He absorbed the blow and shook it off without dropping his guard. I bounced on my toes, circling, while his golden eyes scanned every twitch of my muscles, calculating. I wasn’t about to let it be that easy.
I baited him with a few backward steps, letting him think he had me retreating, then I dropped, palms catching the floor as I kicked out at his legs with both of mine for maximum damage.He barely saved himself, managing to jump in just the nick of time, but my heel still clipped the top of his foot, rocking his balance. He stumbled on the mat, and that was all I needed.
I launched myself toward him at full force. Midair, my bones cracked, fur tearing through my skin, letting my wolf explode into the space between us. His eyes widened as he raised his forearm, saving his throat from my fangs at the last second.
Wrestling me on a good day was bad enough. Wrestling me in wolf form was a nightmare.
My jaws clamped tight, tasting the hot bite of his skin. Blood. My wolf screamed at me to release, to spare him, but I shoved her weakness away. He took advantage of the hesitation, hooking my paw with his foot and throwing his weight to the side so we rolled.
Pinned, I shifted back in a blur, escaping his grip on me with my bare fists flying. My knuckles cracked against his jaw. My knee drove into his stomach, his growl vibrating against my skin like a promise.
I caught Zeth’s glare from the corner of my eye, concern tangled with fury.Finish this now, Nova,I told myself. Prove him wrong. Prove them all wrong.
I slammed my head into Nick’s. His pained cry filled the cage as blood gushed from his nose, splattering onto me and the mat. The scent was sharp, coppery, mesmerizing. I slid in it, using the new slickness of my skin to twist free from his grip.
In seconds, I was on his back, arm locked beneath his chin, legs cinched around his waist like I was a psycho spider monkey, hanging on with all my might. I squeezed hard, every muscle straining, to make him break.
Tap out. Tap, damn you. I don’t want to destroy you.
The crowd banged against the cage, savage voices calling for blood. My chest clenched. I hated them for wanting me to rip him apart. I hated myself more for not wanting to.
Having a weakness was death. Rossey bosses didn’t go soft.
Tightening my hold around his neck, I made sure not a puff of air could escape. His legs kicked out, so I wrapped mine around them, too, making it so he was stuck with no outs, no hope, and still, he lasted longer than I thought he would.
It took a good minute or two of strapping him down in this position for that thick head of his to finally realize he wasn't going to win, for that hope to be snuffed out. Those light taps on my thigh came, and my whole body tightened right before I blew out a breath and let my arms drop away.
He didn't gasp for air like the vampire did, no, this man took short, quick, angry breaths, actively trying to calm himself down as I sat up. Blood was streaked everywhere—along the mat, my body. I must’ve looked like a mess.
The crowd erupted, voices crashing against the steel.
“That’s it! That’s our boss right there!”
“You’re no match for her! No one is!”
I got up with raised hands, and the noises grew louder. Respect shined bright in their eyes, and their admiration reminded me.This is why, Nova. You can never lose. Never bleed in front of them. Number one, or nothing. Number one, or you could lose everything.
But after the stick, they needed a little carrot.
Raising my hands to shush the crowd, I let my voice boom through the cage. “Since these two fighters were brave enough to step into the ring withme,” a ripple of chuckles rolled through the arena, “I’m giving both of them tickets to the Grosky versus Banner fight!”
A rumble of shock and disappointment surged. Voices overlapped with some complaining about the insane ticket prices, while others grumbled that they’d have happily taken a beating if they’d known the prize.
Exactly the reaction I wanted. The reward was never about handing out freebies; it was about honoring the ones with the guts to take the risk. The ones who stared down someone who could kill them yet still chose to step into the cage. Rewards like this were a way to champion the type of fighters I wanted.
When the cheers dulled, I crouched down. Nick’s bloodied face tilted toward me, eyes still blazing even through the mess. Patting his shoulder, I leaned in so no one heard me. “Not a bad prize, right? You did good. Remember, you deserve this spot.”
His fingers caught mine before I could pull away. My breath caught.
Up close, his eyes swirled, liquid gold, molten, alive. Magic hummed there, something otherworldly, but it wasn’t the power that unstrung me. It was the grin. That crooked, dark, hungry slice against his tan skin and plush lips. A grin that whispered of dark corners and stolen kisses.
His gaze dipped to my lips. Heat scorched my veins. My heart thundered like I’d sprinted across the globe, every instinct urging me to close the distance even though I couldn’t dare.
His hushed voice slid over my skin like a caress. “Not bad. But I’m more looking forward to seeing you in a dress.”
I rose slowly, locking eyes with him, but the tension was thick as smoke, clinging, choking. Heat coiled low in my belly, raw and insistent. Part of me wanted to tackle him right there, tear the shirt from his body, and claim him in front of every gawking face.
How dare he.How dare he leer at me like that, reducing me to a trembling pulse and shaky breath.
