Page 140 of Theirs to Ruin

"Tap out, you fucking idiot!" someone screamed from the crowd.

But Phillip was past the point of surrender. With a final, involuntary twitch, he passed out. The crowd went crazy, hollering and cheering.

Kage let Phillip go and got to his feet. He looked around, saw me, and grinned. He started walking toward me when suddenly Phillip leaped up. I screamed along with several others, but before Kage could turn around Phillip punched him in the back of the head in a brutal blow. Kage’s head snapped forward and he crumpled to the mat, unconscious.

That’s when I saw the flash of metal on Phillip’s hand—brass knuckles!

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd and was followed by shouts. Most of them were calling Phillip a coward, a cheat.

"Oh, God!" I gasped, my heart in my throat.

"Shit, he's out cold!" someone shouted, their voice filled with genuine concern.

“Someone needs to call for help.”

Ty and I exchanged a panicked look. If Kage got caught fighting, he could be expelled.

“Please,” I said. “Help me.”

I waited for Ty to reject me. Instead, he grabbed my hand and started pushing through the chaotic crowd who were scrambling to escape the unauthorized event. As we reached the edge of the ring, I saw Kage, still unconscious, his body limp and vulnerable.

"Out of the way!" I screamed.

"Move, move!" Ty shouted.

Ty tightened his grip on my hand as he guided me through the chaos.

"Keep going, Camille!" he shouted over the clamor, his voice filled with urgency.

I nodded, my breath coming in rapid gasps as I forged ahead. We had to get to Kage, and we had to do it quickly.

I had almost reached him when an elbow struck my face, the impact sharp and immediate. Pain exploded in my cheek. I stumbled backward then hit the floor hard.

“Camille!”

I lay there, disoriented and overwhelmed, afraid I was about to be trampled to death. Then strong hands gripped my arms and pulled me to my feet. It was Ty, his face filled with concern. "Are you okay?"

My cheek throbbed with pain, and I touched it gingerly. "I think so," I managed to reply, my voice shaky.

“Come on.” We again pushed against the tide of people, working together to make our way toward Kage. Finally, we were there. Ty and I rushed forward to kneel beside Kage.

I checked his pulse, and it was slow and steady. I shook him and called his name, but he didn’t wake up.

"We can't take him to the infirmary," Ty said, his voice low and urgent.

I nodded in agreement, the reality of Kage’s situation sinking in. Bringing Kage to the campus infirmary could result in his expulsion. But if he was really hurt…

"We have to get him back to the chateau. Get his feet,” Ty said.

I did as Ty said, then grunted as we struggled to lift Kage. I only got a couple of feet before he became too heavy and unwieldy.

I cried out in frustration but Ty said, “Move out of the way.” I scrambled back.

Ty grasped Kage’s wrists, pulled him up and then simultaneously positioned him so he could shove his shoulder in Kage’s stomach and lift him fireman style. Looking around, he saw a break in the now dwindling crowd and strode into it while I followed.

Ty strained under the bulk of Kage’s weight but somehow he managed to carry Kage outside and to a big SUV. Carefully, he slipped Kage into the backseat. I squeezed myself in next to Kage while Ty started the car then took off.

Kage still hadn’t woken up by the time we pulled up to the chateau. I was frantic with worry so as soon as Ty stopped in the driveway, I said, “We need to call 911.” Ty got out of the car, flung open the back door and checked Kage himself. He looked into his eyes, felt the back of his head, then stepped back.

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