The roar of the crowd still echoed in Elaria’s skull as Draven swept her up from the bloodstained circle.

None of it registered the way the warmth of his body did, even though her ribs screamed, her knees had come loose, and her palm still dripped crimson where pieces of her shattered staff had pierced through. His chest heaved as if he had resisted every hit next to her, and his arms were steel around her.

The world narrowed. Wolves screamed in outrage and worship all around them, factions ...