Demetrius much, huh?”
“He has that kind of face.”
“What kind is that?” Kalon asked, his eyes narrow and glimmering with intrigue.
“The kind that asks for it.”
“It?”
“The ass-whipping of the century. The decapitation of the millennium. I don’t know, anything that’s violent and gruesome enough to take him down. That arrogance is nauseating,” I said. It made Kalon chuckle.
“I should bring you to these fights more often.”
“Just don’t expect me to cheer for you,” I replied, pointing at dozens of Aeternae women around the box stalls who were eating him up from afar, fluttering their eyelashes and smiling, hoping they’d get his attention. “You’ve got plenty of fangirls here.”
Kalon leaned in closer again, cutting off my breath once more. “I’m not interested in them or their cheers.”
“I’m still not cheering for you,” I said bluntly, my face burning. His breath tickled my face.
His gaze dropped, and it took all my strength to stop myself from licking my lips. What an inconvenient reflex this was! “I don’t want you to cheer for me. But I hope my victory will make you smile. It’s something worth fighting for.”
“And if you lose? If you die?”
“If I lose, though the chance of that happening is slim, I hope you’ll at least tend to my wounded ego. If I die, however, I hope you’ll shed a tear for me,” Kalon said in a serious tone.
The electricity between us was so intense that the air seemed to crackle. I was speechless as I tried to understand what Kalon’s endgame was, where I was concerned. He was too close for me to think properly, though, and I could almost see him getting closer. Any minute now, our lips might meet. But why would he do this?
Suspicion rattled me. Was he being genuine in his hot-and-cold approach, or was he following a hidden agenda? As much as I enjoyed our subtle little games and back-and-forths, I needed to be careful with Kalon. He could be genuine, or he could be a fantastic thespian looking for a crack in my armor. The announcer broke through my train of thought as the bell was rung. “Let the fighting begin!”
Kalon and I moved back, watching the match unfold in the arena. I could breathe again, relaxing slightly in my cushioned seat.
Demetrius was fast. Too fast for someone like Krassus, I realized, as the Aeternae dashed left and right like a fleeting shadow. It was impossible to predict which angle he’d use to strike from. Krassus didn’t look intimidated, though, raising his shield and moving around a lot in order to make it harder for Demetrius to attack him.
The Aeternae had a long sword and a smaller, oval shield to use against Krassus. He sidestepped several times before he went in for the first hit. The Nalorean was quick on his feet, despite his large size. He brought his battle axe down, and Demetrius’s shield barely withstood the blow, forcing him down on one knee.
What Krassus lacked in speed, he made up for in strength. My heart thundered as I watched this violent dance between an Aeternae and a Nalorean. For a moment, I hoped I’d see Krassus win, but Demetrius swerved around and drove his sword into the Nalorean’s side. Gasps erupted from the crowd as Krassus cried out in pain.
Demetrius didn’t stop there. He pulled his blade back and stabbed him again.
“I yield,” Krassus shouted.
Screams tore through the audience when Demetrius didn’t listen and rammed the sword through Krassus’s spine. I could almost hear the vertebrae cracking, shattered by the smooth, sharp steel. Watching in horror, I didn’t even realize I’d gripped Kalon’s hand on the armrest between us.
Krassus came down hard, blood gushing from his mouth as he fell, flat on his face.
“Stop!” the announcer screamed. “Stop, Demetrius! No!”
But Demetrius wasn’t done. By the time the red-leather-clad staff ran to stop him, he’d already delivered a fourth blow, killing Krassus on the spot. Kalon cursed under his breath. Behind me, Derek and Sofia were livid. Amal was stunned. Nethissis bared her copperhead fangs, unable to control herself.
A low, collective hiss made me shiver. I looked around and saw that most of the Aeternae had their fangs out, as well, scowling at Demetrius for what he had done. Glancing down, I noticed Kalon’s claws coming out, slowly extending from the tips of his fingers. “Kalon…” I murmured, and he stared at me for a moment, boiling with rage.
Demetrius was satisfied. He dropped his sword and shield, raising both arms in a celebratory