The echoes of the crowd's cheers still lingered in my mind as we walked back to our room, Eileen leaning on me more heavily than she probably realized.
The weight of her body, though slight, was a reminder of just how much she had endured, how much strength she had summoned to win that duel. My heart ached with a mix of pride and concern for her.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, the reality of the situation hit me all at once. The arena, the duel, the bloodshed all of it was over, but the consequences were far from settled.
Eileen had secured her place in the Council, but at what cost? And then, of course, there was Thalira. Her threat was a shadow that loomed over us, even in this moment of supposed victory. But for now, all I could do was focus on Eileen.
"Let's get you into bed," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper, as though speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile peace of the room.
