The crowd ringed the large room, staying back against the walls. Sebastian moved out onto the thin mat. “Thomas has challenged Samantha over the unlawful death of his assistant. Can the two combatants come forward.”
“Just a sec,” I said. Clive helped me off with my axe sheath and jacket together, so people wouldn’t see the axe. I patted his hand, asking him to hold them for me. “Love you.” I gave him a quick kiss and moved out onto the mat.
Clive stepped out after me. “As Samantha’s mate, it is my right to fight beside her.”
“Aww, that’s sweet, but I’ve got this.” I lowered my voice, again knowing everyone could hear me. “We already know he’s not too bright. I don’t think this’ll be hard.”
“Thomas,” Sebastian said, “Clive has demanded his right as the mate of the challenged. You therefore may have a second fighter as well.”
Thomas surveyed the room, his gaze resting on Dakila, one of the Asian Counselors, the one Cadmael had said he’d thought was part of the we-want-the-world-to-know-about-vampires contingent.
Dakila stepped out onto the mat and inclined his head, saying, “I offer my services.”
“Accepted,” Thomas said triumphantly, smirking at Clive. Thomas and Dakila seemed quite confident in their ability to overpower us.
I didn’t understand it. They’d seen Clive fight the previous night. Had someone been feeding them lies? Perhaps the strategy was to take me out quickly, knowing Clive would be too distracted to fight them off effectively.
Thomas had broad shoulders and a scar on his neck, which was odd. Vampires healed quickly. Was it new? Legs braced and arms relaxed, Thomas stared daggers at me, which honestly made no sense. I wasn’t anyone to this guy. Beside him stood Dakila, shorter with long dark hair and deep brown eyes. The arrogance written all over his face made me want to punch him.
I grabbed the jacket-wrapped axe from Clive and looked for Vlad. If there was anyone in this room who could be trusted to look after weapons, it was Vlad. I carried the bundle to him, knowing he’d know what the jacket hid.
“Can you watch this for me?” I asked.
“All my life I’ve dreamed of becoming a valet,” he grumbled.
I took that for a yes and handed it over.
“Sebastian,” I began, “can I ask a quick question before we start?”
“Yes.” He was visibly annoyed I was delaying the fight.
“Just real quick,” I assured him. “Thomas, you seem to really hate my guts. I don’t know you at all and let’s not pretend that you actually care about your minion’s death. So why are you actually pissed at me?”
“A vampire mated to an animal is an abomination,” he sneered.
Confused, I looked at Clive. “Is he channeling my aunt?” Turning back to Thomas, I waved. “Abigail, is that you? How’s Hell treating you?”
“She’s insane,” Dakila muttered. “Let’s get this over with. I’ve got better things to do with my time.”
I gave them both my middle fingers—a double bird, if you will—and then unsheathed just those two razor-sharp claws. With a smile, of course. I was a lady.
Darling, time to tap into that part of your brain that Thoth taught you. We need you in god-mode now.
On it. Probably. Who the hell knew? Thoth said I worked harder when I was protecting someone else. Okay, brain, I need to save Clive. Let’s do this.
I located the two vamps’ green blips in my head and began to squeeze. Their eyes went black and their fangs descended. Both also glared at Clive, assuming he was the one fucking with them.
Sebastian said, “Go,” and Dakila was on me.
I was still registering the word go when he was reaching for my neck. I raked my claws down his face, scraping his skull and popping one of his eyes. Ducking under his outstretched arms, I pivoted behind him and rather than the more elegant, bladed hand that Amir had used to the back of Frank’s head, I bulked up my arm, made a fist, and with all my werewolf strength punched him in the back of the head.
His skull cracked, the sound loud in the quiet room. You can say this for vampires. They’re silent fighters. Dakila staggered forward but shook it off and turned to me again. If vamps could get concussions, he’d have one. One eye was black, but the other was his normal brown.
His movements were off, not as fluid as they had been. Even an injured vampire was deadly, though. I desperately wanted to check on Clive but didn’t. I needed to focus on my opponent, not distract Clive from his.
Dakila shook his head again and then moved forward. He took two unsteady steps and his legs bunched. He was going to jump, and I was ready. God-mode engaged.
There were no skips in time, no movie jumps. I was moving as fast or faster. Dakila flew at me like a torpedo but I stepped to the side, running my claws down his body and hooking onto a rib.
