“It’s not a date,” I correct him. “But I figured you wouldn’t want me discussing the...incident without backup.” He nods, and I hold my finger up to keep him from interrupting. “Luca, this doesn’t mean I’m going to do what you say. I’m not interested in being bossed around. I can promise to communicate with you better, though—no more surprises.”
“That’s a pity. Surprises can be hot, angel.” Alistair materializes by my side so smoothly that I’m reluctantly impressed. “You brought a friend.” He smiles at Luca, and the expression is strangely genuine. I don’t know how to take that—I expected him to be annoyed.
“Alistair,” Luca says, clearing his throat.
“Can we skip the death threats and go straight to the part where I swear on the sun I won’t betray her?”
Luca glares, obviously annoyed by Alistair’s interruption. “That’s cool, but I’m not a fucking astrologer. Is this you trying to tell me your sign or some shit?”
“I haven’t seen the sun in almost two decades, Luca,” Alistair says quietly. “I dream of it every night and long for it every day. I’m swearing on the sun to show you how serious I am.”
The skin on my arms pebbles from Alistair’s quiet intensity. I elbow Luca hard to get him to play nice, then elbow him again to show I mean business. He groans and covers his side protectively. “Shit, Celine, how was I supposed to know it was an emotional thing? He sounded like a crystal mommy.”
“He’s very sorry,” I say to Alistair, who barely manages to hide his grin.
“I’m sure his ribs are, at least.” Alistair offers me his arm, then glances at Luca. “I’m a Scorpio, by the way.”
I chuckle, linking one arm with his and preparing to cut a path through the crowd with the other. I don’t get the chance, because Luca slides into that space, effectively sandwiching me between them. No one gives us any trouble, and by the timewe’re in the pit, I feel cheated out of my full fight night experience.
“I’ll let you sock someone on the way out,” Luca promises as he sees my scowl. He bends to my level and narrows his eyes at the floor of the ring. “They changed the cage. How the fuck will you see?”
“We can lift her once the fight starts,” Alistair says, casually including Luca in the plan, then winking at me.
Luca shrugs. “Okay, I’ll get us some drinks if you two hold my spot.” I smirk, and he scoffs. “Don’t hurt anyone, killer.”
He gets swallowed up by the mass of bodies, and I turn to Alistair.
“What are you up to?” I demand.
He blinks at me, his baby-blue eyes wide and innocent. “I’m sorry, angel. I thought you might want to add to your collection.”
“I don’t collect things. I hate clutter. What are you even—” I choke, my words catching in my throat as one possible meaning flickers through my mind. Surely . . . he can’t mean that.
Alistair winks. “Every woman needs more than one dildo, angel.”
I plant my palms on his chest with every intention of sending him barreling into the sea of bodies, but Alistair catches my hands and laughs at my expression.
The crowd roars as the fighters enter the cage, and it saves me from coming up with a response. I can’t stop thinking about it, though. By the time Luca gets back and the bell rings, the idea has wormed its way into my brain.
The flying fists help me forget for a while how messy the consequences of my actions are becoming. Alistair and Luca take turns as my chair, passing me between them like a rag doll every couple of rounds. They never once put me down. I enjoy it too much.
Rattling the cage, I jeer and taunt the shifter, cheeringloudly for the smaller witch. He’s a new fighter, raw and untested, but he’s got style. With some training, he could be a formidable opponent. If that happens, I’ll pick a new underdog to root for.
The fight ends, and I climb to the floor before either of them can manhandle me. “That was a good fight,” I say. “The kid witch will get him next time. Did you see how he was adapting to the moves?”
“Yeah, he was fast.” Luca grins.
“Are you ready to leave, angel?” Alistair scans the rowdy crowd, his eyes flickering pink as a burly guy jostles him. That’s when I realize everyone is a lot drunker now than when we first got here.
I nod, bending over to grab our empty bottles off the ground. Someone slaps my ass.Pissed, I spin to teach them some manners, but Alistair and Luca already have the guy pinned to the support beam under the cage. His feet dangle, the toes of his sneakers scrambling for purchase on the stained concrete. His face turns an interesting shade of purple.
“Any last words?” Alistair snarls. Luca’s arms are visibly trembling. As much as I would love to beat this guy’s ass, there are way too many bloodthirsty eyes on us. I need to deescalate this.
I slide my hands slowly onto their shoulders, careful not to startle them. “I’m fine, guys,” I assure them. “Seriously. Let him go; he’s learned his lesson.”
Luca hisses, and the sound is more reptile than man.Shit. Shit. Shit.Going on instinct, I trail my fingers up his neck until I can thread them through his thick, silky hair, and massage his scalp. “I’m fine,” I tell him again. “I promise you. Don’t let some idiot ruin our night.”
Luca closes his eyes, grits his teeth, then wrenches his hand away from the guy’s throat. “I need to get out of here,” he says, his voice barely recognizable around his fangs.
