All was chaos and dust and above it all, the crowd’s roar was a low, living thing, thrumming against my ribs.
Then a shadow detached from the melee and came for me. His face materialized from the dust first, his body straining toward me; his lips were pulled back from his teeth in a snarl.
“I’ve been looking for you,” the brawler from the mess hall snarled.Iven.
I feinted to one side. But he was fast, incredibly fast, so even though he took my feint, he still managed to snag my leg and yank me down. The two of us tumbled to the ground. It knocked the breath out of my already-raw lungs.
He went to move on top of me. I rolled to one side, digging a handful of sand off the floor and flinging it into his face. Somehow, my aim was perfect, and he groped for me, his eyes closed.
I kicked him in the jaw as hard as I could. His head snapped back, but he grabbed my leg, clutching me to him so I couldn’t escape. Hesquinted at me, trying to see through the burn of the grit, as his other hand reached out for my throat.
Something hard pressed against my ass along with his powerful body as he yanked my leg tighter, trying to drag me close enough to choke.
“Really, now?” I rasped, before I realized it was a sheath. A forbidden weapon he’d carried into the fight. I didn’t even need to use the bracelet Anayla had given me; I’d use his own weapon against me.
I sat up, muscles screaming. He grinned triumphantly as his fingers brushed my skin, and then his palm slammed into my throat. I let out a grunt as his fingers dug deep, beginning to cut off my airway.
But all the while, I’d been reaching for his hidden knife.
I pulled it free and drove it at his arm in one smooth move, aiming above his bracer.
His grin stiffened, then died as shock lit his eyes. I twisted the knife as I pulled it out, and he let out a guttural sound of pain.
He lost his grip on my leg, and I kicked him in the chest, knocking him away from me, just as I launched the knife at him. It struck his chest, sinking in deep. He fell to the ground on his ass, collapsing like a rag doll.
I couldn’t believe my luck. For once in my life.
I scrambled to my knees and ran.
I passed two shifters who were striking each other, quick blows so fast and lethal that I wouldn’t have survived them. One of them doubled over, collapsing.
The other turned to me, purple eyes glinting maniacally through the dusty haze that rose from the sand. He strode toward me, his face marked with blood and sweat. “Can’t believe you even count for the score.”
I knelt and scooped up a rock because it was the only weapon I could find. We weren’t allowed to carry in weapons, but anything we found was fair game.
He launched himself forward with brutal speed that I couldn’t possibly meet. I hucked the rock at his chest, already plotting for the next one I’d dive toward if I was lucky enough that one distracted him.
It hit him in the face instead. He faltered, swiping away blood, butkept coming. The look on his face promised repayment, but I was already diving for the next rock.
Before he reached me, he was yanked backward.
He hit the ground with a grunt.
Kiegan stood where he’d been. Blood streaked his tunic. His knuckles were split, glistening red. The air around him seemed to vibrate, charged with barely contained strength.
He took one look at me and barked a rough laugh. “How do you already look like shit? You haven’t even taken a hit yet.”
Before I could respond, the shifter was on his feet and charging him. Kiegan grabbed him and lifted him over his head, reeling him back before he launched him. He hit the wall below the stands and crumpled. The crowd in the stands went wild, stomping their feet and screaming Kiegan’s name.
At least if Kiegan beat me senseless, there was no shame; he was stronger and more dangerous than any other shifter in this arena when it came to unarmed combat. I should’ve been grateful to face him, but I wasn’t.
He was the closest thing I had to a real friend, and sometimes, it’s hard to forgive one’s friends for beating one bloody.
I steeled myself. “Let’s get this over with.”
His brows drew together. “What new bullshit is this?”
“Remember what we’re here for?” I gestured vaguely out at the combat. Gods, there was definitely blood smeared on his tunic. Not his, never his.
