as they drove him from the ring, down the caged passageway and back into the corral.
“Not even you can beat someone twice your size,” Santa Cruz said, such a cocky smile on his face, I wanted to smash my fist into it, right then.
I looked away and swallowed hard, my fingers curling around the bars of the metal cage. “Maybe not, but I will try.” I made sure my voice trembled.
He huffed, his lip curling at me. “You’re pathetic. Why the Prime is so taken with you, I’ll never understand.”
I remained silent, my gaze avoiding his and my posture curled in on itself. With wide eyes I observed the next fight. Santa Cruz eventually grunted, then paced to the back of the cage, sitting down again.
I lifted the apple Myles had given me and bit down. My stomach churned and tried to reject the sweet flesh, but any amount of energy was better than none. I forced myself to swallow it, core and all, then stood in line to grab a drink of water. My stomach grumbled. I should have forced myself to stomach some breakfast this morning, but food had been the last thing on my mind.
I spent another hour moving between prowling, sitting and then stretching before the dreaded voice called my name. Santa Cruz was called too. He glared at his opponent. A male about his own height and build. The male growled and stared right back. Out of the corner of my eye, I observed my own opponent. I didn’t engage in eye contact or verbal sparring or growling, I merely shrank in on myself and shuffled forward.
I saw the male, who was almost a foot taller than me straighten his spine and crack his knuckles. I remained small and meek even as we were forced down the metal covered walkway to a ring in the far corner. There was a manic roar from the crowd, and a glance at the spectator balcony showed me the betting taking place.
“The axe!” yelled a voice.
“No! The swords,” yelled several others.
I fought to keep the electric atmosphere from getting to me. Focus. Focus.
“I’ll make it quick,” muttered my opponent.
I didn’t look at him.
From a small opening at the top of the cage, an axe and a small, six inch knife were dropped in front of us. My opponent bent down and swooped up the axe. I stared at the knife, hesitating to pick it up. There was a sizzling sound and pain shot down my spine, my muscles spasming until I fell to my knees. Motherfucker!
“Pick it up,” ordered the guard who’d zapped me.
My opponent’s gaze followed me as I curled my shaking fingers around the handle and picked it up. I weighed the balance of it even as my hand obviously trembled.
“Now get in the ring.”
I followed my opponent, the stench of perfume, blood, alcohol and urine, nauseating. My jaw dropped, and I stumbled in a circle as I lifted my gaze and took in the sheer scale of the arena. All the time, I watched my enemy through the corner of my eye as I scoped for exits and possible escape routes. The entrance to the corral was furthest away from me. There was one other door which obviously led up to the balcony, and a double metal door on the far side of the arena that was heavily guarded. The science wing. It had to be.
The door to the balcony was my best bet. I peered up. A familiar face stared down at me and my stomach lurched. Doherty stilled, his champagne flute halfway to his mouth. Peering from the window of what must be a private viewing room, he stared, and blinked, then blinked again. A sour taste flooded my mouth as he smiled. He was once again a predator watching his prey, getting ready to pounce when the mood took him. He raised his drink to me, then took a big swig and swallowed. I looked away keeping my face utterly blank, as if I hadn’t recognised him.
I slid the knife into my left hand. Another misdirection. I was right handed, but my opponent didn’t need to know that was my strongest side.
Yelling and bellows hit me from the direction of the other rings. My collar hummed, burning the skin around my neck. I couldn’t hold back a scream as the frequency changed and my wolf howled in agony. Nearby, my enemy released equally pained cries. Raising my gaze, I forced myself to concentrate