"You know," Serena said, leaning back on her heels beside him, "for a moment there I really thought you were going to trip over your own feet with how fast you were running away."
Kain didn't respond.
She smirked slightly. "You're lucky there weren't cameras. That tumble into Kyria would've gone viral in half the empire by lunch."
"I was strategically repositioning," he muttered darkly.
"Into her kick?"
"That was part of the plan."
"Oh, clearly."
From the seating ledge just above them, the other members of the Top 5 were less amused.
Jade, arms crossed, watched the arena where Kyria was being stretchered off by medics. Her gaze lingered a little too long on Kain and Serena. She didn't say anything—but the tightness in her expression said plenty.
Theo, sitting nearby, simply looked curious. "Was that little thing… your fifth contract?"
Kain blinked. "You could tell?"
