Page 87 of Rejected Mate

Everyone except Ares.

I kept searching.

In the center of the third row, the highest and most prominent spot, I noticed a spectators box. It was clear this was reserved for the most important, most powerful observers.

William glared down at me from that box. He looked both pompous and completely at home. Ares stood off to the side and slightly back, as if he wished to blend into the darkness. Was he there against his will? What did he think about watching me fight like this? Would he be proud when I bested Laurel? Or would he think me foolish for being William’s pawn once again?

William. Every detail of this was his doing, no doubt. He wanted everyone to see who was in control. Here he was, a vampire orchestrating a fight between two shifter females for sport. He was the emperor, and we were his lowly gladiators. And our families would be forced to watch as we thrashed and fought and kicked around in the dirt like the animals they claimed us to be.

As, for the first time, I saw things the way William must, I realized this entire spectacle had to stop.

I had to explain this to Laurel. I had to make her understand. Whatever the cost, nothing was worth this humiliation. Not for us or any shifter.

The crowd began to cheer as they had when I entered. Across the arena, Laurel climbed up her set of stairs and stood opposite me.

She had battle paint on her face and a warrior outfit straight from a movie set. She’d outdone me in theatrics, that was for sure. And her stare as she walked toward me, let me know she’d been practicing mean-mugging in the mirror before this.

I approached her, my hands out in a display of nonviolence. When we were ten feet away, at the center of the arena, I addressed her.

“Laurel, listen. I know I challenged you toWereduellem,but we have to call this off. I didn’t see it at first, but this is all William’s doing. Look at this spectacle. He’s going to make fools of us in front of everyone.”

Laurel glared at me. “Oh, now you’re scared and want to call it off? Well, too bad. We’re going to have this fight, and when you tap out, I am going to claim Ares for my own.”

I shook my head. “Don’t you see? That’s what William wants. This whole thing, the contest, the rivalry between us, it’s part of his plan to gain more control. Don’t let him manipulate you. Don’t fall for his trap.”

She lifted one corner of her mouth in a sneer. “No one tells me what to do but me. Now, enough talk. Fight me!” She hit her chest and let out a howl.

I shook my head. “They’ll continue to think we are animals. Be reasonable.”

When I took a step toward her, Laurel dove at me. I barely had time to protect my tender regions, let alone duck.

She crashed into me like a ton of bricks, taking me down. We hit the dirt. The force of it knocked the wind from my lungs. Iooffedand rolled with Laurel stuck to me like a tick. Dust flew everywhere, clouding my eyes and stinging my nose.

When we finally skidded to a stop, I sucked at the air like a strangled goose, then coughed as the dust threatened to drown me. But I had to get up. Pushing Laurel off, I scrambled to my feet, trying to breathe.

In front of me, my opponent did the same. She rubbed her eyes and dusted herself off, looking aggravated at her ruined outfit and makeup.

“Laurel, please. Let’s settle this without fighting. Let’s not give them what they want.”

But the crowd was egging her on. I heard shouts from shifters telling her to “kill the traitor” and “rip her head off.” Laurel’s family and the alliances she’d formed were all here, shouting for my death. And they were loud.

She turned and waved at them. Then she charged again.

I was ready this time. As she ran at me, I juked left and stuck out my foot. She couldn’t stop herself as she tripped and went sailing. Laurel soared through the air, crumpled into a ball, and rolled, kicking up more dirt. When she stopped, she lay flat, unmoving.

Had I hurt her? I approached and stood over her. “Are you okay?” I held out my hand.

Her eyes flashed open, and her hand came up. Something hit me.

I screamed, my hands jerking up to cover my face. Blinded, I dropped to my knees, my whole face burning like someone had thrown acid in it. My flesh felt like it was melting off, my eyes like two searing coals in their sockets. Sand wouldn’t hurt this badly. Only one thing could cause me this much pain, this fast.

Wolfsbane.

And it was illegal for shifters to use on each other.

But what did Laurel care if she permanently blinded or disfigured me? It had been stupid to think I could make her see reason I’d given her the benefit of the doubt, but this was the last straw.

Writhing in pure agony, I dropped to all fours and shifted into my wolf form. As soon as the pain began to subside, I turned toward Laurel and attacked.

---