Zayn PoV
I punched a wall in my quarters in the arena. How? How could a merchant defeat me? Me! The Emissary of the South! The perfect knight! I had trained for years, honed my body and mind to perfection. And I had lost to a trickster, a liar, a cheat.
I paced back and forth, my anger a fire in my veins. I replayed the fight in my head, over and over again. I had been arrogant. I had underestimated him. I had let him get under my skin. And I had paid the price.
I should have used my full power from the start. I should have crushed him like the insect he was. But no. I had to be honorable. I had to prove my superiority through fair combat.
My shoulders slumped. His Majesty was right. My pride had been my downfall. It made me blind to the man's cunning. But... that Domain of his... it wasn't something I had expected. That ability of his equalized our power.
Sighing, I removed my lacquer armor, placing it in the display.
