River:
The call came just as I was boarding the truck with my guards. We had been combing through the edge of the neighboring town for nearly two days now, chasing rumors and shadows.
It wasn't the first time we thought we had found her. But every lead turned to ash.
And then Oscar called.
His voice was low, tight with disbelief, and yet every word cracked like thunder in my ear.
"She was there, River. In the arena. Masked. Fighting me."
I froze mid-step and my fingers tightened around the truck door.
"What?" I demanded as I stepped away from the vehicle. I was confused, and yet, there was a part of me that already knew whom he was talking about. "Who?"
"Her. Evaline Greystone."
I went still as the weight of that name dropped into my stomach like a stone.
"No," I muttered. "That's not possible. She's supposed to be in hiding. We have been looking for her. We searched every possible-"
