The Rule
She smirked at his silence—until, after a beat, he leaned closer, voice low, “And the same way my mouth made you stammer, didn’t it?”
Her eyes widened, her lips parted, and before she could speak, he leaned back with effortless grace.
Her cheeks warmed, her ears burned crimson.
He saw it all. And he chuckled, quiet and deep, a sound only for himself.
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The fifth day finally dawned, ushering in the last and grandest of the tournament games. The air itself seemed to tremble with anticipation. These contests were reserved for the fiercest and most skilled— for the prizes were magnificent, and the honor greater still. To fight here was not merely to win a crown of glory; it was to carve one’s