Page 131 of Divine Obsession

She walked with a deliberate, unhurried grace, a black hood obscuring most of her face and body. There was a coiled power in the way she moved, a predator closing in on its prey. As she climbed into the cage, the chants reached a fever pitch.

I couldn’t look away. My skin pricked at the thought of a woman getting in a cage with that monstrosity of a man.

Her cloak shifted as she moved, revealing hints of her build – strong but lean, every movement calculated and smooth. Her back was to me as she stood in the cage, hands at her sides, entirely unfazed by the chaos around her.

Reaching up, she pulled back the hood.

Her long, dark hair spilled out in two intricate braids, and the cloak dropped from her shoulders to reveal a couple of tattoos that climbed her back. Bold, intricate patterns, unmistakably Japanese in design – dragons, cherry blossoms, and swirling waves etched into her brown skin like a story.

The crowd roared louder, but I didn’t hear it.

I frowned, confused.

Trevor’s hand yanked on my wrist again, impatient, but I dug my heels in, pulling him back. My eyes stayed fixed on the girl fighter, my mind racing.

“Trevor…” My voice came out more breathless than I intended.

“Look out for a big, Asian guy with neck tats,” He threw over his shoulder, not stopping.

“Trevor,wait.” This time, I grabbed his arm with enough force to make him stop.

He turned, irritation clear in his frown and raised a furrowed eyebrow, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the cage.

“Is that…?” My words trailed off, but he followed my gaze.

The woman fighter turned slightly, her profile visible for just a moment, and it was all the confirmation we needed.

Kali.

My best friend. His sister.

In the ring. Fighting a man twice her size.

I thought of Kali’s sweet, mischievous smile; her quick wit and sarcasm. The girl who always knew how to cheer me up. Who I saw multiple times a week. Who I hung out with and went shopping all the time.

That same girl now stood in the center of the cage, her face hard and unyielding, tattoos gleaming under the harsh lights.

“What the f–”

A bell rang, cutting him off, and announcing the start of the fight.

“Trevor!” A deep voice called through the crowd.

Trevor’s head snapped in the direction of the sound, and we both spotted him – a tall, broad Asian man with black neck tattoos that crept up to his jawline.

The guy Trevor had been looking for.

I glanced back at the cage. Kali moved with terrifying speed, her fists a blur as she landed punch after punch. Blood spattered the cage floor as the crowd roared.

Trevor pushed through the crowd, dragging me behind him. “Stop the fucking fight!” He screamed, his voice cutting through the noise, as he pointed towards the cage.

The man frowned, clearly confused. “What?”

When Trevor reached him, he let go of his hold on me, grabbing the guy by his collar, yanking him. “You’ve got my fucking sister fighting men here without me knowing?!” Trevor’s voice roared with rage, chilling the blood in my veins.

The man froze for a beat, then blinked, stunned. “Yourwhat?”

We all turned to look at the fight just as Mortal charged at Kali.

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