Page 147 of Shattered By Grace

Her eyes never left Cassian’s as she twisted her arm free with practiced ease, stepping back like she owned the damn room.

“Sorry about that, where were we?”

Cassian let out a low chuckle, leaning back against the railing, tapping his fingers as if debating something.

"You want her freedom?" he mused, his voice almost mocking. "Then fight for it."

Victoria’s lips curled into a smirk.

"I thought you’d never ask."

Cassian leaned forward, eyes gleaming with calculated malice.Amusement. Anticipation.He tapped a finger against the railing, dragging the silence just long enough to make the momentsuffocating.

He spread his arms wide, turning slightly as if addressing the entire arena. "I know the perfect person."

The air shifted. The crowd murmured, a restless, hungry energy crackling through the space.

Cassian’s gaze flicked toward the side of the ring, his voice smooth as silk.

"Lena, why don’t you step your beautiful self up here?"

A slow, deliberate movement.

The crowd stirred, whispers turning into a low roar as a figure stepped into the light.

Lena Chase.

Victoria’s stomach twisted. Not with fear, but with recognition.

She knew that name.

Cassian smirked. "For those of you unfamiliar, this is Lena Chase, from one of the top five families. A fighter unlike any other and is also quite skilled with daggers." He leaned against the railing lazily. "And she’ll be Victoria’s opponent tonight."

The arena exploded in cheers and gasps, the crowd consumed by the sheer madness of it all.

Victoria? She just cracked her neck, rolling her shoulders, completely unfazed.

Because it didn’t matter who Cassian chose.

She was going to win.

Tristan, however, was seeing red.

"No." His voice was a growl, pure fury wrapped in panic. His hands were already reaching for her, already trying to drag her out of the ring. "Absolutely fucking not."

Victoria turned to him, utterly unbothered. She could feel his intensity radiating from every muscle, but she wasn’t about to let him control the space between them.

"Relax, champ," she grinned, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I’m about to toss that bitch on the mat. Splish, splash, time for a bloodbath."

Tristan snapped.

"Victoria, this isn’t a joke?—"

Her smile vanished. “Do you see me laughing?"

The confidence in her voice made something twist deep in his chest and scared the hell out of him.

Cassian is looking at his son with a murderous smile as Tristan reacts to Victoria.

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