Page 146 of Shattered By Grace

Victoria didn’t flinch. She stood tall, her voice sharp.

“I hear you’ve been looking for me.”

The moment those words left her mouth, a heavy silence fell over the arena. The crowd was holding its breath, waiting for the storm to come.

A controlled smile played across Cassian’s face, leaving his eyes sharp and empty.

"Ah, the traitor’s daughter finally shows her face," he said, his voice smooth like a blade being sharpened. His gaze locked on her, calculating, as if she were the only thing in the room. "What’s your game, Victoria?"

Victoria didn’t have to turn around to feel the weight of Tristan’s stare. It pressed against her spine, heavy and unrelenting. She knew he was watching her, knew every muscle in his body was probably coiled tight, barely holding him together.

And still, she didn’t face him.

Instead, she looked Cassian in the eye, standing her ground as if Tristan’s presence meant nothing. But she could hear the sharp exhale, the way his jaw had to be clenching, the crackling energy of restraint rolling off him in waves.

"Well, your lapdog there,” her daggered eyes flicked to Justin, “kidnapped someone important to me, but you already knew that.” She was looking through him, not at him.

“And if Justin,” she spat, her eyes narrowing dangerously, “doesn’t take his fucking hands off her…”

The words were venomous as she leaned in, voice dropping to a lethal tone.

“...he’ll be lucky if he ever pleasures himself again.”

But Taylor wasn’t standing by quietly. She squirmed in her seat, pushing against Justin’s grip, her body straining to break free. Her breath came in short gasps, panic rising in her chest.

Justin slammed his hand onto her shoulder with more force than necessary, pressing her back into place. The force behind the move was enough to make Taylor’s breath catch, her eyes wide with desperation.

Victoria’s eyes snapped to Justin in a heartbeat. The fire in her chest ignited, and without hesitation, she took a step forward.

“You think I’m playing, Justin?” she growled.

Justin didn’t even look at her. He shrank back, a nervous, guilty glance flicking toward the ground as if he could make himself invisible. His hand faltered on Taylor’s shoulder, but he didn’t dare meet her eyes.

“Enough.” Cassian watched the exchange with an eerie calm, amusement playing on his lips. He tilted his head slightly, the sinister edge of his grin never faltering.

Before she could say more, Tristan stormed forward. His fury was a living, breathing thing, crackling in the air between them. He didn’t care about the audience, didn’t care that Cassian was watching. He only cared about her.

Without thinking, he grabbed her arm, his grip like iron.

"What the fuck are you doing, Victoria?”

Cassian’s eyes narrow. His voice is low, sharp with frustration.

"Tristan. Control yourself. Now.”

Tristan didn’t answer, but his muscles twitch with barely-contained fury. Cassian’s jaw tightens.

"You think you can defy me for some girl? You’d throw away blood and loyalty…for her?”

Tristan stays silent, his glare fixed on Victoria. Cassian’s patience snaps, his voice cold and cutting.

“Give me twenty. That’s all I need.” Victoria injected under her breath.

“You know what happens to those who betray me.”

She didn’t flinch.

Didn’t waver.

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