I walked forward with the rest of my team.
"Amara," Malachi said quietly as we lined up to receive our bracelets. "I'm glad we're on the same team."
"Yeah," I said, because my brain had apparently forgotten how to form complete sentences. "Me too."
A tournament official snapped a bracelet around my wrist, and I felt a slight tingle of magic as it activated. Around us, the other teams were getting their bracelets too.
Moderator Vance stepped back into the center of the arena, and the massive screens that had been set up around the hall came to life, ready to broadcast everything that was about to happen.
"Competitors, take your positions," she commanded, and we all moved to stand in designated circles that had been marked on the arena floor. "The simulation will begin in sixty seconds. I wish you all the best of luck. You're going to need it."
The crowd started chanting, counting down with her.
"Sixty... fifty-nine... fifty-eight..."
I looked at my team mates.
