Page 65 of Filthy Royal

The bell sounded.

The crowd erupted.

And the hulking Kuril Alpha came at Damien so fast he almost missed it. Tearing his attention from Scarlett, he managed to leap out of the way—and shove the bastard straight into the laser bars.

Then almost face-planted into them himself as another wave of dizziness struck.

He staggered back a few steps.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

Off to one side, Crex took out another fighter. Two others went down, care of the Kuril Alpha. Then one more, thanks to Stormhart.

By some miracle, only four remained in the ring, and he hadn’t lifted a fist to make it happen. He couldn’t.

But the next time the Kuril Alpha came at him, Damien wasn’t so lucky.

His arms refused to follow his command. Leaden, they hung at his sides.

Panic roared through him. Not for himself, but for Scarlett. He had to win.

Crash.

A fist smacked into his jaw.

He spun sideways. Flesh sizzled as he bounced off the laser bars of the cage.

The crowd went wild, sensing blood in the air.

But he heard only one scream: “Damien!”

Eyes bouncing wildly, he followed the sound until his gaze collided with Scarlett’s.

He fucking hated that she was standing with those Alphaholes, some vaguely familiar bastard’s arm draped around her shoulder, her face so sad.

He’d rip that fucker’s arm from his body.

Pow.Another fist crashed into him, severing his view of Scarlett and sending him stumbling in the other direction.

“Fuck, Damien.” Crex shoved him out of the way just before the final lights-out punch landed. “Get those fucking hands up. Or at least try to dodge.” He flicked his tail and whipped the other fighter across the face—giving the Kuril a new target for his fury.

Damien wanted to protest but he couldn’t make his limbs or mouth move right.

He stumbled toward the grappling Crex and Kuril Alpha. Took a swing. Missed.

Laughter echoed around him. Boos, too.

He was failing her.

Damien struggled to stay upright—and watched in horror as the Kuril Alpha looked over to where N’gal Verish stood, nodded once, and then clapped his hands around Crex’s temples and twisted.

“No!” Damien fought to make his limbs move faster.

Crack.

His friend dropped to the sand, his head twisted at an odd angle, that lopsided smile gone, his eyes empty.

“No.” Agony ripped through Damien.

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