my feet. I had to balance, and yank the shards out while still trying to move. Lingering wasn’t an option. The other survivors were forced off their mats and back into the cage, too, some of them with feet as bad as mine.
“You survived, did you?”
I glanced up from beneath my eyelids at the sound of that smarmy voice. A naked Santa Cruz stood directly in front of me. I blinked and looked away from his athletic body. My adrenaline was ebbing and I was beginning to shake. The last thing I needed right now was this arrogant arse buzzing in my ear and his stink invading my mind.
“Didn’t think you’d have it in you to kill. Shows that cute ass was made for me to kick right before I fuck it. I’ll bet that crowd will enjoy watching me take you as you die, don’t you think, Firecracker?”
Not caring enough to answer, I leaned against the cage, closed my eyes and tilted my head back. Moments later, his horrid stench receded. After I’d recovered my breath, I moved through the thinning crowd and grabbed a drink of water. It was then I saw a familiar face. Reed sat butt naked in a dark corner, studying those returning to the cage. His eyes were hard and his jaw tight. Had he studied me as I returned? I limped over and lowered myself next to him.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” he responded, flatly.
“I know you won’t, but don’t pull your punches with me.”
He looked at me and for a moment his eyes softened. “You’re right. I won’t.”
“Good.” I coughed. Godsdamn, a break from the stench of blood, fear and death would be nice. He was naked and I was half-dressed but we were just two bodies in a sea of others. “So you and Myles, hm?”
He smiled a little, losing some of his alpha personality. “Yeah, me and Myles—after all this time.” He closed his eyes. “Ember, he told me he loves me.” He twisted in his seat and tilted his head.
A gasp escaped me. Tentatively, I reached out and traced my fingers over the deep red claiming marks, vivid on his neck.
“You mated?” I expelled a soft breath, elated, yet horrified at the thought of them losing each other so soon.
He nodded. “I can feel him, deep in here.” He tapped lightly over his heart. “It’s amazing to be so connected.” His throat bobbed and he looked me right in the eyes. “Ember, if I don’t make it out of here, promise me you and Connor will always look out for him.”
I swallowed hard, the anxiety in his eyes almost too much to bear, especially when it wasn’t there for himself but for the man he loved. “Of course, but you’ll make it out.”
Reed nodded, and entwining our fingers lifted my hand to place a kiss on the back of it. “‘Course I will.” But his words were hollow.
We settled back, but I couldn’t relax. I disentangled myself, kissed his cheek and left him. Trying to ignore the pain in my feet, I hobbled across the cage. Even with the help of my wolf they wouldn’t be fully healed before my next fight. Keeping an eye on the survivors, I stretched my body as my wolf concentrated on healing my damaged feet.
My next fight came. I couldn’t look at Reed as I walked out, it would ruin the carefully constructed walls protecting my heart from what I had to do. The fox-like creature narrowed its yellow gaze, studying me. In half-shift the male wasn’t much taller than me, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a vicious and cunning fighter. His attention zoned in on my feet and the shards of glass that once again littered the arena. Biting my lip and trembling, I didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, I glanced up at Doherty who watched me intently. Ice coated my insides. The warden stood by his side, dressed in a perfect dark suit and wine-red shirt, his dark hair slicked back and his dark eyes vivid against his pale skin. A slow smirk graced his mouth. Zander stood by his side, his eyes burning red, but his face utterly blank; indifference? Or hiding his own fury? Like mine, those eyes of his only burned when his emotions or power were raised.
I drew my attention back down to the Were-fox. He paced on his own side of the ring, pushing the glass into a line as he moved.
I’d been given an old sword, one that