Page 75 of Xeda

He bent his head. "You have to be an example, Ophilia."

When he didn't give her more of an answer, she wanted to scream at him, “what the fuck does that even mean?” Shaking, she started to rise from her seat when the doors to the entrance banged open.

Kaxek stalked toward them, his deep red eyes locking on her. He looked better off than she cared to admit, despite the injuries he had sustained in the last game.

Zachary stood as Kaxek stopped just before them. Kaxek stared at her for a second longer before turning to him. "Are the enhancements ready?"

"Ready and waiting," Zachary said.

"Good. Tomorrow is the last game. Make sure to call down to the wardens and have everything finalized." He dipped his head at her. "Make sure she's ready as well. I want Xeda to see me slit her throat before we start."

And there was her answer.

He turned to leave when Ophilia leapt from her seat.

"Xeda isn't ready to fight you," she snapped at him.

"Ophilia—" Zachary tried to stop her.

She ignored him, stepping closer to Kaxek. "If you were a true fighter—a true champion—you'd fight him when you're both at full strength. Not when he is weakened so you can have an advantage. You're just a coward who knows he almost had you. If it weren't for Tazyn, you would have lost!"

Kaxek turned on her. Before she could barely take a breath, he had his hand around her throat. As he picked her up, he stepped up on to the table, kicking bowls and plates away to smash on the ground before he slammed her back on the surface.

Ophilia opened her mouth in a silent cry, gasping for air, trying to pry his hand away as he crouched over her. He leaned in close, his hand squeezing.

"He'll die quickly so everyone knows he was hardly worth my time," he hissed in her face. "But I think I'll enjoy killing you slowly. Just for my own amusement." He showed her his fangs in a cruel smile. "I know he feels something for you, the weak fool." His talon grazed the side of her face. "He said to me he liked to hurt you, to cut you slow for his own pleasure. I didn't believe him. But I could see how tempting the idea could be." His talon dug into her skin, and she writhed under him, silently screaming and kicking as she felt the sharp, blinding pain from his talon slicing down the side of her cheek.

She tried to free herself from him, but he was so immensely more powerful than her that he barely moved as she struggled under him. Her vison was starting go black.

"Kaxek..." Zachary snapped.

Kaxek moved to cut her again, this time on the other cheek.

"Kaxek, stop!"

Kaxek snarled as he looked up. "You dare tell me—"

“Not because of her. Look!” At the corner of her vision, she saw him pointing toward the glass.

There was a low rumble like thunder, the glass vibrating. Kaxek growled and let her go, pushing himself off her. Ophilia gasped for air, her back arching as she twisted her body to one side, her hands clutching her throat. She tilted her head back and watched them as Kaxek moved to the doors of the balcony.

Past Kaxek was an orange glow, not like the light of the sun which was nearly gone. This light was coming from below.

There was a large crackle like the sound of splitting stone or metal, then a resounding boom. The very building shook. The orange glow turned into a bright flash, then she saw the smoke.

As they moved to the balcony, she rolled to her knees, panting for breath. She spied Zachary's steak knife on the ground and looked up to watch them as she slid herself off the table and grabbed it, sliding it under her sleeve while gripping the sharp end.

As Kaxek turned his head, she lifted herself slowly to her feet, blood dripping from her cheek onto the carpet.

"I'm going down," she heard him say.

"Wait, Kaxek." Zachary pointed to something below.

Kaxek's tail weaved like a furious cat. He turned and started for her, fury in his gaze. She stood rigid, head held high, ready to slide the knife out, when he slipped past her, forcing her hip into the table.

"Keep her here," he roared as he flew for the door, wrenching it open, then disappearing out of sight.

Ophilia started for the glass doors, stepping onto the balcony. She approached the rail and peered down, looking where Zachary was staring.

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