Elara's POV
“Deal.”
The whole training ground went dead silent for a heartbeat. Then murmurs rippled through the crowd, growing louder, excited. My heart hammered against my ribs, but I kept my face calm.
Veronica’s smirk faltered for just a second before she recovered, flashing her teeth like a predator.
“Big mistake,” she whispered, then turned to the group. “Draw the circle!”
A few of the guys grabbed sticks and started scratching a big, wide ring into the dirt. The line was clear…about ten feet across. Enough space to fight, but not enough to run. One step over that line and you lost. Simple. Brutal. Perfect for making a point.
I stepped inside first, rolling my shoulders to loosen the ache from that horrible couch. My muscles still protested, but adrenaline was kicking in hard,
