Page 6 of Masked Fate

Nico gets in one hard hit to my jaw, and I pull my gaze from the witch and back to my opponent. It’s not like I give a fuck what she does or whose cock she’s sucking.

We keep going round for round until I draw blood with a punch to his nose. Astrid steps into the ring next, looking around for an opponent, but no one will dare.

She scowls at Rave, who sighs and nods his head at Pandora. She’s going to spar with my queen? We’ve all put time and effort into training Astrid, especially Rave, and she’s a formidable opponent.

But since she became queen, no one wants to fight her out of respect.

That, and everyone is shit-scared of Rave, but he’s obviously allowing Pandora that honor.

Queen verse queen.

All we need is some fucking rain for the females to get wet and put on a good show. Pandora might set me on edge, but she does have a tight little body and a pair of tits I wouldn’t look away from.

Where’s that bastard, Bane, when you need him? His weather magic would really come in handy right now.

And thank fuck Rave can’t read my thoughts.

I’ve never seen the witch fight.

Can she even fight?

All I know is that Astrid is going to destroy her.

CHAPTER THREE

Pandora

Hand-to-hand combat has never been my strength, but that doesn’t mean I’m untrained. I am a queen. We don’t wait for others to save us. I made sure I learned how to protect myself. I’m many things, but a damsel in distress isn’t one. Astrid is potentially one of the strongest fae alive, but there are some things a witch can do that a fae can’t. It’s why they come to us for their wards, spells, and enchantments. It’s also hard for us to keep a straight face because well, we’re usually drinking wine together, not fighting against each other. Her lip twitches as she takes me in, and I start giggling, unable to help myself.

I hear Rave mutter something that sounds like “For fuck’s sake,” which makes us laugh even harder.

“Come on, we have to do something,” I say to her, putting my fists out in front of me. “Let’s just circle each other until everyone gets bored.”

She laughs, spreading her feet into a fighting stance. “I’m the one who wanted to spar, but not with you. It doesn’t feel right to hit my bestie, and look at you… you’re all cute and petite.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not that much smaller than you.”

“I’ll fight her!” I hear Vale call out.When did Rave’s son come out to watch?

Eventually, Rave gets sick of us, steps into the ring, and throws Astrid over his shoulder. He turns and crooks his finger at me. “Meet me in the throne room. I need to speak with you.”

Uh-oh. That sounds ominous.

“Am I in trouble?” I call out after him.

Surely, he can’t be mad that I didn’t attack his mate.

“You, too,” Rave then calls out to Soren, who nods and followsbehind.

I rush to catch up to him. “What do you think he wants?”

Soren glances over at me, his lips tightening as if he doesn’t even want to speak to me. I know he doesn’t like me, but it’s really getting old. The man sure knows how to hold onto a grudge.

He opens his mouth to reply when a beautiful blonde woman runs up to him, wrapping her arms around his neck and climbing him like a tree. My fingers dig into my palms. It’s not easy to miss the marks around her wrist, like she’s been restrained, and the large finger marks on her neck’s pale skin. “Soren! I missed you.”

“I saw you this morning,” he replies, clearing his throat.

“I know,” she replies, licking her lips. He still walks next to me, keeping pace with her dangling off him like an accessory. Feeling awkward and a little sick to my stomach, I pick up my pace so I don’t have to see anymore, but the bastard easily does the same, his long-ass legs not letting me get too far in front of him. He tries to put her down, but she continues to hold onto him, kissing his neck. “I want to be in your bed tonight, Master.”

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