Kaskian?I thought, shocked to see him.Didn’t he voluntarily leave the Games? I didn’t see him among the remaining contestants...
I stopped, trying to be silent. Kaskian’s back was turned, and he didn’t see me yet. My battle training kicked in. I had the advantage. I’d gauge his angle before I revealed myself. For his own sake, I hoped he’d turn tail and walk away.
“Good job there, little wolf,” Kaskian said, casually striding towards Poppy.
Poppy yelped, his fur standing on end. He was so engrossed in digging that he didn’t hear anyone approach.
“Oh, um, hi,” he said. In a strategic move, he sat directly on the hole he’d dug to block its view. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late.
“I’m not that stupid,” Kaskian said, smug and condescending. “I know you found the earring.”
“I—I didn’t,” Poppy insisted.
I grimaced. He was a horrible liar.
“Hand it over,” Kaskian ordered.
Poppy’s ears flattened in fear, then courageously pricked forward.
“No,” he stated.
I wished Poppy’s defiance would be enough to discourage Kaskian, but I dug my claws into the ground and braced myself for a fight.
A deep growl vibrated in Kaskian’s huge barrel-shaped chest. “I’m not asking, wolf. Give it to me.”
Poppy’s fur bristled. He stood squarely on his paws, planting one on top of the hole in a protective gesture.
“I said no,” he barked. “This is for Rorik. I won’t give it to you. Now, please stop bothering me.”
With another deep growl, Kaskian rose onto his hind legs. He was enormous. The grizzly towered over Poppy, who looked like a runty pet dog in his shadow. His bulk was enough to crush Poppy, never mind what a swipe from his huge claws would do.
“Last chance,” Kaskian warned. “Drop the earring.”
I dug my heels into the ground, ready to lunge.
“W-why do you want it, anyway?” Poppy asked. His frame shook, but he held steady. “You don’t love Saffron the way Rorik does!”
Kaskian belted out a nasty laugh. “Okay, little wolf.”
Anger sizzled in my chest. It dawned on me that Kaskian didn’t care about Saffron at all. The challenge, the Games—it was all meaningless to him. He just wanted revenge on me.
Emerging from the bush, I growled, “Leave Poppy out of this.”
Kaskian spun around. His face lit up with twisted joy. “If it isn’t the liar who promised to let me win the Games,” he spat.
I held my ground with a snort. I wanted to draw Kaskian away from Poppy. “Yeah, well, things changed.”
Kaskian’s grin deformed into a snarl. He dropped to all fours and lumbered towards me. “You couldn’t just stay out of my way, could you?”
Polar bears were larger than grizzlies, but at nearly a thousand pounds, Kaskian was no pushover. If he wanted a real fight, it would get ugly fast.
Kaskian’s voice dropped to an angry mutter. “I could’ve had everything I ever wanted.”
“Which is what?” I shot back. “Wealth? Fame?”
“Exactly.”
I curled my lip disdainfully. “And what about Saffron?”
