Page 29 of Raven

The crowd’s cheers start fading, and in my peripheral, I see the other fighter on his feet again, his murderous stare at Raven. I know the guy will do something stupid. I shift my gaze to the guy, then back to Raven.

Raven doesn’t move, his eyes boring into me.

I shift my alarmed gaze to the bloodied guy again, then to Raven, clearly warning him.

Raven still doesn’t move.

“Raven,” I whisper.

The other guy roars and charges at Raven, and in the last second before he reaches him, Raven ducks, twists, and rams his fist into the guy’s abdomen, making him bend in half, then slams his knee into the guy’s face, chases it with a punch right into his already smashed nose, and pushes him away. The guy treads backward and collapses onto his back to the loud roars of the crowd.

“Fuck, he is good,” Archer exclaims and whistles repeatedly, clapping his hands.

Raven gives me a triumphant glance, then leisurely walks toward the cage exit.

“Are there more fights?” I ask, trying to distract myself from how fast my heart is beating and how badly my hands are shaking.

“Yeah.” Archer motions to one of his guards. “But I don’t have much interest in the others. We should leave.”

Kat wraps her hand around Archer’s arm. “Wanna join us for dinner at Marlow’s?” she asks me.

I feel like partying. But I shouldn’t.

“Raven needs that cut looked at,” I say.

Archer is typing something on his phone. “He seems to like nurses,” he says with a crooked grin without looking up.

“Well, I gotta go to work, night shift,” I lie.

“Uh-huh,” Archer murmurs, typing away.

It’s not my shift, but I know Raven will go straight to the medical center. He’s like an animal who sniffs his prey. And I’m walking right into his trap.

12

RAVEN

I leave the octagon, and Skiba gives me a fist bump. Nothing new, except his comment, “What was that about?” He nods at my shoulder.

I ignore him. That was on purpose, because everything I do around that beautiful girl is a plan.

Skiba passes me my shirt, and as I dress, I glance at the front row, but neither Maddy nor Archer with his crew are there. I pride myself on the thought that they came here to watch me fight. So did Maddy. That’s a first. I’m dragging her out of her hiding.

Good.

She looked different tonight. Gone was her flowery good-girl attitude. She looked almost like one of the Elites in her minidress and pinned-up hair. More makeup than usual. That fierceness in her eyes was unmistakable. She can deny it all, but I know she came here for me.

I check my phone. There’s a message from Archer.

Archer Crone: Need to have a quick talk.

Then another.

Archer Crone: Maddy left for work.

The second message is unusual, as if Archer senses something is up with Maddy and me. I don’t care what he thinks is happening as long as he doesn’t get suspicious about her identity. As soon as he does, my deal with her is over.

Archer and Katura make their way over to me.

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