“You’re no good at fisticuffs, my friend. Watch over her.” I answer, knowing that he would fight on my side in a heartbeat if I asked him.
We both know what my comment truly means. It’s not that Forn is less skilled at grappling than I am. That had been a simple jest. The truth is, I need him to watch over my mate and keep her safe.
I turn to face my opponent and that’s when all happiness leaves me. Ton is huge and powerful, with scars along his chest from countless tangles with deadly, underwater creatures. I let myself sink into the animal inside me, the beast that I keep stuffed down at all times except during war.
I’ve never fully succumbed to the primal thing that lurks within me, but it’s always there – a dark force that wants to kill and destroy everything around me. The memory of Ginger’s face flashes in front of my eyes – her own eyes full of horror and her mouth opening in a scream as she plummets off that cliff.
Then she disappears. She’s my past, and she’s gone. Today, I will wash away my sins, either in my blood or in the blood of my opponent.
Ton stands across from me, ten feet away. His fingers are twitching with eagerness. He aches to kill me. In fact, he’s wanted to for a hundred years.
I look over at Chief Rattler. The Aurelian Chief is old and wizened, and now his best days are behind him. His two fellow battle brothers are straight backed, but they too are long past their prime. It’s time for a new leader of the tribe – someone who can lead in times of peace and fight in times of war.
“Begin,” rasps my Chief, and I lunge forward towards Ton.
Behind me, I can hear Forn laying Tammy down. My senses feel heightened. Darok and Forn stand near the ring, watching the battle beginning. Ton’s triad stands across from them; each side watching Ton and I like hawks.
“He favours his right leg,” telepaths Darok, and I notice the minuscule hint of a limp that Ton could not conceal. Darok’s eagle eyes caught it.
I dive forward, trying to tackle Ton, but he darts aside. He’s bigger than me, with layer of fat over his muscles but he moves as quickly as a mountain lion. I know that his triad is feeding him hints and observances through the Bond, just as mine are aiding me, and I wonder what weakness they’ll call out in my technique.
Ton’s fist lashes out and clocks me across the jaw before I can parry. The first tendril of worry curls into my brain. Practicing with Forn this morning did nothing to prepare me for the real thing. I spit out blood and keep my hands up, ready for his next attack.
In theory, anyway.
Pain suddenly flares and I hear the crunch of my nose breaking. Ton had hit me before I could react – before I even saw the blow coming. I taste blood as it fills my mouth.
In front of me, Ton darts back, pulling his lips back in a snarl as he lands the second devastating blow before I can do anything to stop him.
“Tell me the truth and I’ll make this quick,” growls Ton, and before I can make sense of his threat he kicks me in the kidneys. I double over, barely able to pull myself up.
“You seduced her,” he growls, dancing around me as I flail uselessly at him with my fists. I jab blindly and he grabs my wrist, yanking me in towards him and head-butting me brutally. I see stars explode in front of me, as my broken nose is further pulverized.
I spit blood out. My tribe presses in closer, keeping me tighter to Ton. The crowd cheers and roars as we stalk each other, each waiting for an opening.
Ton shifts his weight, and I know he’s going to kick me again. His slight injury slows him – the one Darok observed earlier.
I dodge to the side and sweep, but the hard kick ton sends flying still hits my arm and twists me around. He follows his kick up with a flurry of blows and I tumble to the ground.
There’s no end to this fight until a man can no longer stand – until his heart beats its last. Ton gives me a second of reprieve and I pull myself up, wiping blood from my eyes.
The auras of my triad are humming with concern. They know as well as I do that I’m hopelessly outclassed. The only benefit of this one-sided battle is knowing that my sacrifice will at least stop a triad against triad battle – which will end with all three of us dead. As long as Tammy wakes up and there’s at least one of us still alive to take care of her, then my life will not have been sacrificed in vain.
I do this for you, my love.
Ton shifts his weight, and this time I know I can predict his kick. At the last second, just as I ready for the kick, he suddenly bull-rushes me instead; knocking me hard against the ground. My head smacks against the hard rocks and I feel Ton crushing his weight down on top of me, slamming his fists into my bruised face. The pain dulls as steel-like fist after steel-like fist pummels my face again and again.
“You took her from me!” Ton screams with rage as he assaults me, his fury against me and the entire world. He’s blind with hatred, overwhelmed with emotion. My head lolls to the side as he crushes it with blow after blow, and at least I get one last, lost look at Forn – holding Tammy close to him. His arms are wrapped tightly around her, and my fated mate looks so tiny and vulnerable in his embrace.
I just wish I could have held her for one last time. I know in
