I force myself to walk away.
Each step echoes off the tiles, final as gunshots.
And I don’t look back.
Even though every instinct screams at me to turn around. To see if he’s still slumped against the wall, still shaking. To check if those sounds he’s making are from pain or something else.
But I don’t look back.
Because if I do, I might see something in his face that would crack what’s left of my resolve. Might see him looking as wrecked as I feel inside.
And I can’t afford that.
Not when Marco made it clear exactly what I mean to him.
Nothing.
Chapter fourteen
Robin: Hell's Forge
The locker room feels smaller than usual, thick with the weight of what’s coming. The others hang back near the entrance, giving us space that feels both generous and suffocating.
Cas sits on the bench, lacing his boots with surprisingly steady hands. I watch his fingers work the leather, envying that calm. My own heart won’t stop thudding. Earlier, guards marched Andreas off to whatever other preparation room they use on game days. Small mercy that Cas didn’t have to lace his boots up next to the man he’ll try to kill today.
“So,” I say, because someone has to break this silence.
He looks up. Those green eyes that usually spark with mischief are darker now, focused. Ready.
“I’m shit at speeches.”
“Good thing I don’t need one.”
But he’s wrong. He does need one, and I’m the only person here who can give it to him.
“Listen.” I sit beside him on the bench. “You need to survive this.”
“Planning on it, mate.”
“No, I mean it.” My voice comes out horribly rough, and I swallow, hard. “I can’t do this place without you, Cas. These bastards can take everything else, but they don’t get to take you too.”
Cas finishes lacing. His hands still on the leather.
“You’re faster than Andreas. Smarter too. Use that.” I lean forward, elbows on my knees. “Don’t let him get close. Make him chase you around that sand until his lungs give out, then finish it.”
“Robin—”
“You’re getting out of here. Both of us are. And the first step is you winning today, so you can be here next week for me.”
He nods once. Sharp. Final.
The door cracks open. A guard’s voice cuts through the air.
“Time.”
We stand together. For a moment, we just look at each other, both of us wondering if this is the last time we ever will.
Then Cas grips my shoulder.
