Page 84 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

The crowd roared around me. It was feral. Boos and cheers and screams echoed in the cavernous space and I suddenly felt very small.

“Remember, vampires are fast. Faster than you can see so don’t rely on your eyes,” Korbin said as I took off my jacket and top, leaving me in my sports bra, black trousers and combat boots.

“Don’t let him bite you,” Rook said as he pinned my braid around my head to keep it out of the way. I didn’t want anyone but my guys grabbing it.

“No, shit,” I said with a snort but Casimir tapped my forehead.

“Not for the chance to feed off you,” he said. “They have a potent venom in their fangs that makes you hallucinate under the right circumstances.”

“Okay.” Note to self. Don’t get near his fangs.

Casimir gripped my shoulders tightly. “Don’t put yourself in your own way. React. Attack. Don’t think.”

I nodded and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head before disappearing to his seat. Ares had gifted the guys with front row seats. At least they’d be close to me when I stepped in the ring, a thought which gave me some comfort and also strength.

“Magnus is a formidable opponent. He’s ruthless and became King following a massacre of the old ruling family.” Korbin took my hand and squeezed it. “I know you can take care of yourself, but don’t think it a weakness if you need to tap out.”

I squeezed his hand back and pressed my lips to his cheek. “I’ll be alright. I know you’re all there beside me and—”

“Raevyn?”

I looked over Korbin’s shoulder and saw Roux standing there, confusion squishing the space between her brows. “Roux? What are you doing here?”

“Well, King Douche sent me an invite to come and watch the fight, and I must admit, I do like seeing him get his ass whooped. Kind of makes me feel satisfied with life.” She flicked her gaze over my outfit, and her frown deepened. “What are you doing here?”

“Hopefully whooping ass.”

“Shut the fuck up,” she squealed. “Really? Ares’ secret underdog is you?!”

“Apparently so.”

“Girl, I’m gonna go and up my bet. I have a good feeling about you.” Her red hair disappeared back into the crowd, and I was left pondering what it was she saw in me. I also wanted to ask her about ‘King Douche’ but maybe that would be best saved for a night out with cocktails and dancing.

“You’ve got this, pretty girl,” Nox said as he slapped my ass playfully. “I have no doubt you will beat him.” Then he grabbed Korbin and Rook and left, leaving Hawk to pass on his words of encouragement.

He stepped forwards, sinking his thumb into one of his fangs. Blood pooled on the tip, dark, almost black, and thicker than normal blood. He brought his thumb to my face and swiped a line across both of my cheeks and from my bottom lip over my chin.

“Beautiful, draguta. You look like a warrior, ready for battle.” Hawk hummed in appreciation and flicked his eyes to where Ares stood on his little podium, surveying the room like it was his little kingdom.

The God grinned psychotically, excited by the prospect of bloodshed. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and all the monsters in between.”

The crowd roared and Hawk went to take his seat. This was madness, absolute madness, but I couldn’t get past the feeling of familiarity. Something inside me belonged here. Something dark.

And it wanted out.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Raevyn

There was blood everywhere. Mine and his. The handsome vampire king. His chest heaved, and blood covered his face. I’d broken his nose, twice but I was getting tired and he was starting to get the advantage.

The crowd was wild. The fight had been going on for longer than they’d expected and it was far more brutal than they’d hoped for. Blood dripped into my eye from a cut through my eyebrow. Most of my wounds had healed quickly, but even that was starting to slow down.

The vampire smiled widely and moved in a blur. Pain lanced across my midriff as talons sliced through my skin. Fuck, that hurt.

Another roar from the crowd.

“Fight back!” the voice from my dreams shouted. “You’re more powerful than the vampire, dammit!”

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