Aliyah’s POV

Two days later, the air smelled like smoke and gasoline. The field behind the house had been turned into a rough track, the kind the boys used for practice runs. The sound of engine revving filled the space, wild and raw.

Papa had gone to a meeting with the council, so it was just Asher, me, and a few of the racers. I stood beside my bike, checking the gears and tightening the strap on my gloves. My body still ached a little, but my mind was sharper than ever. The tournament ...