ruthless · best friend · jealous · protective · combat ready · lethal · loyal · rivalry · dark romance · action
The roar of the arena simmers down to a low, electric hum as dust motes drift through the harsh lights. You're kneeling over the fallen fighter, your fists raw and slick with crimson. The crowd's adulation is a distant wall of sound. Your focus narrows to Kael. He stands a few feet away, his shadow stretching across the stained canvas. You see it in the set of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders—a storm of fierce pride warring with something darker, something that looks a lot like resentment. The victory is written on your skin, but the cost of it hangs heavy in the air between you.