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In the midst of despair, Ashale and I had found a sanctuary in each other’s arms, a fleeting moment of bliss that, regardless of the outcome, would forever remain etched in my heart.
I pulled him on top of me, and together, we made love.
17
ASHALE
Today, the weight of our entire journey converged into a singular point of anxiety.
As I stood there in the bleak morning light, every nerve, every fiber in my body screamed the gravity of what lay ahead.
The sterile environment of the prison around us seemed to echo the tension that had been building, creating an overwhelming sensation that was impossible to ignore.
As I closed my eyes, trying to center myself, the distant sounds of the arena reached my ears — the muffled shouts of the crowd, the clanging of weapons, the sharp bell indicating the beginning and end of each match.
But there was another sound, fainter, more sinister.
It was the low, mocking laughter of Sneik, the ever-present nemesis whose looming threat added an even deeper layer of urgency to our mission.
Running my fingers over the cold, hard surface of the wall, the rough texture seemed to juxtapose the delicate situation we found ourselves in.
I couldn’t let my thoughts wander as to what might happen if we lost.
The very idea of Sneik laying claim to Nova sent chills down my spine, the cold fear more palpable than any weapon I had faced in the pits.
It was a fate I couldn’t — wouldn’t — entertain.
Each swallow felt like an effort, the dread knotting my insides, making it hard to breathe, let alone eat.
Nova approached me, her soft touch pulling me from my reverie.
The feel of her hand enveloping mine was the one anchoring sensation in the chaotic tempest of emotions swirling within.
I pulled her close, feeling the rhythmic beat of her heart against mine.
She smelled of hope and resilience, a beacon in the storm that threatened to consume us.
“We can’t fail, Nova,” I whispered into her ear, my voice strained with desperation. “I can’t lose you.”
She looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “We won’t. We’ve come too far to give up now.”
But that wasn’t entirely true.
We had come a long way, but the journey had taken its toll on both of us.
Every battle in the pits was a gamble, and the odds weren’t always in our favor.
The constant threat of other Champions, each seeking to claim Nova as their Prize, was a daily nightmare.
And the thought of someone else, someone not worthy of her, touching her… it would shatter me.
The bond we shared was our strength, and to sever it would be our undoing.
“We have to win, Ashale,” she said, her voice determined, pulling me from the dark abyss of my thoughts. “It’s the only way.”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around her tighter as if I could shield her from all the dangers lurking just outside our door.
We had tried so many times to summon the mystical creature, but each attempt had been fruitless, pushing us closer and closer to the edge of despair.
