"The games of kings: Rise of the underdog"

chapter thirty four

I stared at the message from Zara, my thumb hovering over the screen. "Are you ready?" she had asked. No hello. No fluff. Just those three words that meant more than they seemed.

I could almost hear her voice in my head—cold, determined, razor-sharp. She wasn't doing this for points, rank, or glory. This was personal. She had a mission, and now I have one too. Maybe we were more alike than I thought.

I grabbed my bag and headed toward the school entrance, heart pounding and mind racing.

Twelve hours.

That’s how long I had to ruin Celine.

She was the queen of the campus—untouchable, feared, and admired by sheep who only followed her because they didn’t want to become her next meal. But what they didn’t know was how easy it would be to tip the scales if you knew where to push.

And I did.

When I got to the school gates, Zara was already there, leaning against the stone pillar. Her long braids were tied up in a high ponytail.

“You came,” she said.

I nodded. “Of course I did.”

“Good. Becau