I stayed close to Alexander, my hands brushing against his arms as I let my gaze take him in. He was bleeding, exhausted. Every line of his body, every scar and sweat-soaked muscle, radiated resilience. Pride and admiration glimmered in the eyes of those in the arena, and I couldn’t help but feel it, too.
He had done it.
---
ALEXANDER
Faye stayed at my side, one arm around my waist as if I needed steadying. I didn’t—not really—but I didn’t remove her hold. My body was still trembling, whether from the aftershock of the fight, the strain of pulling Adrian back, or the last streaks of adrenaline refusing to settle. My breathing was uneven, my skin heated beneath the robe she had draped over my shoulders, but my mind… my mind was clear.
I was present.
And alive.
I felt the way her reli
