Kai's POV
The silence in our room was a living thing. It was thick with the aftermath of her victory, with the fading echo of the crowd chanting her name. Arden. They chanted for the fighter, the victor. They had no idea they were chanting for a queen. She slept now, the deep, exhausted sleep of the truly spent. I sat on the edge of my cot, watching her. The single beam of moonlight through the window cut across her face, illuminating the bruise on her jaw, a badge of honor from the pit. In sleep, all her guards were down. The fierce determination was gone, replaced by a profound peace that made my chest ache. This was the girl beneath the armor. The one I was sworn to protect.
And I was failing.
The thought was a cold knife in my gut. The victory tonight was a necessary step, a brilli
