Chapter 20 · Iron Arena - Chapter 20: Legacy Clause

I told her to run.

She didn't.

Now we're standing in the back hall of the arena, the crowd still screaming her name through the walls, and League medical is three steps away with a tablet that says **LEGACY HOST CONFIRMED**.

I grab Lila's wrist. "We're leaving. Now."

She yanks free. "Like hell."

"They know what you are." I keep my voice low, but my hand's already on her elbow, pulling her toward the loading bay exit. "You stay here, they own you."

The medical tech—tall, sharp suit, League insignia on his collar—doesn't move. He just taps the screen. "Miss Chen. A moment of your time."

Lila steps forward. I block her.

"Cole." Her voice is flat. "Move."

"No."

She looks up at me. Her left eye's still half-swollen from the fight, blood dried at her temple, but her gaze is steady. Cold. "I said move."

I don't.

The med tech clears his throat. "Mr. Varen, we're not here to extract her. We're here to register her."

"Same thing," I snap.

"It's not." Lila's voice cuts between us. She shoves my chest, hard enough that I take a step back. "Stop deciding for me."

"You don't know what they'll do."