LYRA

I arrived at the training arena running on no sleep and coffee that tasted like bitter regret, my body felt heavy and my mind kept circling back to Dorian's threat, the vial of blood and the impossible choice between killing Kael or watching my mother die in agony.

The other contestants were already gathered when I walked in, clustered in their usual groups while guards stood at attention along the walls and Weapons Master Theron paced near the weapon racks looking more severe than ...