"Heh. Let me tell you another rule of the Crowe Tribe."

"Once the Three Ordeals begin, nothing can stop them. No exceptions. That rule has stood for a hundred years."

"Should've behaved from the start. You brought this on yourself."

The man spat in my face. Then he snapped his fingers and two others dragged me toward the Cactus Pit.

"AHHH!"

My scream tore through the valley.

Countless needles punched into my skin all at once. Every square inch felt like it was being stabbed, a dense, suffocating wave of pain that nearly dragged me under.

I stumbled out of the cactus pile on shaking legs. The spines on the soles of my feet had driven in so deep that cold sweat poured down my temples with every step.

I collapsed on the ground and began pulling the thorns out one by one. Each one came free with a bead of blood. Tears rolled down and mixed with it, dripping off my jaw.

That was the cruelty of it. Constant, grinding pain that wouldn't kill you. Just broke you down from the inside.

The Crowe men stood around me like spectators at a sideshow, laughing one moment, hurling insults the next.

Then Barrett's phone rang. He glanced at the screen and his expression changed instantly, tension snapping across his face.

"Young master, you're back?"

"Already at the gate? I'll come meet you right now."

Declan. Was it Declan?

He was back. I was saved.

I lifted my head. For the first time in hours, something like hope flickered in my eyes. But the next second, Barrett's boot slammed into my face.

"What are you looking at? You really think you're going to see the young master?"

"Ha! Dream on."

"You lot, take her to the room. Time for the Final Trial."

The men nearby heard those words and broke into eager grins, rubbing their hands together as they closed in on me.

"No, please, just let me see him..."

"Please!"

They didn't listen. Two of them seized me by the arms and hauled me toward the building.

"Declan! Declan, save me!"

I screamed his name with everything I had, praying he would hear.

One of the men dragging me drove his elbow straight into my torso.

The world tilted. Every ounce of strength drained out of me, and my voice died in my throat.

They threw me onto a bed. The cactus thorns still embedded in my back were crushed deeper into my flesh, and the pain nearly dragged me under.

Through the haze, I heard Declan's voice.

"Did someone just call my name?"