"You're strong, Klaus. But you're trying to hold fire in a cage made of rules." His voice grew quieter. "And I am not made to obey."
Stefan's voice echoed through the barrier, grim and awed.
"The winner… Lucian."
The crowd didn't cheer. They didn't move.
They stared wide-eyed, hearts thundering at the boy who had just broken Klaus's law itself.
And Olivia…
Olivia couldn't look away. Something in her chest twisted, a strange sense of dread and awe clashing inside her. She felt her core responding in a way that frightened her, as if… it was part of him. Her forehead burned with fiery pain. The mark… it was appearing again.
Lucian turned, caught her gaze… and smiled.
But for a moment, just a heartbeat, she swore she saw something ancient flicker in those eyes… like the ones she saw during the essence transfer.
