The crowd nearly shook the walls with their cheering.
Luka chucked the axe to the side, grinning like a maniac.
Panic flickered across Nico’s face, and then Luka turned into an absolute beast mode fighter. With his left leg, he swiped Nico off his feet, crashing him to the ground. Nico went backward and Luka took the advantage, sitting on Nico’s stomach, pinning him. With no weapons, there was only one thing to do, and even though I had a strong stomach, I had to look away when Luka pummeled Nico’s face with vampire speed and strength. The sound of breaking bones and gurgling filled the room and my stomach roiled.
There was some bad blood between these two. Luka was taking his time with him.
‘Finish him!’I shouted as the crowd cheered.
“Luka is showcasing the skills he learned in Magic City Prison,” the announcer said and everyone chuckled.
My gaze flicked to the older vamps, who looked absolutely overjoyed at the disgusting level of violence Luka was displaying.
Nico’s face was pulverized; his hands started to twitch with each punch. The crowd grew silent but Luka kept punching, drenched in blood and gore.
‘Luka. He’s done. Kill him properly.’My heart seized me as I realized something was wrong. When I reached out to Luka, I felt a crazed and unbridled rage wash over me.
Luka slowed, seemingly realizing we were all watching him go psycho and no one was cheering anymore. Reaching out, he gripped the axe he’d tossed and held it to Nico’s throat.
“Thatwas for my sister.” Luka spat in what used to be Nico’s face, and brought the axe down on his neck.
I turned away, my heart pinching in my chest.
Sister?Luka had a sister? What the hell had Nico done to his sister? Confusion washed over me as Luka stood and Nico’s body decomposed before us. Luka’s chest shuddered as if he was trying to keep from crying. Vampires didn’t breathe, so I knew he was struggling when I saw that.
“Luka Drake is the winner!” the announcer roared, and the crowd cheered wildly.
Luka blasted off the stage, passing me, and went out the double doors. Cassara stood, running after him and I wasn’t sure what to do.
I wanted to go after him too.
“That’s all we had scheduled for today. Final fights will be next week! We should have our king or queen crowned soon,” the announcer purred into the microphone and everyone applauded.
A stone sank in my gut. I couldn’t get Luka’s monstrous rage out of my head. Not that I judged him for such a thing, but that kind of rage came from some serious pain, and if he was in pain I wanted to be with him.
That was for my sister.
Tears lined my eyes and I stood, slipping out the double doors and getting lost in the commotion of the crowd. One good thing about my bond with Luka was that if I focused on it and opened to it, I always knew where to find him.
I turned down the hallway and then came upon a door that saidMen’s Locker Roomjust as Cassara was leaving. I slipped into an alcove, hiding as she called out behind her. “Okay, see you at dinner then, babe!”
A crowd of vampires walked past and I bent, pretending to tie my shoe near the vase that was in the alcove as Cassara and the other vampires all went down the hall and out of sight.
I stepped up to the door and pushed it open a few inches, peering inside. No one in sight. The sound of rushing water filled my ears.
Mistress. The dirty word infiltrated my brain and I considered it. I wanted Luka … bad. But I also wanted to save myself for my future husband. I wanted to be with a guy who wanted to be with me … publicly, and forever.
I opened myself to our bond, trying to see if he was better or still feeling raw after that fight. I wasn’t prepared for the grief that slammed into my chest, nearly bringing me to my knees. Tears pricked my eyelids as I felt what Luka must be feeling.
Family.
Loss.
Sorrow.
Shame.
Regret.
