Ah, so there it was. “Xae,” I whispered and took his face in my hands. “I'm with the man I'm meant to be with. What Rath says doesn't matter.”
His expression softened, and he leaned forward.
Just before we kissed, Rath shouted, “Are we doing this or not?”
Xaedren growled as he swung his whole body toward Ratharin.
“Fuck,” I whispered when I saw Rath.
My asshole of a mentor had removed his shirt and wrapped his fists in strips of fabric. He bounced on his toes and stretched his neck, looking calm and ready. Then his stare met mine. Rath went still, emotions surging from his eyes. Emotions that had come too late.
Then Rath went flying.
I cried out, realizing that I had distracted him, giving Xae the chance to deliver the first blow. The crowd cheered. But Rath didn't stay down like the Tytra. He lifted his legs, kicked them upward into an arch, and leapt back onto his feet. Then he dove for Xaedren's belly.
Xae grunted from the impact, flying backward as Rath had, but Rath went with him. Rath landed on top and delivered another punch to Xae's face. I cringed as blood sprayed, my hands clenching into fists. Then I winced as Xae landed a punch too. He shoved up with the blow and bucked Rath off. The men rolled to their feet and circled each other, faces bloody and stares violent.
“All right, that's enough!” I shouted, but no one could hear me over the crowd. “Fuck, you're all bloodthirsty.” I looked around me at the cheering Lords and spotted Keltyr.
Kel winked, then went back to shouting encouragement at the men.
“Fuck,” I whispered.
Blood arched through the air again when Xae hit Rath in the jaw. I whimpered. Rath swung back from the impact, then kept going, bringing himself full circle to hit Xaedren in the back of the head with his fists clasped together. Xaedren went stumbling. I gasped. Xae caught himself, jumped into the air, and came down on Rath. Rath crumpled, and Xae stood up with a triumphant look. I stared at Rath, part of me hoping he wouldn't get up.
He did.
Rath kicked Xae's knee out from behind, sending him to the ground.
“No,” I whispered and covered my face.
A thud came.
I hunched in on myself.This is all my fault. They're fighting because of me.
A crack.
They're going to tear each other apart.
Crash.
I never should have kissed Rath. I should have stopped him.
Emotions vibrated inside me becoming something wild and desperate. Magic responded, churning in my gut.
Grunt.
Power filled my body and numbed my mind. I was too upset to control it. Too—
Blood splattered on the stone at my feet.
“Stop!” I roared, bursting through the ring of Wraith Lords to reach the center. Air blasted out of me, lifting the opponents off the ground in two mini tornadoes. With a terrible screech, I jerked them apart and flung them down on opposite sides of the fighting area. “That is enough!”
Xae and Rath got to their feet slowly, both of them bleeding from numerous wounds. Even with their cut lips and broken noses, I could see their shock as they watched me step between them.
“I have had enough of this alphahole bullshit!” I continued to shout, angrier now that my fear was gone. “There is no winner. You'rebothlosers! And I'm not training with a couple of losers!” I stomped away.
“Ember!” Rath called after me.
