Kyle lay sprawled on the training hall floor, staring up at the vaulted ceiling as each breath sent sharp, stabbing pain through his ribs.
'Definitely broken', he thought, tasting blood in his mouth.
His entire body felt like it had been run over by a cart.
Twice.
His left ankle throbbed where Cedric's flames had seared through his boot.
His arms burned from blocking too many heavy strikes, and his ribs…
Yeah, those were definitely cracked.
The moment Cassian had called the match.
The room erupted into chaos.
As Eleanora rushed towards him.
The usually composed princess shoved past the others.
Her crimson eyes blazing with something between frustration and concern.
She dropped to her knees beside Kyle.
Her gloved hands already moving to assess his injuries with surprising precision.
"You idiot," she muttered. Pressing gently along his ribcage.
Kyle hissed through his teeth as her fingers found the worst of the damage.
"How many?"
