Lila’s POV
The arena was nothing more than a giant circle of packed dirt, maybe thirty metres across, but it might as well have been a coliseum carved into the bones of the world. Surrounding it, benches rose in steep rows, packed with spectators from every pack. The roars of excitement, the feverish jeers—it was chaos, savage and electric.
This was not a gathering of leaders. This was a bloodsport.
Above us, the sky churned with thick storm clouds, bruised and swollen. Thunder cracked like a warning shot, and the crowd howled louder, feeding off the energy in the air. A flash of lightning lit the arena for a split second, painting every face in stark white and shadow. I stepped into the centre, gripping my sword.
Across from me, Dia emerged.
Lord Cadmus’s best warrior. A towering bru
