sort of detachment that he, too, was beautiful.
Dangerous, beautiful men.
I only trusted one.
I only loved one.
Raphael dodged Hadrian’s assault by jumping aside and then he began circling again, staying out of Hadrian’s reach. He grimaced and then stated for all to hear, “I’m going murder your unborn child while it’s still in your woman’s belly. And then I’m going to fuck her on your grave.”
I didn’t take my eyes off the battle, not even to look at the members of my family to see their reaction to Raphael’s declaration.
Upon hearing the words, Hadrian froze just long enough for Raphael to kick his leg out from under him. With a roar of pure, unadulterated rage, Hadrian fell down. Raphael launched himself on top of Hadrian, pinning him on his back and then went straight for the wound the assassin had inflicted on Hadrian’s side. He winced in pain as Raphael beat the tender spot with all his might.
Hadrian was losing the battle. Time slowed down and I felt every blow delivered. Felt them in my bones.
Hadrian attempted to push Raphael off him, but he was already exhausted. Raphael punched Hadrian hard in the nose, and with a sharp crack, blood began spurting from his face.
The wind changed direction, bringing the scent of dust and tangy copper to my nose.
Raphael shifted tactics and dug an elbow into Hadrian’s throat, rearing back and striking down hard to try and crush Hadrian’s windpipe.
It was life and death now, beyond making a point or punishing each other for past grievances.
Hadrian managed to block Raphael’s elbows and reared up off the dirt to press his body to the older man, closing the distance and eliminating Raphael’s ability to strike. Raphael spun and landed a solid blow to Hadrian’s broken nose.
After a bellow of pain, Hadrian somehow found a vestige of strength and arched his back, flinging Raphael up in the air slightly. Hadrian succeeded in getting his legs out from under Raphael and then locked them around the other man’s neck to choke him.
My heart pounded as I watched Hadrian become the aggressor, managing to flip the leaner man beneath him and press him to the ground. He curled up on top of Raphael and used his hands to pull Raphael’s head close to him, strangling him between his legs and arms. Blood from Hadrian’s shattered nose dripped down his face, spattering Raphael like a violent painting.
It was Hadrian’s turn to say something, but I couldn’t hear what he said. Whatever passed his lips made Raphael renew his struggle.
He clawed at Hadrian’s face in a blind rage, a fight for life itself, but Hadrian turned his cheek before Raphael could dig his fingers into Hadrian’s eyes. He took a gouge from Raphael’s fingernails as he attempted to rear back. Raphael then grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it in Hadrian’s face. He instinctively let Raphael go and rolled off him to put distance between them while he attempted to recover his sight.
Raphael scrambled to his feet and then lifted his foot. He arched his leg back like he was going to kick Hadrian. I winced in anticipation, but my mouth parted when I saw Raphael reach down with his right hand and pull something from the heel of his boot.
The knife glinted in the early afternoon light, and a startled gasp escaped my lips. I wasn’t the only one who made a noise of surprise.
I hadn’t noticed when Gisella had come to stand by my side. I lifted my hand up to her and she clasped it, linking her fingers through mine. I squeezed the dainty bones of her hand, not caring that I felt them crunch.
No one made a move to stop Raphael, despite the obvious violation of the rules.
No one wanted Hadrian to win.
No one but me.
Hadrian surged to his feet and rubbed his eyes just before Raphael lunged at him with his knife. Hadrian’s arm whirled downward, deflecting the blade from sliding between his ribs. But then Raphael changed his plan of attack. Gripping the blade tightly in his hand, he sank to a crouch and lunged past Hadrian, slashing his left hamstring. The knife made contact and Hadrian’s scream of rage and pain echoed through the arena as he sank to one knee, blood emitting from his open wound.
Raphael rose, standing over Hadrian a few feet from him with an expression of victory on his face.
Hadrian’s teeth were clenched, and he struggled to remain upright, his face muddied with dirt and