Page 86 of Rejected Mate

It was so beautiful I almost forgot that I was one of the gladiators here for the slaughter.

“Who built this?” I asked the vampire behind the camera.

He was still filming, but managed to answer. “This was built by dwarves for the vampires. Some of the elders are very theatrical.”

“I’ll say.” I noticed some of the etchings on the overhangs. Bats were a big theme as well as other vampire symbols artistically carved into the stone.

The car slid to a stop near the back of the structure. Wide metal gates sat open, leading to a set of stone steps that descended under the structure. It must be like its counterpart in Rome. The fighters and animals were stored underneath until they were released to fight in the main arena.

Dread clung to me as I stared down into the depths. What if Laurel was already down there, ready to cut me to pieces? Was there anything in theWereduellemabout the use of weapons? I didn’t think so, but Laurel would find any loophole she could.

Nervous, I walked into the underground chamber. This area was carved into the earth and lined with the same stone used above. The ceilings were low and the air stale. It had the distinct feeling of a dungeon, making my nervous stomach twist into knots.

“You’ll wait over here.” A vampire guard pointed to a dark alcove, all stone and with very little light. There was no furniture, so I sat on the floor. I wanted to save any strength I had for the fight.

Then I waited.

Above, I could hear the place filling up. Low murmured voices and footsteps let me know that more than just William, Callan, and the other vampire suitors were arriving. Just how many spectators did they invite? I pictured hordes of vampires watching from above me as I fought for their entertainment.

Had this really been my idea? Or had William manipulated me into making a huge mistake? Somehow, I still felt like a pawn in his game.

Closing my eyes, I gripped the Alpha necklace, now always hanging around my neck.

Give me strength, Grandfather. Give me guidance.

The necklace pulsed against my hand. He was here with me. They all were. Every ancestor who had ever worn this sacred relic. Everyone who had ever led the pack and made impossible decisions all to save our kind.

That was what I had to do. And I would do it. No matter what.

The vampire guard appeared at my door. “Time to go.”

I stood. Ready or not, the time had come.

We walked the long corridors until we came to a set of stone stairs. Artificial light poured down, letting me know the arena was above me. The echo of many voices and even some sort of music drifted down to me.

“Go up.” The vampire guard gave my shoulder a shove.

“Where’s Laurel?”

“Go up.” He shoved me again.

I growled and snapped my teeth at his hand. He snatched it away, looking intimidated. I smirked, winked, and began walking up each step, my gaze scanning left and right. As my head crested the top step, the entire arena came into view.

The inside was exactly as I’d pictured it—a near replica of the Colosseum. My eyes traveled around the rings of seats, noting the faces of people I recognized. Some of the other girls from the contest, their families, more shifters who had not taken part in the games occupied the seats.

William had spared no expense to make this a giant event. I didn’t know whether to be flattered or pissed as hell.

Were all the packs here?

My gaze desperately scanned the crowd, then I spotted them—my family. My mom gave me a worried wave. My father sat stone-faced beside her. My whole family was here except for my younger cousin, Lizzie and my aunt, probably because they were worried I’d be murdered, and they didn’t want to subject an eight-year-old to something like that.

Seeing them here made me want to forget this whole thing and run into the stands. I wanted to feel my mother’s arms around me.

I wanted to go home.

But I’d been left with no choice but this. I reluctantly kept scanning the stands until I found the vampires.

There were some I didn’t know, pale-faced creatures in dark capes and sunglasses to hide against the nearly sunlight-glare of the artificial lights. There were also vampires I did know. I saw the seven suitors. There was Callan, watching me with calculating eyes. Emilio and Elon and Henri.

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