Piercing calls exploded around for my life or for me to end my opponent’s. It didn’t seem to matter.
My stomach pirouetted with nausea, my teeth chattering against each other. The terror hadn’t ebbed any. It shook me deeper to the core. I understood what was out there, what would happen, and how tiny the possibility was I would step away this time with my life.
“You ready?” Zander’s hand reached for the gate, his brown eyes finding mine through the dark shadows.
“No.” I rolled my jaw. “But I don’t really have a choice, do I?”
Zander’s hand dropped away from the handle for a moment, touching my arm lightly, moving close to me.
“I can’t tell you everything will be all right,” he said quietly, turning my head to his and forcing me to concentrate on his words, drowning out the cries from the stands. “You are fast and clever. Use everything you can to your advantage. And fight like as though your life depends on it.”
“It does,” I replied, feeling my chest falter at his proximity, his beautiful face blurring out everything around me.
“It does,” he repeated. His features were serious, but his deep brown eyes were soft on mine. “Dirty. Cruel. Unforgiving. Do whatever it takes. You cannot die. You don’t understand.” My brows wrinkled at his last statement. He swallowed, his fingers pressing firmer into my jaw. “The fact that you are human and a woman means nothing here. Use it. Be smarter, quicker. Just win.”
“You sound the same as my training instructor.” A sentimental smile hinted on my lips while grief cracked through my heart.
Zander stared down at me, his intensity reserved and quiet, but I could feel so much from his eyes. He leaned in, his mouth inching closer to mine. “What is it about you? I can’t fight it. I am drawn to you—”
“Come on!” A bang hit the gate, jolting us away from each other, my attention snapping to the figure on the other side.
Damn it.
“Well, well… Now I see why you were so protective over the human, Z.” A malicious smile curved up on Boyd’s face as he leaned into the gate, his gaze darting between us. “Breaking in this one for yourself?”
Zander didn’t answer as he stepped toward the door, pulling out his keys.
“Thought we shared around here.” Boyd salaciously licked his lips. “Though I guess it’s pointless now.” Boyd’s eyebrows wiggled. “She won’t be making it out of this one alive.”
Zander unlatched the lock, and Boyd tugged the bars open.
“Come on. The people demand your presence for the fish fry.”
“She’s still fighting the human prisoner, right? The one picked from the lottery?” Zander’s hand grasped my wrist as I stepped forward.
“Oh, did they not tell you?” Boyd parted his mouth in false surprise, reaching for my other arm. “The order has changed. She’s proved she can fight at a higher difficulty. She did win her fight last time.”
“What?” Zander’s fingers gripped harder around my bones. “When did this happen?”
“Just a little bit ago.” Boyd smirked, tugging me from Zander’s grip. “Did you miss that discussion? Oh, right, you were busy getting her.” He shrugged. “So eager to volunteer to get your filly here.”
Boyd slammed the gate back on Zander’s face, gloating.
“Who is she fighting?” Zander’s head flicked up in irritation, his foot stamping at the ground.
“Why ruin the surprise?”
Boyd walked me several steps, leaving me in the middle of the arena before heading over to another gate. A shadowed figure stood behind it—the person who would either kill me or die tonight.
The mob cheered louder at seeing me enter the arena.
Use their energy. Focus, Brex. Survive.
Boyd wrenched open the other gate, letting out my adversary.
Fear crashed down on me, dulling the crazed cheers, stomping feet, and excitement from the crowd jumping and moving in my peripheral as the fae strutted out.
No. Nononono.
Oxygen evaporated from my lungs, acid rushing into my throat.
My opponent strode in with arms wide open, pumping up the crowd; his arrogant sneer tugged up his lip.
“Bull! Bull! Bull!” The crowd switched allegiance in a blink, their fickle devotion going with the strongest player. Ruthless and cold.
My head whipped back to the tunnel. Horror filled Zander’s eyes, his head shaking in denial.
“No.” He pushed to open the door.
“Uh-uh.” Boyd wiggled his finger at him. “You know the rules. Once they are in the ring, we can’t intercede.”
A bray huffed from Zander, and for a moment, I thought he was going to come through the gate and rush Boyd, but he stepped