MasukMila’s POVI couldn’t breathe. My body had forgotten how.I lay on the cold stone, staring at the crimson sky above me as the entire arena blurred around the edges.The cheers and shouts all sounded so far away.My fingers twitched as pain burned through my stomach.The poison was spreading.I could feel it moving through my veins like fire.“Mila!”Someone screamed my name, it was Vaelor.I tried to move but nothing happened.My fingers scraped against the stone. I couldn’t stay down in had to get up and I had to win.I couldn’t lose snd definitely not now.Not after everything, I thought about Knox and his arms around me.I thought about Hansel. Everyone who had risked their lives for me.I couldn’t let them down.And Vaelor… My eyes moved toward him.He had stepped away from the royal platform.He was standing at the edge of the arena.His expression was no longer calm. There was fear in his eyes.“Mila.”I had never heard him say my name like that. I forced my palm against the g
Mila’s POVThe arena was deafening. Thousands of demons filled the stands, their voices rising into one massive roar that seemed to shake the ground beneath my feet.I stood in the center of the fighting circle, my sword gripped tightly in my hand.Across from me Elle smiled.There was no Celestia anymore, no second opponent standing between us.Just her and me.The final round.I glanced toward the royal platform.The Demon King sat comfortably upon his throne, watching us with those unsettling crimson eyes.Vaelor stood nearby, his expression was impossible to read but I knew him well enough now.He was worried and I could feel it. I looked away before my heart could become distracted.I couldn’t think about what would happen if I lost.I needed to focus. The chief judge stepped into the center of the arena.“Lady Mila.”“Lady Elle.”“You have both successfully completed the first two trials.”“Only one of you shall emerge victorious from the final trial.”He raised his hand. “The
Hansel’s POVThe door opened and my heart stopped.I froze beside Conrad, the ancient grimoire pressed tightly against my chest.Someone was coming. Footsteps echoed through the King’s chamber and getting closer.Conrad immediately grabbed my wrist. “Hide.”I didn’t need to be told twice.He pulled me behind one of the massive bookshelves just as the doors opened completely.I pressed my back against the wall.Conrad stood directly in front of me, shielding me from view. I could barely breathe as the sound of footsteps grew louder.Then I heard a familiar voice. “Where is Supreme?”My eyes widened.The King was here.Conrad’s fingers tightened around his dagger.I held my breath and another voice answered.“He’s on his way.”The King’s footsteps stopped.“I don’t have time to wait.”A chair scraped against the floor.I slowly peeked through the narrow space between the books. The King stood in the middle of the room.His crimson eyes glowed beneath the dim light.Supreme stood several
Conrad's POVThe roar of the crowd shook the palace.Even from the upper corridors, I could hear thousands of demons cheering as the final duel unfolded in the arena below.Perfect.Everyone important was watching the tournament Including the King and even most of the palace guards.Which meant we finally had the opportunity we'd been waiting for. I adjusted the dark cloak over my shoulders and glanced down the empty hallway."It's clear."Hansel stepped out from behind a marble pillar.In her demon disguise, she looked even more beautiful. "You sure this is a good idea?" she whispered."No." I smirked. "But we're doing it anyway."She rolled her eyes. "I missed your confidence.""I missed your sarcasm."She bumped my shoulder. "I wasn't being sarcastic.""You usually are."A tiny smile escaped her lips before disappearing just as quickly. Her expression turned serious."Let's go."I nodded and we moved.The palace corridors were eerily quiet and no one was around, they had all gone
Mila’s POVThe time rushed past far too quickly. One moment I was sitting beside Vaelor, forcing myself to finish the last bite of food and ignore his glares.The next the arena horn sounded, a deep, haunting note echoed throughout the palace.Every conversation stopped. The spectators hurried back toward the massive arena, eager for the final event.Sera squeezed my shoulder. “It’s time.”I nodded.This was it, the last trial and I wouldn’t be underestimated again and finally live in a little peace.I stood up, dusting off my white dress before fastening my sword securely at my waist.My dagger rested against my thigh and my palms were sweaty not because I was afraid of fighting.Because I couldn’t afford to lose, I quickly adjusted my braids and Vaelor rose beside me. “You remember what I taught you?”I smiled faintly. “Don’t think, make sure to act fast and be ruthless.”He nodded once. “And?”I sighed dramatically. “If they’re stronger use their strength against them.”“And?” He
Mila’s POVThe world shattered and everything was gone, no warm sunlight or the familiar bedroom.All of it cracked like fragile glass, breaking into countless glowing fragments that drifted into endless darkness.“No!”I’m sorry Rina whispered I reached for them but my fingers closed around nothing. I was falling again or floating perhaps couldn’t tell.The silver void from before surrounded me once more. There was no sky of ground.Only endless light stretching in every direction.“Mila.”A distant voice echoed around me.“Mila.”The voice grew louder.“Mila!”My eyes flew open.I gasped sharply as cold air filled my lungs, I was lying on something hard, I looked and i was lying on a cold black stone.For several seconds, I could only stare at the sky. My chest rose and fell rapidly.It had felt so real, too real to be true “…Knox…”The name escaped my lips in a whisper. A judge’s voice interrupted my thoughts.“Contestant Three has returned.”The sound of applause slowly reache
Mila’s POVI didn’t sleep, I couldn’t even sleep.I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, watching shadows stretch and shrink as the night dragged into morning. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it againGamma Rodney’s lifeless face and all the blood and Bastain’s cold voice.My chest tightened
Knox’s POV The training grounds had never felt this crowded or this tense before. Lines of soldiers stretched across the open field, their armors reflecting in the early light, their scents mixing into something sharp and restless in the air. Wolves from different territories, different kingdoms w
Mila’s POVThe dungeon smelled like damp stone and sweat.The moment they threw me inside the cage, the iron door slammed shut with a finality that echoed far deeper than the sound itself.I let out a fustrated groan and kicked the doors, Bastian was so evil for making me go through this.The momen
Mila’s POVThe sound of Knox’s roar still echoed in my bones, I had to stop physically restrain myself so I wouldn’t run out that door.Everything that had once felt controlled, powerful, untouchable… had shattered into grief and chaos.The grand hall no longer looked like a place meant for celebr







