Nobody speaks, taking in her words. We have to be positive, for Luna and ourselves.
Finding my voice, I look Maria Steele dead in the eyes.
“Luna Steele is my Queen. I will always give her my strength, even when I’m not close enough to touch her, she will know.”
A small smile creeps over her lips, but she says nothing at all. She doesn’t need to.
A siren calls and everyone turns to look to the center of the hall, seeing Tyler and Luna make their way to the first ring.
My blood is pounding in my ears and I wish it was me in there, fighting for her, but I wasn’t exaggerating when I said she was my Queen.
She has the strength to rule us all, and I’ll happily follow her to hell if I have too.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
(Luna)
I haven’t even seen Tyler, he’s blocked by this monstrosity taking up the space around us. It doesn’t matter anyway, it seems I have to kill or be killed. What a lovely day.
West is still standing with me, I can feel him constantly trying to get my attention with subtle nudges but I’m not interested.
I just need to focus.
I need to survive this.
Yet still be able to find myself at the end of it all.
“Please, our two runners if you could step up to the first ring in preparation,” Dietrichson calls, and the rest of the room goes silent.
Watching, waiting for this to all unfold.
I slowly step up to where she is asking me to be. West stands in front of me so I’m unable to block him out any longer.
“I believe in you, my moon. In more than just this challenge, in life, I believe in you. I always have, I always will.”
He squeezes my shoulder and places a swift kiss to my forehead. With that he walks away, I don’t know where because my eyes are set solely on Red.
“May the best bloodline win,” Dietrichson declares, as a siren sounds in confirmation this shit show has begun.
Climbing into the first ring, a girl I don’t recall stands rigid in a fight position. Fear written all over her face, but I can’t let it get to me. There are more important things on the line here.
She attempts to circle around me a few times but it’s clear she has no clue what she’s doing. As lost as I am right now I can still recognize that at least this round doesn’t have to be brutal.
“What’s your name?” I ask quietly.
She considers me a moment before she whispers back.
“Trudy Byrnes.”
“What block are you in Trudy?”
“Clubs,” She answers, still keeping her stance in place.
She may not know what she’s doing but at least she isn’t dropping her guard. A Club won’t be missed by these people, they won’t see her for the person she actually is.
“I don’t want to kill you, Trudy,” I offer, which causes her to shiver behind her guarded arms.
“I don’t want to have to kill you either.”
I raise my eyebrow at her.
“Let’s be honest here Trudy, we both know that isn’t going to happen.”
I’m not trying to be rude but there’s no point trying to sugar coat this. Her eyes are searching mine frantically, she’s petrified.
“How about this Trudy, I can knock you out with one hit. It’ll hurt for that first second then you’ll be out like a light, but the most important part is, you’ll wake up.”
She’s trying to take in what I’m saying but she doesn’t trust me enough to believe in my words.
“Trudy, my friend is slowly being hung up there. All because she is my friend and they needed an incentive for me to do this. Now you're out of time, what’ll it be?” I ask, losing the gentleness to my tone.
“Okay, you’re right,” she whispers.
Thank fuck for that.
“I promise you after all this. There will be changes around here and you’ll be standing beside me, do you understand?”
She barely nods in response but drops her arms. I step into her space and before she can change her mind I raise my fist connecting it full force into her face and she drops to the mat.
Simple as that.
Pity they won’t all be this easy.
Before I move up to the next ring I look around for anyone, when I see Maverick. In all the encounters I’ve had with him he’s been barely tolerable, but I believe in him enough to help this girl. I pick Trudy up and walk to the edge of the ring. He understands the silent communication as he moves to the ring.
“She’s unconscious, I want her awake by the time I’m out of here. Keep her the fuck away from anyone vile enough to change that. You got me?”
He doesn’t question me or consider his options; he just holds his hands out to take her through the rope.
“Don’t let me down Maverick, she didn’t deserve to die, but if you let something happen to her. Well, I won’t say the same for you.”
A part of me is fully aware of the fact I’m speaking to a tutor like this, but the lines are blurred in this place and I’m passed giving a shit. He nods once, then marches off. I haven’t got time to see where he is going. I need to get a move on.
Climbing up to the second ring, I’m barely in when someone’s trying to rain punches down on me. Fuck definitely not going to be the same in here then.
By the grunts coming from my attacker I can tell it’s a guy, and he seems quite keen to power through so he can claim my victory.
Not today.
The fact that he caught me off guard has me on the floor, but he’s not covering me professionally, so I
