Kai walked down the sloping stone tunnel while the deafening roar of the arena crowd faded behind him.
He wiped a streak of warm blood from his cheek and sheathed his voidglass dagger.
His chest heaved with exertion, and a thin layer of sweat coated his bare arms.
Shadows clung to the alcoves lining the exit path, offering a brief respite from the blinding sun.
Yena stepped out from a recessed archway the moment he cleared the gates. She didn't waste time with polite greetings.
Grabbing him by the shoulders, she pulled him into a breathless embrace. Her hands immediately mapped his torso to check for fatal wounds, sliding over his ribs and down his waist with a frantic, searching energy.
"You're in one piece," Yena whispered against his neck. Her breathing felt ragged, and the proximity sent a jolt of heat straight to his groin.
"I promised you I would survive," Kai murmured, letting his hands rest firmly on her hips.
"You don't need to worry about me."
