Page 26

He moved, closing the distance between us faster than I expected.

There was no incantation, no warning—just raw magic surging from his palm as he thrust his hand toward me.

I barely managed to throw up a shield, but the force of his strike shattered it like glass.

The impact sent me skidding back, boots scraping against the smooth arena floor.

I barely kept my footing, breath catching as the force of my own spell rebounded through my limbs.

“ Better ,” Samael said, his tone dripping with amusement, a glint of approval flickering behind the mockery. “But you’ll have to do more than that, little raven.”

His words landed like a dare—and a promise.

The nickname stirred something sharp inside me. I ground my teeth, gripping the magic within me tighter, deeper. He thought he had the upper hand. He thought I was on the defensive.

Let him think it.

I took a step forward, rolling my shoulders like I was preparing to strike again. His stance shifted, bracing. Waiting.

That was when I dropped low, twisting my body, and slammed my palm into the arena floor.

The energy erupted downward, then ricocheted upward. A shockwave of raw force detonated beneath him, throwing him off balance. It wasn’t a traditional attack—not something he’d expected.

For the first time, he stumbled.

I didn’t hesitate. I lunged, energy already crackling in my hands, aiming to end this duel before he regained control. But at the last second, just as my magic was about to connect—

He was gone.

I barely registered the movement before his presence was behind me—too close. His breath was warm against the back of my neck.

Then, in a voice laced with quiet triumph, he murmured, "Clever, little raven. But not clever enough."

And before I could react, magic crashed into me like a tidal wave.

The magic surged through me, a relentless torrent that left me breathless and disoriented.

I collided with the unyielding arena floor, a mess of limbs and raw sensation, my thoughts scattered like shards of broken glass.

Time seemed to fracture as my body skidded across the cold stone, each passing second stretching out into a dizzying eternity.

I heard the collective gasp of spectators, the sound rushing past like wind through leaves.

It was over. I’d lost.

The duel that had felt boundless and infinite concluded with sudden, jarring finality.

Vivienne leapt from the sidelines, her movements fluid and eager. In an instant, she was at Samael’s side, her arms wrapping around him with familiar intimacy.

“That was incredible , Sam,” Vivienne purred, her voice velvet-soft, dripping with adoration.

But beneath the praise, her words cut sharper than any spell.

“You absolutely decimated that little bitch.”

She laid her hands on his chest, letting a soft golden glow bloom beneath her palms as she began to heal the shallow wounds I’d managed to land—like erasing any trace that I’d ever touched him at all.

Samael stood at the center of the commotion, surrounded by admirers, but his eyes kept returning to mine. There was a tension in his expression, a flicker of something human and soft beneath the mask of victory.

Guilt, perhaps?

Edric approached, joining the congratulatory circle around Samael. "Well done," he said, his demeanor as reserved as ever but carrying an undercurrent of pride. He clasped a hand to Samael’s shoulder, sealing the unspoken bond between them with a subtle nod.

Yet, Samael remained distant, his mind elsewhere. He ran a hand through his unruly hair, a gesture of distraction, as he broke away from the cheering group. His gaze locked onto me with an intensity that silenced the clamor. In that moment, it was as if we were the only two people in the world.

Without hesitation, he strode across the arena, bridging the distance between us with purpose and urgency.

“Are you alright?” Samael asked.

There was something raw in his voice—an edge of concern that didn’t match the cold precision he’d wielded during the duel. He extended a hand, steady and deliberate, his eyes unreadable but unwavering.

I hesitated, the sting of defeat still sharp under my skin. But then I reached for him.

His fingers closed around mine—warm, grounding—and the contact sparked something electric. He pulled me up with ease, but there was a surprising gentleness in the motion, as if he were afraid I might break.

“You’re a more skilled opponent than I expected,” he said at last. His voice was quieter now, the compliment carrying weight.

It wasn’t just praise. It was acknowledgment. A confession.

And maybe—just maybe—an apology.

Vivienne was at his side again, her attention swinging between the two of us with sharp precision. Her lips curled into a mocking smile, malice and jealousy dancing behind her eyes.

"And here I thought she was going to cry," she taunted, her words barbed and biting as they cut through the air between us.

Professor Coldwell observed us from a distance, his arms crossed, a satisfied gleam in his eyes. "An impressive display," he remarked, his voice carrying over the murmurs gradually filling the arena.

I exhaled slowly, willing the tremor in my limbs to fade as I released Samael’s hand.

The moment lingered—charged, unspoken—but I forced myself to step back, retreating from the weight of his gaze.

Without another word, I turned toward the sidelines, where a row of wooden benches lined the edge of the arena.

“Restaura.” I whispered, feeling the bruises come to the surface of my skin, burning before they faded away to nothing. The sting was nothing compared to the memory of Samael’s magic slamming into me.

Across the arena, Professor Coldwell clapped his hands together, drawing the attention of the remaining students.

"Next pair," he called, scanning the crowd. "Ashford, Sutton, you’re up."

I felt Vivienne’s glare like a blade against my skin, but I refused to acknowledge her.

Instead, I shifted my focus back to the arena, watching as two new opponents stepped forward. The duel continued, but my mind was elsewhere—still trapped in the echo of Samael’s voice, the weight of his touch, and the unspoken challenge that still lingered between us.