Arena Three

It is a week before the newly formed American army begins mobilizing into the deserts, and a month after the first full, reestablished communication device between the different compounds becomes fully operable. I’m sitting in my bedroom in my dad’s house. Ben’s asleep in my bed, his hair mussed up. Sunlight streams through the curtains, illuminating his pale torso, making him look more beautiful than ever. There’s a faint knock at my door.

“Come in,” I say.

Bree tips her head around the door. When she sees Ben asleep in my bed, she turns bright red.

“Yes?” I ask her, amused by her embarrassment.

“Dad wants to see you,” she says.

Ben stirs and, realizing he is revealing a little more than he’d like, quickly pulls the cover up to his armpits.

“Hey,” he says to Bree.

She just turns around and darts out the door.

I go over to Ben and bring my arms around his neck. Then I lean down and plant a slow, lingering kiss on his lips.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” I say. “Did you sleep well?”

“Perfectly,” he replies. “What did Bree want?”

“She said Dad wanted to see me,” I say, getting up from the bed. “Coming? I’ll make you breakfast.”

Ben grins and slips on his clothes.

We go through the corridor of the bungalow and find Dad in the kitchen. Bree is sitting at the table with him. He smiles when he sees the both of us.

“What is it?” I say. “Bree said you wanted to see me.”

“I do,” he replies. “I’ve got some news for you. Sit.”

I exchange a glance with Ben, then we both take a seat.

“I received a call from a compound in California today,” Dad begins. “They told us that the arena there has fallen. The city has been reclaimed.”

I gasp.

“That was the last one?” I say, feeling my heart begin to thud.

Dad nods. “It was the last one.”

I can hardly believe it. It’s real. America has finally been rid of its arenas. No more fighting will ever take place in them again.

Dad steps forward and gives me a long hug. In that hug, I can feel all the years of grief, of agony, begin to melt. I can feel a new beginning forming.

I look from my sister, to my dad, to the boy I have finally let myself fall in love with. And then I smile.

Today, I realize, life can begin again.

Author Note

Thank you so much for reading all three Arena novels. I am so honored that you’ve read them all! I hope you’ll continue on this journey with me. Although this is the final installment of my dystopian novels, you might enjoy one of my other series. You might especially enjoy RISE OF THE DRAGONS, which features another tough female protagonist who I am sure you will fall in love with! If you like Brooke, you will love Kyra! Read it for free and let me know what you think! I can’t wait to hear!

Best wishes,

Morgan

RISE OF THE DRAGONS

(Kings and Sorcerers—Book 1)

“If you thought that there was no reason left for living after the end of the Sorcerer’s Ring series, you were wrong. In RISE OF THE DRAGONS Morgan Rice has come up with what promises to be another brilliant series, immersing us in a fantasy of trolls and dragons, of valor, honor, courage, magic and faith in your destiny. Morgan has managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page….Recommended for the permanent library of all readers that love a well-written fantasy.”

—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos

The #1 Bestseller!

From #1 Bestselling author Morgan Rice comes a sweeping new epic fantasy series: RISE OF THE DRAGONS (KINGS AND SORCERERS—Book 1).

Kyra, 15, dreams of becoming a famed warrior, like her father, even though she is the only girl in a fort of boys. As she struggles to understand her special skills, her mysterious inner power, she realizes she is different than the others. But a secret is being kept from her about her birth and the prophecy surrounding her, leaving her to wonder who she really is.

When Kyra comes of age and the local lord comes to take her away, her father wants to wed her off to save her. Kyra, though, refuses, and she journeys out on her own, into a dangerous wood, where she encounters a wounded dragon—and ignites a series of events that will change the kingdom forever.