me?”

She didn’t wait for me to respond. She jumped.

I clutched her shoulders to brace her as she landed and she gasped.

I shook my head. Despite our history, I had to admire her tenacity. Visha was tough as nails. Behind her, the platform she had just been standing on was descending once more.

Visha was shaking her head. “You don’t look so great, Pendragon. What the hell did you do to yourself?”

I pushed my hair off my face. “I must have been drugged. We all were, weren’t we?”

“Some of us more than others from the look of it.” She eyed me up and down, then shook her head. “That fucking bitch Regan. She must have paid someone off. No wonder it took you so long to come out. Evander wanted us to move on and in another minute we would have.”

I glanced across at where the tall pale young man stood. I didn’t really blame him. He just wanted to survive.

“What you’re doing right now–helping me. Isn’t that cheating? Won’t you both get into trouble?”

“Funny, now that’s what Evander said,” Visha replied. “You worried about us, Pendragon? How sweet. So you’d rather I didn’t cheat to save your life?” She shrugged. “I mean, it’s a little late now. Shall we get moving?”

I gripped her hand and together we leaned forward. The next platform rose up.

We jumped for it.

“Steady,” Visha shouted as I lurched forward abruptly, dizziness clouding my vision. “Get it together, Pendragon.” She swore under her breath, but didn’t let go of me.

“I’m sorry,” I gasped as I staggered upright.

She swore again, muttering something about Regan, then glanced across the gorge at where Evander was watching us. He’d started pacing, his hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers.

“You’d better get ready to catch her,” she shouted across the gap. “You hear me, Evander?”

The pale blond-haired boy nodded tersely and stepped a little closer to the edge of the cliff.

“We’re running out of time,” Visha said tightly. “Let’s go.”

She yanked me forward and I took the next jump with her, stumbling only slightly.

We slammed onto the next platform. I fell to my knees.

“Are you going to let her get away with this?” Visha asked, looking down at me and shaking her head.

“Who? Regan?” I said breathlessly. “What choice do I have?”

“Blake must be so pissed,” she muttered. She grabbed my hand. “Get ready. Last one.”

We leaned forward together and the next platform rose up in front of us.

I focused hard, trying to clear the fog from my head.

We jumped onto the final platform. Evander leaned forward, his hands extended.

“Come on,” he said gruffly, nodding to me. “Take my hand.”

I grabbed onto him gratefully and Visha and I stepped across the crevice onto solid ground.

Behind us the pillars remained in their ascended position for a few moments longer. Then they began to shake and rumble. Within a few seconds, they had crumbled into the gorge below.

I sank down onto the damp earth, taking deep breaths.

“Well, that’s that,” Visha said, looking down at the gorge.

“So cheating is allowed? Or tolerated?” I glanced at her and Evander. They both seemed fine. Not shaky on their feet. I knew the effects of whatever drug I’d been given would eventually wear off. But if Visha hadn’t been there, I would have been screwed. What had Professor Wispwood thought? Had she tried to wake me to no avail? Then I had an awful thought. What if she’d been the one who’d administered it? Could faculty do that?  “You won’t be punished for helping me?”

Visha and Evander exchanged a look.

Visha shrugged. “Probably not. I doubt it. If Regan can get away with all of her bullshit, I doubt they can punish us for ours.”

“What would have happened to me if you hadn’t helped me? If I hadn’t been able to make it across on my own?”

“You probably don’t want to know,” Visha said smoothly. “Blake would have been furious though.”

In other words, I’d have died. Would Professor Wispwood have done it? Or someone else? For all I knew, Bloodwing had a special executioner on staff.

And if I’d died, Blake would have been unhappy. Because he actually cared about me? Or because it would have been a blow to his precious reputation?

“Not to mention his uncle,” Evander muttered. I wondered if that was how Visha had gotten him to comply. If he was more worried about Viktor Drakharrow than about Blake.

“All right,” I said, taking a breath. “I guess I’m on my own from here.” I thought of something else. “That white circlet that Professor Wispwood took off my head when I woke up. What was it?”

Visha’s eyes widened slightly and she exchanged another look with Evander.

She cleared her throat. “I wouldn’t worry about that right now.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What was it, Visha?”

She sighed. “I didn’t see it. But if it’s what I think it is, then it’s called the Crown of Bone.”

“Bone? What kind of bone?”

“Dragon bone. It’s part of an old tradition. They probably used it because you’re a blightborn. Don’t worry about it right now.” She must have seen the stubborn look in my eyes. “Look, all you need to know is that you can still get out of this place if you try.”

“Fine. So what’s next?” I demanded. “You two obviously know a lot more about what to expect than I do.”

Visha shrugged. “We’ll split up for now. You’ll wander around. Just hang out. Try not to fall into any traps. Don’t get eaten by any wild animals. If you’re still feeling groggy then stay out of Regan’s way if you see her.”

“And then?” I asked cautiously. “That’s it? That’s all there is to it?”

“Of course not. That would be too easy, wouldn’t it?” Visha snickered. “Get across the island. Meet us on the other side. There’s sure to be at least one or two more challenges. You’ll need another consort’s help for at least one of them. Evander and I will be there waiting. One of us will help you finish this.”

“Not if I beat you there first,” I said automatically.

Visha raised an angular eyebrow. “That’s the spirit.”

She stepped towards me and lowered her voice. “Just watch out for Regan. I know she sees this as her chance to get at you now that Blake’s not around to stop her. You’re in rough shape. This probably isn’t the best time to take her on.” She glanced at Evander who had turned his back to us and was staring into the trees, tapping his foot impatiently. “Look, I’d stay with you but Evander is scared we’re going to get in trouble for all of this. I doubt we are. It’s clear that we can push the boundaries. I think they want us to. Besides, Regan’s the one who tore up the playbook first. She’s breaking all of the rules. We’re just helping to even the field. I’ve got your back, but I have to have Evander’s, too.”

Our eyes met. I stared into Visha’s violet ones, still unable to quite believe I was going to trust her.

I nodded. “All right.”

She started to walk away.

“Visha,” I called. She turned back. “You really did all this just because Blake told you to?”

“For Blake, sure. But not just because of him. I fucking hate Regan,” she said with a grin that showed her pointed fangs. “I’ve been waiting for this for years. I can’t wait to see what happens to her after today.” She shot me a thoughtful look. “You’re not as weak as you look either, Pendragon. Get your shit together and you’ll be fine. Go drink some water. Good luck out there.”

“Good luck,” I echoed as she walked away with Evander.

For the next hour or so, I moved through the dense jungle, the thick, humid air making the fabric of my tunic stick to me like a second skin. Before long, I’d removed off my vest and tied it around my hips. Then I pulled off my tunic, ripped away the bottom half and used the extra fabric to tie back my hair so the heavy curls weren’t sticking to my face and neck. My midriff was now exposed and I supposed I might get a few more insect bites, but at least I could breathe better this way.