Page 53 of Wrath

“And if he doesn’t?” I ask, my hands now shaking with fear.

Silas grins. “He’ll die. Only one warrior will walk out of here tonight.”

A stray tear falls down my cheek, and he pulls me closer, wiping it with his thumb. It reminds me of the way Wrath did it once and a sob escapes me. I clamp my hand over my mouth. “Sorry,” I mutter.

“Why are you sad?”

“I’m not. I’m excited,” I lie, “but I think I have allergies down here.”

He seems to accept my lie and leads me closer to the centre. “I got us ringside seats.”

Once we’re seated, drinks are brought to us, and then my father approaches. I notice the way Silas tenses. He immediately takes my hand and smiles up at my father. “Anthony.”

“I hope your money is on the right warrior,” he says with a grin. He doesn’t bother to look in my direction, but I take comfort from the fact Silas is holding my hand tight. I don’t think he’d let my father hurt me.

“Actually, I haven’t made any bets as yet,” he replies, turning to me and smiling as he adds, “I was going to let my beautiful wife choose for me.”

I blush slightly. “Bet?” I ask.

“You’re so innocent,” he whispers. “I like that.”

“I’ll send someone over to take it,” my father mutters before sauntering off.

“What’s a bet?” I ask again.

“We place money on who we think will win the fight. If they do, we’ll get extra money back.”

I smile. “That sounds fun.” And then I remember that we’re actually betting on someone to win by killing others and my smile falters.

The men begin to jeer and become rowdy, and I sit closer to Silas, who looks pleased and wraps an arm around me. “I’ll keep you safe,” he reassures me. I hate to admit it, but I believe him.

My breath is taken when Wrath enters the ring. His head is bowed, and his hands are chained in front of him. I want to go to him and wrap my arms around him just to feel his nose pressed to my hair as he inhales. I want to kiss him until my toes curl. Most of all, I want him out of those damn chains. Another man gets into the ring, and this one is smaller than Wrath and looks terrified.

A man approaches us. “Bet?” he asks.

Silas looks to me. Smiling, he asks, “Who will win?”

I glance back at the warriors, even though I know who I’m going to back. “Wrath,” I confirm, and as if my voice is carried through the crowd, Wrath’s head lifts and he turns in my direction, his eyes searching until they land on me. For a second, it’s like the entire room has stopped and it’s just the two of us.God, how I wish that were true. Relief passes over his expression, and then his eyes track to Silas, who is still sitting close as he thumbs through a wedge of bank notes and hands them to the man. He throws his arm back around me, oblivious to the fact Wrath is watching. His relief turns to fury, and my vision blurs from tears.

A bell rings, causing me to jump with fright. It breaks our intense eye lock, and as I look around, it rings a second time, and the guards remove the warriors’ cuffs. It rings a third and the warriors charge at one another. I wince as they crash together, Wrath landing on top of the other and sitting over him. He hits him over and over with his fists, roaring like an animal as blood splatters across the floor. I wince, turning away, unable to watchhim transform into this monster while at the same time rooting for his victory.

The bell sounds again, and I finally look up. The opponent is being dragged from the ring, lifeless, and he’s discarded to the side, covered in his own blood.

Wrath circles the ring, unphased by the splatters that drip from his own body. Is it wrong that I’m glad?I’m happy it isn’t his blood.

The next warrior enters and the bell rings, signalling for the guard to remove his restraints. Wrath stops pacing and stares at the warrior from across the ring. This one looks a little less nervous as he balls his fists, and for the first time, I realise it could be Wrath they drag out and dump next. I swallow the bile in my throat, forcing a smile when Silas glances my way with a huge grin on his face. As I look around, I see the other men all calling for blood like hungry wolves, and it only intensifies my sickness.

The bell rings again, and I almost cry out and beg for this all to end. Wrath doesn’t charge this time. Instead, he stands poised, ready to pounce but in no rush. His opponent is eager, and he closes the gap only to be met by Wrath’s hand, which wraps around his throat and forces him back to his corner. The warrior tries desperately to fight back, but his arms don’t quite reach Wrath, making it impossible to hit him away. I almost smile, relieved Wrath has it all under control.

When the warrior slumps, Wrath releases him, watching as he slides to the floor of the ring. The bell rings, and the man’s dragged out and dumped alongside the other.

Wrath looks my way, but he’s not the same warrior anymore. His eyes are lifeless and cold. He’s in the zone, the zone to kill and fight for survival. I offer a weak smile, but he doesn’t return it. I’ve taken no notice of Silas as he continues to place bets onWrath to win, but suddenly, I tune back in as he hands over a third wedge of cash and says, “Satan.”

“Good choice,” the man replies, handing him a ticket.

Silas leans closer. “This new warrior is a beast,” he tells me excitedly. “Wrath doesn’t stand a chance.”

I take a calming breath as the next warrior enters the ring. He’s huge, bigger than Wrath and angrier-looking. He almost smirks as the bell rings and his chains are removed. I look over to Wrath, who’s still looking at me. I offer another reassuring smile, and he tips his neck from side to side, flexing his fingers before turning his focus back to the ring.

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