"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven!"
Navian stared down from the upper stands, his eyes fixed on the chaos below. It was almost satisfying to see Ezrik at the edge of death with bloodshot, furious eyes but no longer struggling like he had been for the past ten minutes.
He'd arrived at the fighting ring late that night, after hours of searching for Ezrik, Willow, and Evren. Then, just as he was about to give up, Ezrik was dragged onto the stage like a spectacle, regaining consciousness after being knocked out cold. The moment Navian saw him, he knew Willow and Evren wouldn't be far.
Sure enough, they appeared in the stands.
It hadn't been hard to find out what happened. Rumors had spread through the Star Yard fast. A gas explosion. Rogue, his girlfriend, and some guy taken underground.
Rogue's girlfriend.
The words made Navian's jaw clench. The idea that people associated Willow with Ezrik by calling her his made his blood boil.
