Page 90 of Kingmakers, Year Two

This time Jasper is careful to avoid Silas’s blows. He dances and dodges with a speed almost approaching Dean’s. Silas is ferociously strong. When he clips Jasper with even a glancing blow, the impact is brutal. Jasper begins to bleed from nose, lip, and eyebrow.

Still, he’s giving almost as good as he gets. Sniper-like, he fires off sharp, snapping punches that hit Silas precisely where Jasper intends. He opens a cut over Silas’s left eye, then hits him again in the same spot, sending a torrent of blood into Silas’s eye, half-blinding him. Staggering around off balance, Silas is struck again and again.

By the third round, Silas tires. Jasper redoubles his speed. He’s just as fast as he was to start with, maybe even faster. But Silas is so massive that Jasper’s blows don’t have the same effect as they did on Kenzo Tanaka. Silas stumbles and reels without going down.

When the bell sounds, it’s clear that Jasper has won on points. Both he and Silas are a mess, blood raining down on the canvas.

By contrast, Dean makes short work of Kasper Markaj. Zoe wants to cheer for Kasper, even though he’s a Junior, but it’s clear from the start that he can’t keep up with Dean.

Dean moves through his footwork with balletic grace. Each blow is swift, calculated, and horribly strong. His fists are scythes, slicing through the air.

Miss Robin leans forward in her seat, her dark eyes locked on the fighters. Her cheeks are flushed, and she looked transfixed, barely breathing.

It strikes me that she might have come to this particular event because she likes boxing. It’s a curious preference for someone so gentle, but people don’t always resemble their interests. There are plenty of grannies that love wrestling, or bikers who like to bake.

Dean knocks Kasper to the canvas three times in the first round. On that third fall, Kasper doesn’t get up. He concedes the victory, stumbling out of the ring supported by Professor Howell.

Dean raises his own gloved fist in victory, stern and unsmiling. He doesn’t seem to get any joy from his wins. Yet I can tell how badly he wants them.

Professor Howell announces one more break before the final round.

Not a single person leaves their seat.

Everyone is wildly curious whether Dean will continue to prevail, or if Jasper will prove some kind of dark-horse phenom.

“I didn’t even know he was that good a fighter,” Leo says.

“I did,” Miles replies, unsmiling. “I’ve seen him in Combat class.”

“Still . . . taking down Silas . . .”

“Silas was pretty beat up from his first fight,” Ares says.

Hedeon isn’t joining in the conversation. The milk and cookies seemed to revive him slightly, but he’s still broody and pale.

Dean and Jasper take their places in the ring. Jasper is heavily marked from his battle with Silas, while Dean’s face is almost pristine. Neither boy shows a trace of nervousness—just cold intention. Dean has removed his shirt as well, his body is a testament to endless hours in the gym: focused, repeated training sculpting each muscle to superhuman perfection.

“God almighty,” Chay says quietly.

Anna shoots her a quelling look, probably for Leo’s benefit.

“I’m sorry!” Chay cries. “I know we hate him, but he’s a fucking specimen. Don’t worry, Leo, you are too—I saw you naked in the dining hall, so I know what you’re packing. I’m just saying . . .”

Leo doesn’t seem bothered, but Ozzy has fallen quiet on the opposite side of Chay.

The bell rings and Dean and Jasper close the space swiftly and silently. Like hawks they swoop and twist and dive at each other, clinging and breaking apart only to attack again, even faster than Dean’s fight with Zeke Golden. I have my hands pressed against my mouth, biting hard on my knuckle without even realizing it.

The blows hit in near-constant tempo, both Dean and Jasper wincing and spitting blood, but neither slowing for an instant.

Jasper pins Dean against the ropes and hits him with a punishing combination that seems like it might just win the fight.Dean fires back with a volley of punches that are the first Jasper truly seems to feel. He drops to his knee and Dean hits him again, knocking him flat on the canvas.

The fight is over. Dean won.

“Maybe Jasper could have made it if he didn’t fight Silas first,” Chay says.

“I doubt it,” Leo says, shaking his head. “Dean’s so fucking good.”

I know the animosity between Leo and Dean is still raw, but Leo’s pragmatism won’t let him deny Dean’s skill. He’s realistic, whether he likes the truth or not.

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