LOGINHansel’s POVThe door opened and my heart stopped.I froze beside Conrad, the ancient grimoire pressed tightly against my chest.Someone was coming. Footsteps echoed through the King’s chamber and getting closer.Conrad immediately grabbed my wrist. “Hide.”I didn’t need to be told twice.He pulled me behind one of the massive bookshelves just as the doors opened completely.I pressed my back against the wall.Conrad stood directly in front of me, shielding me from view. I could barely breathe as the sound of footsteps grew louder.Then I heard a familiar voice. “Where is Supreme?”My eyes widened.The King was here.Conrad’s fingers tightened around his dagger.I held my breath and another voice answered.“He’s on his way.”The King’s footsteps stopped.“I don’t have time to wait.”A chair scraped against the floor.I slowly peeked through the narrow space between the books. The King stood in the middle of the room.His crimson eyes glowed beneath the dim light.Supreme stood several
Conrad's POVThe roar of the crowd shook the palace.Even from the upper corridors, I could hear thousands of demons cheering as the final duel unfolded in the arena below.Perfect.Everyone important was watching the tournament Including the King and even most of the palace guards.Which meant we finally had the opportunity we'd been waiting for. I adjusted the dark cloak over my shoulders and glanced down the empty hallway."It's clear."Hansel stepped out from behind a marble pillar.In her demon disguise, she looked even more beautiful. "You sure this is a good idea?" she whispered."No." I smirked. "But we're doing it anyway."She rolled her eyes. "I missed your confidence.""I missed your sarcasm."She bumped my shoulder. "I wasn't being sarcastic.""You usually are."A tiny smile escaped her lips before disappearing just as quickly. Her expression turned serious."Let's go."I nodded and we moved.The palace corridors were eerily quiet and no one was around, they had all gone
Mila’s POVThe time rushed past far too quickly. One moment I was sitting beside Vaelor, forcing myself to finish the last bite of food and ignore his glares.The next the arena horn sounded, a deep, haunting note echoed throughout the palace.Every conversation stopped. The spectators hurried back toward the massive arena, eager for the final event.Sera squeezed my shoulder. “It’s time.”I nodded.This was it, the last trial and I wouldn’t be underestimated again and finally live in a little peace.I stood up, dusting off my white dress before fastening my sword securely at my waist.My dagger rested against my thigh and my palms were sweaty not because I was afraid of fighting.Because I couldn’t afford to lose, I quickly adjusted my braids and Vaelor rose beside me. “You remember what I taught you?”I smiled faintly. “Don’t think, make sure to act fast and be ruthless.”He nodded once. “And?”I sighed dramatically. “If they’re stronger use their strength against them.”“And?” He
Mila’s POVThe world shattered and everything was gone, no warm sunlight or the familiar bedroom.All of it cracked like fragile glass, breaking into countless glowing fragments that drifted into endless darkness.“No!”I’m sorry Rina whispered I reached for them but my fingers closed around nothing. I was falling again or floating perhaps couldn’t tell.The silver void from before surrounded me once more. There was no sky of ground.Only endless light stretching in every direction.“Mila.”A distant voice echoed around me.“Mila.”The voice grew louder.“Mila!”My eyes flew open.I gasped sharply as cold air filled my lungs, I was lying on something hard, I looked and i was lying on a cold black stone.For several seconds, I could only stare at the sky. My chest rose and fell rapidly.It had felt so real, too real to be true “…Knox…”The name escaped my lips in a whisper. A judge’s voice interrupted my thoughts.“Contestant Three has returned.”The sound of applause slowly reache
Mila’s POVI stared at them. Every face I had spent a year missing stood before me smiling and real. I was Free.The room was bright with morning sunlight, a warm breeze drifting through the open windows.For the first time in so long I wasn’t surrounded by black marble halls or crimson skies.I wasn’t trapped in the underworld.“How is this real?” I whispered.Hansel squeezed my hand. “You’ve been asleep for so long.”I shook my head.“No… no, that’s impossible, I was in the demon realm.”Everyone exchanged confused glances.“The what?” Conrad asked.“The demon realm!”I sat up straighter despite the weakness in my body. “The King… Bastian… Supreme… Vaelor…”I looked from one face to another. “You have to listen to me.”“There are demons and they’re trying to escape.”“The King needs my blood to complete his ritual—”“Mila.” Marcus’ voice was gentle. “You don’t have to force yourself.”“I’m not forcing anything!”I looked desperately toward Hansel.“You know me.”“You know I wouldn
Mila’s POVThe arena remained silent for several long seconds after my hand connected with Elle’s face.She got up form the ground and her red eyes burned with fury. “You slapped me.”I blinked innocently. “Did I?”“You know you did!”“I…” I genuinely didn’t know what to say.Rina coughed inside my mind.“You are absolutely not blaming this on me.”“I wasn’t going to.”“You were thinking it.”“Maybe.”Elle took a furious step forward.“You—”“Enough.”The King’s voice rolled across the arena like thunder.Every conversation stopped instantly. Elle clenched her jaw but bowed.“My King.”His eyes settled on her. “You fired an arrow during an official trial.”Her expression stiffened.“I merely wanted to make it more fun”“You endangered the King’s entertainment.”She immediately lowered her head. “My apologies.”The King waved a careless hand. “The first trial is over.”“Continue.”Clearly, he cared far more about the competition than about fairness.Typical.The judges quickly gathere
Knox's POV….The plane landed smoothly, though my stomach had twisted from hours of anticipation. My hands clenched the edge of my seat as Caleb and Conrad guided me through the protocol for the meeting. Every detail mattered every gesture, every word was very important I couldn’t afford to make
Knox's POV….Pain.That was the first thing I felt when I woke up.A dull, throbbing ache behind my eyes, like my skull had been split open and poorly stitched back together.I groaned and shifted slightly and I froze.Something wasn’t right.I opened my eyes slowly and everywhere was blurry before
Knox's POV….“This is ridiculous.”Conrad’s voice echoed across the training yard, sharp and irritated.I barely heard him.My mind was still stuck on the conversation from moments ago, replaying every word I had said about Mila.And the worst part?A small, ugly voice inside my head told me I had
Mila's pov…Kreda was draining and annoying, I almost punched her in the face.I reached the palace gates and pushed it open everywhere was dark already except for the torches of fires lining the place. Guards stood at their usual posts, but none of them stopped me as I walked inside.Some nodded







