I stepped off the arena floor to thunderous applause, my ears still ringing from the chaos of battle. The corridor leading back to our prep area felt cool and quiet compared to the electrical storm that had just consumed the main stadium.
"Twenty-minute break before the next event," Braxton announced, leaning against the wall with his usual half-bored, half-amused expression. His eyes tracked each of us as we filed in, taking stock of injuries. "Anyone need immediate medical attention, or can you all just walk it off like the stubborn bastards I know you are?"
"I'm fine," I said automatically, despite the stabbing pain in my ribs that suggested at least two were cracked.
Natalia scoffed next to me. "You're not fine. Your ribs look like they're trying to rearrange themselves into a modern art installation."
"Poetic. Maybe you should write greeting cards when this whole Hunter thing doesn't work out."
