The roar of the crowd still thundered across the arena when Bella finally realized someone was holding a bottle of water in front of her face.“Drink slowly,” the girl urged gently.Bella barely heard her. Her ears were ringing from the cheers, her muscles trembling violently after the brutal final round.Still dazed, she grabbed the bottle and swallowed greedily.Cold water slid down her throat, sharp and refreshing.For a second, relief hit her.Then suddenly—She coughed violently.The bottle slipped from her fingers, water splashing across her clothes and the dusty floor beneath her boots.“Oh Goddess!” the girl gasped.Morgan was beside Bella almost instantly.“Easy,” he said firmly, gripping her shoulder before she could topple sideways. “Too much too fast. Your body’s overheated.”Bella wheezed, pressing a hand against her chest as he carefully helped her sit back down on the wooden bench behind the arena.The pounding in her head slowly eased.Morgan crouched in front of her,
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