Chapter 25 · Iron Arena - Chapter 25: The Varen Name

I'm still standing in front of the board when Cole walks in.

He's carrying two coffees. Steam curls off the lids. He stops when he sees my face.

"What happened."

Not a question. A demand.

I point at the board. At the name printed next to mine in block letters. MARA VAREN.

The cups hit the floor.

Coffee spreads across the concrete in a dark pool. Cole doesn't move. Doesn't blink. His face goes blank in a way that scares me more than anger would.

"Cole."

He's already moving. Past me. Up to the board. His hand reaches out, fingers stopping an inch from her name like it might burn him.

"She's alive," I say. Stupid thing to say. He can see that.

"She's fighting." His voice comes out flat. Dead. "In the city league."

"Yeah."

"Under her real name."

"Yeah."

He slams his fist into the wall next to the board. The whole thing shudders. I flinch.

"Two years." He's not talking to me anymore. "Two goddamn years and she's been here the whole time."

"Maybe she—"

"Don't." He rounds on me. His eyes are wild. Raw. "Don't make excuses for her.