Chapter 266 Really? Both!

Chapter 266 Really? Both!


Trixie’s POV

I still couldn’t wrap my head around it.
Three minutes and thirteen seconds.
Even now, standing on the arena floor with the roar of the crowd still echoing through the air, my pulse hadn’t quite settled. The course replayed in flashes behind my eyes. The beams, the climb, the fire, the ice, and somehow it all felt both lightning fast and stretched out at the same time.
Adrenaline did that.
So did competition.
And Elara?
Damn.
I turned my head toward her as the cheers continued to roll around us, a grin tugging at my lips before I crossed the short distance between us and pulled her into a hug.
“You were amazing, my queen,” I said, my voice softer now, meant just for her. “Seriously. That was incredible.”
She let out a quiet breath against my shoulder before pulling back just enough to meet my eyes, a smile breaking through her composure.
“You kicked ass,” she shot back, shaking her head slightly. “You blew right through that course like it owed you money.”
I huffed out a laugh. “Please. You were right there with me the entire time. I thought you were about to take me on the climb.”
“I almost did,” she said with a raised brow.
“Almost,” I teased.
She nudged my shoulder lightly. “Don’t get comfortable.”
“Oh, I won’t,” I said, still smiling. “Wouldn’t want you getting bored.”
We made our way off the course together, the energy from the crowd following us as we headed toward the platform where the guys were waiting. The second we got close enough they lost it.
Cheers. Whistles. A few exaggerated claps that were definitely more dramatic than necessary.
I barely had time to react before Calvin reached me first, pulling me into a tight embrace that grounded me far more than I expected.
“I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” he said, his voice thick with it. “You were amazing out there.”
I softened immediately, hugging him back just as tightly. “Thank you,” I murmured. “But you’re the one who trained me all those years ago. So really, you should be taking some of that credit.”
I pulled back just enough to shoot him a wink. He snorted softly, shaking his head. “Still deflecting, I see.”
“Always,” I said with a grin.
Margaret stepped in next, wrapping her arms around me with warmth that felt like home. “Sweet child, I’m so proud of you,” she said, squeezing me gently.
“Thank you,” I said again, my voice softer this time as I returned the hug.
Then came chaos.
Caden and Coban didn’t even give me a second to breathe before they each grabbed an arm and lifted me straight off the ground.
“Oh, here we go,” I muttered as they spun me around like I weighed nothing.
“Our girl still has it,” Coban said with a smirk.
“Never lost it,” Caden added immediately.
“I hate both of you,” I said, though the laugh in my voice ruined any chance of that sounding convincing.
They set me back down, but the moment didn’t quite settle the way I expected.
Because I felt it. There was movement behind them.
I tilted my head slightly, peering past their shoulders and froze.
“Blake?” The word left me before I could stop it, and then I was already moving.
“Blake!” I called out again, excitement breaking straight through as I rushed forward and practically launched myself at him.
He caught me easily, arms wrapping around me as he laughed. “Well damn,” he said. “Still tackling people, huh?”
“You’re here!” I pulled back just enough to look at him, still grinning. “When did you get here?”
“Around thirty minutes ago,” he said, adjusting his hold slightly before setting me back on my feet. “Would’ve been sooner if things went smoother.”
A low growl sounded behind me. I didn’t even have to turn around to know exactly who that came from.
I rolled my eyes, a laugh slipping out as I glanced over my shoulder. “Relax,” I said. “It’s Blake. Nobody’s dying today.
“Debatable,” Coban muttered.
I ignored that completely.
Blake shook his head slightly, though the amusement faded from his expression quicker than I liked.
“We had some trouble getting in,” he continued, his tone shifting just enough to catch my attention. “Car broke down right outside your borders.”
That alone was annoying.
He looked over at Caden and Coban, his expression tightening. “Did you realize there are people camping just outside your territory?”
The air changed instantly. Every bit of lightness drained out of the space between us.
“What?” I said sharply, my body already going still. “Are you sure?”
Blake nodded once. “Yeah,” he said. “Not far from where we broke down. One of the guys with me went off to relieve himself and came back acting… off.”
I frowned slightly. “Off how?”
“Too quiet,” Blake replied. “Didn’t like it. So I went to check.”
He paused, shaking his head like he still didn’t quite believe it himself. “There were at least twenty… maybe twenty-five men out there.”
That did it. All conversation stopped.
“Where?” Coban asked, his voice low and controlled.
“Northern end,” Blake answered immediately. “Near the caves.”
Caden’s jaw tightened.
I glanced between them, already seeing that familiar glaze settle over their eyes.
Mindlink. They were checking.
Coordinating. 
“Thank you, Blake,” I said, meaning it.
He gave a short nod, but his attention was already scanning the area again.
Tension wrapped around us like a tightening grip.
And then a scream.
My head snapped toward the sound so fast my neck protested.
Selene.
She was doubled over, her hands clutching her stomach as her body trembled. Sweat already dotted her forehead, her face pale as another wave hit her.
My heart dropped straight into my stomach. “Selene…”
“Uh… guys?” I said quickly, stepping toward her. “We need to get her inside.”
I barely finished the sentence when another scream cut through the air. My head whipped in the opposite direction.
Alessia.
“Oh shit,” she gasped, staring down at her lap.
I didn’t need to ask.
Didn’t need to guess.
Everything clicked at once.
“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath, already moving.
Two of them.
Right now. Of course it would be right now.
“Alright!” I clapped my hands once, my voice snapping into command without hesitation. “Everyone move. Inside. Now.”
Caden was already at Alessia’s side.
Coban moved toward Selene.
Calvin stepped in to clear a path without needing to be told.
Blake just blinked once before letting out a low breath. “Yeah… I picked a hell of a time to show up.”
“No kidding,” I shot back, grabbing Selene’s arm carefully as another contraction hit her.
She cried out again, gripping me tighter. “I’ve got you,” I said firmly. “You’re okay.”
Behind us, I could still feel the tension from Blake’s warning lingering in the air.
Twenty-five men.
Right outside our borders.
And now this.
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself as we rushed toward the building. “Of course,” I muttered under my breath. “Because why would anything ever happen one at a time?”