Kael was beginning to understand why nearly every Lord had placed their bets on Ambrose. The young man's strength was not just brute force, it was calculated, precise, and lethal. Each strike landed like a hammer on steel, and Kael could feel the sharp sting of pain surging through his jaw as Ambrose delivered a vicious blow that sent blood spilling from his lips.
Turning slightly, Kael caught sight of Aisha in the front row. Her eyes were wide with worry, lips pressed together in silent prayer. She cared not for the gold they'd lose should he fall, only for the man she loved. Beside her, Gabriel's jaw clenched. He did not like the way this was going. Neither did Ava, though she kept her silence, her gaze fixed firmly on the ring.
"This match is rather engaging," Lord Caspian observed from his seat beside the emperor. "I had no idea these events were taken so seriously."
"They are," Xander replied with a nod, eyes still on the ring.
"If I may ask, Your Majesty," Caspian continued, a slight tilt of curiosity in his voice, "did you place a bet?"
"No," Xander replied simply. "I've never been one for wagering. I watch for the sport of it, though not often."
Caspian's gaze shifted to Lola, whose attention remained elsewhere. "And you, my lady? Did you wager?"
"If I had known ahead of time, perhaps I would have," Lola answered, smiling faintly, though her eyes never met his.
"Ah," Caspian grinned, intrigued. "So you do bet, Lady Charlotte?"
"On occasion," she said with a light shrug.
Xander merely smiled, knowing her well enough to recognise that tone in her voice. A quiet challenge hiding beneath her composed manner.
Suddenly, a commotion stirred in the crowd. Gabriel Flynn, his patience spent, leapt over the barrier and stormed toward the edge of the ring, rolling up his sleeves.
"Come on, you stubborn black devil!" he shouted. "You've got to fight, Kael! If you lose this match, I swear on the crown, I'll drag you back and beat you myself!"
The audience burst into laughter and gasps. Some cheered, others watched with amused disbelief. Ava, standing beside Emily and Liam, let out a small chuckle. There was something oddly endearing about Gabriel's ridiculous bravado.
"Is that Lord Flynn causing a scene?" Caspian asked, raising a brow.
Xander hummed in response. "It is."
"Is he acquainted with the fighter?" Caspian pressed.
"They've been friends since their youth," Xander explained. "Kael was always the muscle behind Gabriel's schemes. He once carried him across a frozen river on a dare."
Caspian chuckled before leaning slightly forward. "I hear Flynn is popular with the ladies... and a frequent donor to the city's more shall we say uninhibited establishments."
Lola's smile twitched, but it was Ava whose face fell. The words hit her like a chill breeze. Her frown deepened, though she said nothing.
"Oh, he certainly has a reputation," Xander added. "I daresay no woman could change him. Marriage? Not a chance."
As the crowd roared louder, all attention snapped back to the ring. Kael had found his resolve. With a final cry and a brutal twist, he brought Ambrose crashing down, snapping the man's neck with one precise blow. Silence fell for a moment before the arena erupted into cheers.
Kael stood over his fallen opponent, chest heaving, blood trailing down his chin. He turned toward Gabriel, who gave him a proud nod, and then to Aisha, who smiled through tears, throwing him an invisible kiss.
"Finally, the match is over," Ethan said with relief, rising with the others.
"How thrilling," Caspian declared, beaming. He turned to Xander. "Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty. I've not been this entertained in years."
Xander's expression darkened, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. "It's nothing, Caspian. But this… this is merely the beginning."
Caspian's smile faltered, just slightly. "Could you elaborate, my Lord?"
The emperor said nothing, only smiled with that signature calm that often preceded something dangerous.