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Instead, he laughed, a sound like the howling wind, and intensified his assault.
Desperation clawed at me.
Blood trickled from a gash on my cheek, and my breath came in ragged gasps.
Every muscle screamed in protest, and the weight of the situation bore down on me.
The thought of Grace watching, of her potentially being claimed by another, gave me the strength to carry on.
Then it hit me.
A story about the Shalari’s religious beliefs about a forbidden relic.
A gamble, but it was all I had left.
With another dive into my pocket, I retrieved a small red rock, almost inconspicuous in its appearance.
To the Shalari, it represented the very essence of their deepest fears and beliefs — the Heartstone, a symbol of a god they dared not defy.
His eyes widened the moment he saw it.
The winds ceased abruptly, replaced by a deafening silence.
His confident posture deflated, replaced with reverence and dread.
He fell to his hands and knees, his wings splayed out, prostrating himself before the tiny stone and, by extension, me.
As the realization of my victory settled in, I slowly straightened up, wiping the blood from my lips with the back of my hand.
Looking up towards the Prize Pool, I sought out that familiar face.
There she was, eyes wide, her joy unmistakable even from this distance.
Grace was screaming, her voice piercing the ambient noise, celebrating my triumph.
The taste of victory was epic, the promise of a future with her made it even sweeter.
10
GRACE
The moment Tix emerged victorious from the pits, my heart swelled with relief and pride.
I had watched the tension of the battle play out on his face, and the weight of my own anxiety had been crushing.
As soon as he stepped out, looking up at the Prize Pool, our gazes locked, and in that instant, all my fears melted away.
It felt like we were the only two people in the universe.
When he finally reached me, his strong arms lifted me with ease, and I wasted no time wrapping my arms around his neck, peppering his face with eager, relieved kisses.
As we made our way to his cell, the corridor’s echoing footsteps created a rhythm that matched the pounding of my heart.
With every step, I felt the firmness of his chest and the comforting vibration of his laughter as he teased me about my outburst of affection.
The door to his cell slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing a room that was sparse but tidy.
As soon as the door sealed behind us, Tix gently laid me on his bed, his hands cradling my face.
