Chapter 39 His Mistress

• The blare of the horn faded, and the illusion of the forest started to disappear just like it appeared, the trees and shadows dissolving to reveal the familiar large area of the arena. We were back in the vast space, the sandy ground solid beneath our feet. The other women looked around with surprised expressions on their faces while they stumbled back toward the center.
• “It’s over already?” I heard one say behind me.
• It was clear they were all wondering who had won, who had managed to read the spirit wolf movement and capture it. A nervous energy filled the air, a mix of anticipation and a lingering fear of failure. I felt nervous too, wondering if breaking the vase meant winning.