I can already hear the taps of the glass cane against the stone.
Even with the entire arena breathing around me, even with Zhang Xi channeling energy over my abdomen, even with Veric threatening half a dozen healers in a posture that says he'd carry out every word—that sound from the cane cuts through everything. It's dry and rhythmic. Too elegant to be hurry, and too heavy to be calm.
Rahul Sharma is coming down.
Each strike of the cane against the stone sounds like one of the horsemen of the apocalypse, his thunder announcing the end of times.
The end of my time.
"Please… faster."
I grab Zhang Xi's collar before thinking. Her eyes widen. In the same instant, I realize the mistake. If she understands exactly what's coming, the fear could outweigh the reward. She could pull back. She could remember that no payment is worth a death sentence signed by Rahul Sharma.
I release the cloth.
"Sorry… just use your ability. Or I die…"
