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Vael.

At the edge of the arena, where the light broke and failed. Robes darker than midnight. Eyes gleaming red. Locked on me. Smiling like a god among insects.

I faltered.

Leo slammed into me, tackling hard. We hit the ground, his weight pinning me down—just as another jolt from his collar ripped through him.

He convulsed, biting down on a groan. “Focus,” he hissed through gritted teeth. “Goddamn it, Elira—hit me!”

I twisted, breath ragged, and slammed a sharp kick into his side. He staggered. I didn’t stop. I punched him—once, twice—hard enough to draw blood. His lip split, and he spat crimson into the dirt.

He regained his footing and spun fast, driving a solid kick straight into my chest.

I hit the ground hard, stars bursting behind my eyes.

He lunged again.

I kicked out, catching him in the gut, scrambled to my feet, and twisted behind him. My arms wrapped around his neck as I leapt onto his back like a spider clinging to prey, dragging him down.

We hit the floor.

I rolled, straddled him, and punched him across the face with everything I had. His head snapped to the side.

I expected fury. Retaliation.

Instead, he grinned up at me—blood dripping from his brow.

I froze. My thighs clenched tighter against his sides. His grin deepened.

Gods, he was hard.

I felt his thick length pushing against my leather pants. I pushed hard against him.

“You,” he said, voice low and wild, “are fucking amazing.”

Then he yanked me down, kissed me full on the mouth—rough, desperate—and shoved me off with a violent kick.

His eyes blazed with heat and adrenaline.

He was enjoying this.

And—holy shit—so was I.

I could feel Vael’s gaze on the back of my neck like a brand, searing into my skin. Hot. Unrelenting.

His fury was a presence—palpable and rising.

It was like standing in the stillness before a storm, knowing the sky is about to split open and obliterate everything.

As I flipped off Leo once more, I dared a glance toward Vael.

He was still watching me—but he was speaking to someone beside him.

The man was massive. Bear-like. Scarred, broad-shouldered, and radiating menace. At Vael’s word, he moved—slipping something from his sleeve.

A blade.

The crowd was still in a frenzy, the noise thunderous—cheers, screams, the roar of chaos. But as Leo and I continued to circle each other, the tone shifted.