#Chapter 45 – The Last Spot

I keep my eyes focused on Anton, who looks right back at me, unblinking. My heart pounds. “Princess Juniper Sinclair,” Orion says, his voice carrying out clear and strong. “Please join us here in this final golden circle.” I flinch when I hear my name, but continue to stand still, just staring at my ghost, my wolf. Silence fills the room until a horrible little cry of dismay breaks out. My attention snaps up at that, to the only other girl standing here at the top of the pit. She begins to tremble, shaking her head from side to side, just…staring at me in horror. “No,” she whispers, lifting her shaking hands to her mouth. “It – it can’t be – it can’t be me –“ I cry out too, holding my hands out, starting for her. “Juniper!” I go still at the way my name is shouted, my head snapping to the left to look down into the pit where the God of Darkness has taken a single step forward, glaring hard at me. “That is enough, Princess,” he snarls, his eyes darkening to terrif