River:
The call came just as I was boarding the truck with my guards. We'd been combing through the edge of the neighboring town for nearly two days now, chasing rumors and shadows.
It wasn't the first time we thought we'd found her. But every lead turned to ash.
And then Oscar called.
His voice was low, tight with disbelief, and yet every word cracked like thunder in my ear.
"She was there, River. In the arena. Masked. Fighting *me.*"
I froze mid-step, my fingers tightening around the truck door.
"What?" I demanded, stepping away from the vehicle. "Who?"
"Eva. Evaline Greystone."
I went still. The weight of the name dropped into my stomach like a stone.
"No," I muttered. "That's not possible. She's supposed to be in hiding. We've been looking for her. We searched every possible—"
"She didn't come out of hiding," Oscar said, interrupting me. "She was already *inside.* Already *enrolled.* She fought under a false name. She beat me. And she took off her mask at the end."
