The heat of the arena floor hit me the moment I stepped out. The sand was still warm under my boots, and the roar of the crowd was a huge wave of noise. But as I walked to the middle of the ring, the noise seemed to fade away.
Silas Greythorn was already waiting for me. He stood with his arms crossed, a deep, dark frown on his face. He didn't look happy. Not one bit. He looked totally furious.
"Match Six!" Moderator Vance's voice came from above. "Amara Cole versus Silas Greythorn! Get ready!"
I held up my hands, getting into a simple defense stance. I kept my breathing steady. I tried to ignore the bad ache behind my ribs where my magic was moving around like a trapped animal.
Silas didn't even get into a fighting stance. He just stared down at me with pure hate in his eyes. "I cannot believe this," he said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "I cannot believe I am being insulted in the worst possible way."
