The crowd cheered loudly. Most of them, at least. A few were saddened by their lost wagers, but none more than the woman who had bet all she had on what was supposed to be a sure thing.
Bodok tuned them out and tossed his weapons to the ground. He strode toward the Tormiks’ luxury box, head held high, gaze anything but averted. He was a free man now.
Bodok walked right up to the box but didn’t stop there. He leapt over the low wall with ease.
“What do you think you are doing?” Mistress Tormik screeched. “Stay away from her. Free man or not, she is my servant. You will never see her again.”
Bodok stared at her with a look of disdain and defiance then walked right past her. He took Maureen by the hand, a jolt running through both of their bodies.
“Come. We are leaving.”
Mistress Tormik’s eyes flashed with unbridled hatred. Hedaredignore her? “Take your hands off of my property!”
She slapped him, attempting to pull his hand form Maureen’s. Bodok’s bloody palm shoved her back into her seat, much to her shock.
“You dare touch my wife?” Vice Quaestor Tormik bellowed. “Guards! Arrest this man!”
Before the guards could react, Bodok ripped his shirt from his chest, pulling open Maureen’s as well, exposing both their Infalas for all to see.
“You will do nothing of the sort,” he growled. “You may be Vice Quaestor, but even you must obey this law. Look at our Infalas. Look good and close, for we are now bonded.”
The patrons nearest heard what he said and a murmur quickly flashed through the crowd. Bodok and the servant were a bonded pair. And the law was quite clear, no man or woman could stand between a newly bonded pair. If they committed crimes in the future, then they could face consequences, but as of this moment, Maureen was a free woman. Free to be with her mate.
“B-but… No! You have to stop them!” Mistress Tormik shrieked. She lunged at Maureen, but the guards,herguards, stepped in front of her. They knew the law, and while their duty was to their employer, that included keeping her from finding herself on the wrong end of that law.
Bodok lifted Maureen over the wall into the arena, hopping over and joining her then leading her to the center. He looked up at the thousands present, all of them bearing witness to this impossible event. He turned his gaze to the woman at his side, his eyes swelling with emotion.
Both of their Infalas glowed, the lighter of the highlighting pigments bright with power as the union was finalized. The crowd went silent as they watched things unfold.
“I love you, Maureen of Earth,” he said, his voice carrying across the arena, thanks in part to the microphone the announcer had aimed at them. “My heart, my soul, they are yours forever.”
“And mine is yours,” she replied, tears of joy running down her cheeks. “Now kiss me, you wonderful man.”
He was more than happy to oblige, lifting her into his arms and pressing his lips to hers. Their Infalas flashed bright as the union was confirmed, something that only happened in the rarest of instances. True love was present, and it was far more than just their runes binding them.
The crowd’s silence burst like a dam as the arena erupted with wild cheers. Bodok gently set her back on the ground, the couple taking a moment to bask in the well-wishes of the entire audience.
Maureen looked up at Bodok, a fire in her eyes and a ball of spreading heat in her belly. “Let’s get out of here,” she said huskily. “We have some unfinished business, and I don’t want to wait.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR
The new champion and his freshly bonded mate were still being showered with cheers when they were whisked away by the arena guards at the direction of the announcer.
He had quickly read the crowd’s shift in mood from anger to shock to elation, and he knew the absolute best way to make the most of it. Namely, a show of grandiose support for the unexpected victor and his mate.
That the underdog had not only pulled out an impossible upset, but had also stood up to the vice quaestor’s notorious wife in so public a manner—fully supported by the weight of the law, no less—had made him an instant darling of his former detractors. Mistress Tormik had rubbed alotof people the wrong way over the years, and her comeuppance alone was worth the price of admission.
This tournament had just become the event of the decade, possibly longer, and was something the attendees would talk about excitedly for a very long time to come. The announcer had been at this a long time, and he knew full well that in a situation like this a very public display of largesse towards the new couple was the best marketing money could buy.
“Friends! Dear guests! A round of applause for our new champion, Bodok!” he called out over the amplification system. “A bout for the ages! And more than that, our new champion has bonded with his mate!”
To have one’s Infala meet its counterpart and form a union was an incredibly big deal to all citizens in the Dotharian Conglomerate, and every single person could immediately appreciate the importance of the occurrence. And for it to happen now, in front of thousands, and in so dramatic a manner no less, was simply unheard of.
A party was in order.
“Friends! To celebrate this joyous event, all refreshments are now half off for the rest of the night!”
The crowd seemed pleased, but not overly so. Considering the mark-up he had on his wares, the announcer made a quick decision. “Did I say half off? I meant free! Your first drink is on the house in honor of the new couple!”
