SERAPHINA’S POV
I broke eye contact with Celeste first as my team was ushered towards the rest area, the roar of the crowd still ringing faintly in my ears.
Our surroundings buzzed with the restless energy of teams regrouping, healers weaving between them, and spectators craning their necks from the terraces above.
My lungs burned, my ribs still throbbing from the desperate dive I took to avoid the Labyrinth’s traps. Each breath scraped against exhaustion and raw relief.
My teammates clustered close. Judy was flush with delight. Roxy stretched her shoulders like she was still spoiling for the fight she hadn’t gotten. Finn looked pale, but his eyes gleamed with pride, his hands twitching nervously as though he was still working out combinations in his head. Talia lingered at the back, chin raised despite the tremor in her legs.
But the glow of triumph flickered out as a too-familiar perfume cut through the salt-scented air—jasmine with the bitter edge of snake venom.
