Zephyrine


    ? ?? 36%


    Finished


    “You should go sit with Lycannar and his family. They’re here at the arena,” I told Luna Tahlia, who nodded and moved toward the stands.


    Blue was clutching Young ck’s arm, and guards were already circling them, as if prepared to prevent any escape. The drums thundered, a sound that seemed to lodge in my throat.


    I was dressed inbat gear, but I didn’t feel like the warrior I’d been five years ago. I turned away to catch my breath when Dessyn’s palmnded softly on my shoulder, patting once.


    “Breathe. Five years is a long time to lose your edge,” she murmured near my ear. “But you are an Ashmere, Zephyr. It’s in your blood to take the de and spill it for a worthy cause. Breathe, and you’ll do it.”


    I obeyed, shutting my eyes, inhaling deeply. But the face that shed in my mind wasn’t my opponent’s. It was Lycannar’s. My eyes flew open, heart tightening.


    What if I lose? What if I die here? Would he move on to another woman? The thought hollowed me out.


    Even without looking toward him, I could feel his gaze heavy, unblinking, burning through the space between us.


    He’d kissed me earlier. He’d given me advice that came from someone who’d seen far more battles than I had. It feels like it.


    “The duel begins!” The announcer’s voice rang out, the drums boomed again, and my jaw locked.


    Enough. I was going in.


    I reached for Moon’s sword, which I have borrowed. The one that had won countless battles. His pride. His legacy. This would not be the day it tasted defeat.<fnd4e2> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN0vel</fnd4e2>


    I gave Dessyn onest look, no hug. This wasn’t an ending. It was the beginning of a war.


    When I stepped into the wide arena, the roar hit me like a wave. Werewolves loved the sh of steel..


    I didn’t look toward Lycannar, but I felt him, And now, I also feel him with his elder brother. The emotions only made my spine straighten further. I would not fail with those eyes on me.


    My opponent, a snarling rogue, waited with jaw tight and muscles coiled. Ka herself read the terms and conditions, her smile curling with malicious satisfaction. She wanted to see me fall.


    The drum sounded too fast. I barely blinked before a shove knocked me to the ground.


    “Stand and die like a heroine,” the rogue growled, “or I’ll slice your throat before the man who loves you can even blink.”


    The spiked boulder he swung barely missed me as I rolled away. My body moved on instinct. I scrambled up, reaching for my sword, but he rammed into me again, a vicious blow that sent me to my back, blood flooding my mouth.


    22:21 Fri, Sep 5 <b>R </b>


    The wound closed almost instantly, but rage surged hotter than pain.


    I am an Ashmere. We ended battles before they began. This should have been over already.


    1 36%日


    Finished


    I steadied my breath, calcting his steps. Once. Twice. The moment he closed in again, I remembered Lycannar’s words and struck.


    Steel sang. My de tore across his belly. He froze, eyes wide, hand pressing to the sudden warmth spreading there. Murmurs rose from the crowd as he pulled his palm away, staring at the blood.


    “Who trained you?” he spat. “They said you were a rogue, nameless, nothing. How can you move that fast?”


    His fury made him reckless. He swung the boulder in wild arcs, but I batted it aside and cut into his arm, the wound gaping open.


    Desperation flickered in his eyes as he reached into his tunic for something. Poison, perhaps. I didn’t wait to find out.


    One clean strike. My sword kissed his throat.


    “I am an Ashmere,” I whispered in his ear as his life spilled out. Horror clouded his face before his knees buckled and he fell.


    The arena suddenly fell silent. They hadn’t expected this, hadn’t expected me. They’d underestimated me for thest time. They never expected the duel to end in an instant.


    Blood dripped from my hands, chilling my skin. But I knew where to find warmth.


    I turned toward Lycannar and ran. The de ttered to the ground as I reached him, throwing myself into his arms. He held me close, uncaring about the blood staining him, his hand steady against my back. Proud.


    “I knew you would do it,” he murmured. “From the moment I touched your hands and saw your eyes, I knew you could ovee anything.”


    My heart bloomed in his arms. In that moment, I needed no one else. Not Nyroth, who must be staring in shock, nor Ka, whose smugness had just shattered.


    They had lost. I had won.


    And now, it was time for Young ck to take the throne.


    The question is… would he?


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