\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selene\u00a0<\/p>\n
In this world of warriors, dominance was everything. If you wanted to prove yourself, you fought. You fought until blood spilled, until your enemies were broken before you, and you never showed mercy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mercy was weakness, and enemies were enemies for a reason. Show them mercy and they would wait for the perfect moment to strike you down, and when they did, you\u2019d be left with nothing but regret.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A true warrior never held back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If Silas didn\u2019t prove himself now, if he didn\u2019t show his dominance in front of everyone, his life in the temple would only get harder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The arena was so quiet that the air itself seemed to freeze. Everyone stared at me as though they couldn\u2019t believe what they\u2019d just heard. Their shock was almost amusing. For a few seconds, no one dared to speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMy lady\u2026\u201d Silas muttered, but Arthur snapped out of his daze first. His eyes dragged over my body with a slow sweep. I wore only a light garment, slightly too big, but not enough to hide my curves. Arthur didn\u2019t even bother concealing his hungry stare. His lips curled into a smirk as his gaze lingered, before sliding back up to my face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t look away. I could feel the weight of other men\u2019s stares on me, just as lustful, and degrading. They might look down on me in every other way, but not one of them could deny the truth, I was the most beautiful woman in this temple. Even more beautiful than my twin, Sienna. But beauty meant little to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why should I shrink back because of a few hungry stares? In my past lives, I had endured far worse. Men always thought they saw a damsel in me, ripe for the taking, until I struck them down and made them choke on their arrogance. Stares meant nothing. What mattered was that they eventually turned to respect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The only line I would never allow to be crossed was touch. No one laid a hand on me without my permission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beside me, Evelyn bristled. She suddenly stepped forward, placing herself between me and their stares, arms spread protectively. I blinked at her, surprised.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her glare swept the arena, her voice trembling with fury as she shouted, \u201cHow dare you! Look down and show your respect, the Moonborn is in front of you!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her voice rang out through the hall, yet not a single man moved to kneel. Not one lowered his\u00a0<\/p>\n
gaze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evelyn\u2019s face hardened, and I knew she was seething. I had seen her angry before, but this was different. Evelyn hated nothing more than seeing me disrespected, especially by men who should be beneath me. She opened her mouth, ready to unleash more, but I placed a hand gently on her shoulder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned to me, eyes wide. \u201cMiss\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d I said softly, a smile tugging at my lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t need to force their respect.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My gaze swept across the men. Each one who dared meet my eyes faltered, shifting uneasily, stepping back ever so slightly. My eyes narrowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will learn to show their respect eventually.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arthur\u2019s laugh cut through the tense silence. Slowly, I turned my gaze to him, my expression calm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThese men are so disrespectful,\u201d he said, his tone light, and playful. \u201cMy lady, would you forgive us? Sometimes, men who\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
fight are not good with other things. We didn\u2019t learn manners.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stared at him, arching an eyebrow. Didn\u2019t learn manners? They weren\u2019t dumb. If Sienna walked in here, every single man would immediately kneel, and show their respect without hesitation. What a sweet mouth this man had.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arthur went on, smiling faintly. \u201cBut what brings you here, my lady?\u201d His eyes flicked down to Silas, beaten and bloodied on the arena floor. \u201cDid you perhaps come here for him?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I tilted my head slightly. \u201cIf you know, why bother asking me a stupid question?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arthur actually paused at that, momentarily surprised. In the past, I had always been the one who lowered my head when men spoke to me. He must be wondering what had changed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He recovered quickly. \u201cI know you must be worried, but we are just doing what we are supposed to do. Warrior Silas is being punished for leaving the temple during the holy night. No one is allowed to leave the temple, according to the rules.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rules?\u201d I raised an eyebrow. \u201cThe rules still matter when I\u2019m on the verge of death?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arthur hesitated, his lips parting as if to speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I stepped closer, cutting him off. \u201cOh, what was it you said again? That everyone knows I\u2019m fake, and my death wouldn\u2019t make a difference?\u201d My eyes sharpened. \u201cHow insolent.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
66\u00a0<\/p>\n
99\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI should punish you for your words. Even if you serve Sienna, you have no right to speak to me like that. I Moonborn, no matter what you think, and someone like you shouldn\u2019t dare challenge me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
am still a\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arthur\u2019s face darkened, his jaw tightening, his fists clenching at his sides. He said nothing because he knew I was right. They all did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If this situation spiraled out of control, my father would punish them, not because they disrespected me, but because I was still his blood. And no one in the temple, no matter how bold, could disrespect his\/authority without consequence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are right, my lady,\u201d Authur said smoothly. \u201cI apologise. I will release Silas now.\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I smiled back. \u201cRelease? I think you are wrong about something.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His brows furrowed slightly. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI never told you to release my bodyguard,\u201d I said. \u201cThis fight shall continue. Except this time, it will be fair.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned my eyes to Silas. \u201cSilas.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked up at me from where he knelt, and then bowed his head. \u201cYes, my lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you going to let him embarrass me?\u201d I asked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silas flinched, then quickly shook his head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re not going to shame me,\u201d I said, my voice echoing across the arena, \u201cthen don\u2019t stand there and let anyone strike you. You\u2019re mine, your life, your existence, your body. Striking you is the same as striking me. As my loyal guard, you are not to be touched. I give you permission, no, the order, to put down the animal who dared lay a hand on you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crowd\u2019s eyes widened; whispers rippled through the dark arena, but no one dared speak aloud.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Arthur turned to me, looking down at me like I was a child throwing a tantrum. \u201cLady Selene,\u201d he said, his voice edged with mockery, \u201cyou might not know a thing because you are a woman, but your bodyguard is already weak, he can\u2019t\u2014\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 13\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before he could finish, a blur of movement cut him off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A loud crack split the air as Arthur\u2019s body was hurled across the arena and slammed into the far wall. Gasps echoed from every corner of the stands. Heads snapped toward the fighting ground.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Silas was no longer kneeling. He stood now, straight-backed, his body radiating power. His eyes flashed a deep, ominous back as he reached down, picked up the sword from the floor, and raised it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He growled, dangerously. \u201cYour wish is my command, my lady.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Hope Is Not Optional \u2014 Manuel Flores 13 \u00a0 Chapter 13\u00a0 Chapter 13\u00a0 Selene\u00a0 In this world of warriors, dominance […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-ruthless-tycoons-obsession-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27807"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27807\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}