“Welcome to fight club, starring us. I thought you were busy guarding Lenore the Whore?”
“I pulled out early.”
“Sounds about right.”
Christian swaggered over to the wall and hefted a spiked club. Then he moved toward the wolf, who still had the bag over his head.
“Don’t hurt him.” I gave Christian a scolding look.
“Are you afflicted in some way? The chains won’t hold him for long.” Christian hurled the club into the crowd, and it struck someone in the head. They fell backward, yet no one ran screaming. Some even applauded. “We need to get up there.”
“Armed with what?”
Christian tossed an axe at me, and I caught it before it accidentally severed my arm. “Gird your loins, lass. We’re storming the gates.”
“How?”
He erased the distance between us. “Do you trust me?”
“I’m going to regret saying yes, aren’t I?”
Christian winked and stood next to me. I looked down as he slid his hand between my legs from behind and gripped my sex nice and tight. His other hand flattened on my chest, and the next thing I knew, he was hurling me into the stands.
A shriek escaped my lips as I soared through the air with an axe in my hand. When I realized I was going to fall short of the ledge, I let go of the axe and grabbed the wall for dear life. Before my weight pulled me down, I threw my leg over and climbed up.
“Your aim sucks!” I yelled at him without looking back.
Masked faces retreated, and someone said, “This isn’t allowed.”
Banking on the assumption that these were prissy little aristocrats who couldn’t throw a punch, I sharpened my light and kept my cool. When I spotted the victim of Christian’s club toss, I pulled the spiked weapon from her skull, and her mask fell away. Chestnut hair spilled across her face, and I felt guilty for just the slightest of moments before I remembered who these lunatics were.
I twirled the club and threw a coldhearted gaze at my audience. “Sorry to crash your party, but this is a sting operation. You’re all under arrest. I want everyone to sit down with your hands on your head.”
Someone threw their glass at my face and flashed off. Another ripped off her mask and rushed me. I swung the club and struck her arm. Blood sprayed the onlookers to my left. The club fell from my grip and into the ring as two people shoved me toward the ledge.
So much for an orderly arrest.
I spotted Christian in the ring. “I could use some help up here!”
“Working on it!” He charged the gate and bounced off like a quarter against a mattress.
Teetering over the edge of the balcony, I turned my head and chomped someone’s arm. When they let go, I elbowed the other person who had ahold of my hair. One look at my fangs and they recoiled. I kicked the person in the stomach, and her mask fell off. Pandemonium ensued as the crowd turned into a mob and surged toward me. I braced for my imminent death, but they ran on by.
“What the hell?” I turned to watch the mayhem.
One of them hurtled over the wall. On the opposite side, others were leaping into the pit.
“Everyone down!” Shepherd’s strident voice made me flinch as he fired his gun into the air.
Dust and pebbles showered over Gem, and she shook her head. “Watch where you aim that thing.”
Gem curled her fingers rhythmically as a sphere of light rolled in her palm. Her energy ball was throwing the crowd in a panic.
I joined them. “Glad you made it. What’s the plan?”
Shepherd frowned at the unconscious woman on the ground. “Where’s the boss lady? Viktor wants her in custody before we do anything else.”
Striding up to us, Christian tucked a lollipop inside his cheek and rested his arm on Shepherd’s shoulder. “Couldn’t help but overhear your dilemma. Why don’t we throw everyone in the pit before they get it in their wee minds to flee or fight?”
