I scanned the room. There was a giant barred cage in the center of the space with an open top. The sides rose about eight feet— something I could easily scale and jump over if I had to.
Fae of all class levels pushed against the bars, jockeying for a good vantage point. Some were dressed in fine silks and velvet top hats, while others wore rugged clothing half-marred in soot.
There were quite a few females down here, something I hadn’t expected. They were dressed nicely, too. Wives of some of the other attendees? Or just ladies who enjoyed a good brawl?
As I looked around, I noticed that everyone had a red ticket clutched in their hand.
“Their betting cards,” Donahue told me as he strode forward, passing a makeshift bar where drinks were being served.
“I bet a lot of money on you, handsome,” a female fae said as I passed. She held up her red ticket, and I saw my name on it withthe wordsfive goldwritten below. “Make me proud.” She blew me a kiss.
Donahue grinned. “Win tonight, and you can have your pick of the ladies.”
“Not interested. Is that the prize money?” I asked, glancing over my shoulder at the ornate box in Malek’s hands as he followed closely behind us.
Donahue raised an eyebrow at me. “Yes.”
“And what about my dagger?” I asked.
“In the box as well,” Donahue said. “And my associate will be heavily guarding both the prize money and the dagger until a winner is declared.”
I looked back at Malek again, and transferring the box to one hand, he raised the other. Razor-sharp icicles ending in deadly points formed on his fingertips, showcasing his magic.
A Winter fae?I wondered. His magic reminded me of Isolde.
“I’m not going to steal it,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “I just have plans after this, and I need to get on the road quickly.”
Donahue nodded just as we reached the door. “Very well. If you win, we will split the winnings, and you can be on your way.”
“When I win,” I corrected him.
Stryker was probably the best among my brothers in hand-to-hand combat. He loved bare-knuckle fights the most, saying it made him feel alive, but I was second to him in skill. Growing up with four brothers—and as an Ethereum lord—I’d learned a thing or two about fighting.
Donahue grinned. “I like that confidence. You’ll need it.”
Opening the door, he motioned for me to enter ahead ofhim. A few other fighters were sitting on benches, getting their hands wrapped.
A male attendant with shaggy brown hair who looked barely sixteen approached and introduced himself as Bucky. He smiled at me and his large front two teeth stuck out over his lip, giving me a hint as to how he got his name. He insisted on wrapping my hands for me, even though I told him it wasn’t necessary. I was glad I didn’t argue, though—his wrapping technique was excellent.
As Bucky finished my second hand, my gaze flicked over to the other fighters. Their attendants were rubbing oil on their faces so that punches would slide off. The other fighters were at least a head shorter than me and much leaner. I almost felt bad that we’d be paired up.
Bucky was applying oil to my face when a hulking male stepped into the room.
His shaved head sat atop a wide, meaty neck lined with thickly corded veins. He scanned the room until his black-eyed gaze landed on me—and held.
Just then, I felt a rush of heat flood through my body, and my eyes widened.
Is this Brunok? Is he using his power on me?But as soon as I thought it, the heat vanished.
“Brunok!” One of the scrawny fighters ran over to fawn over the larger male, showering him with compliments.
I eyed Brunok. He wasn’t the one who had tried to break my wrist, but there was something decidedly evil in his gaze as he continued to glare at me.
According to my brother Stryker, half of the fight was mental. So, I grinned maniacally back at Brunok and slowly stood.
His expression faltered as I stretched to my full height, my overly cheery grin seeming to unsettle him.
“What’s so funny?” he called out to me.
