Elowen Voss stood rigid, her sharp eyes scanning the entrance tunnel with barely concealed fury. *That arrogant commoner filth is already sitting there like he owns the colosseum,* she thought bitterly, cursing Aiden Nightshade in her head. *Where the hell is Elarion? He should have been here the second his name was called. If he embarrasses the Voss name again after Elara's failure…*
Beside her, Mira Vale's lips curved into a small, private smile. Her heart was beating faster than it had any right to. *Finally… the real show begins.* She remembered the way she had offered her body to Sir Aiden — the way he had taken her, hard and relentless, making her scream his name until she saw stars. It had felt *incredible*. Even now, just thinking about his hands on her skin made heat pool low in her belly. *I hope I didn't give myself to him for nothing,* she thought, cheeks warming. *Win this, Sir Aiden. Humiliate that arrogant nobles the way you promised.*
