Bucky finished applying the oil to my face and moved back as I took a step toward Brunok, crossing my arms over my chest. “I think it’s cute that you’re so insecure about fighting that you break the rules and use your power.”
“Did you just call me cute?” Brunok roared and lunged for me, but Donahue, who had been standing off to the side, jumped between us.
“One hit before the fight and you’re disqualified. You know the rules, Brunok. Save the fighting for the ring,” he snapped. Then he glanced over his shoulder at me. “Come on, Zane. You’re up first.”
I laughed then—an evil, unhinged laugh that caused Brunok to shift warily on his feet and look at me like I was sick in the head. I didn’t enjoy playing this role, but I’d do whatever it took to win. And a guy who could boil my organs was not someone I wanted to piss off without a plan. I’d have to take him by surprise and knock him out before he could even throw the first punch. The only way to do that was to mess with his head first.
“See you soon.” I winked and left the room.
Donahue trailed out after me. “That was either extremely stupid or very smart,” he told me as I made my way through the throng of fae toward the cage in the center of the room.
Inside the cage stood a large, bald fae with bright blue eyes, who I assumed was the Enforcer Donahue had mentioned before.He had a weathered look to him like he’d lived a rough life and a scar through one of his eyebrows that just narrowly missed his eye. Next to him was a scrawny little fighter, barely the size of a teenage boy but sporting a full-grown beard.
“I’m hoping for the latter,” I replied to Donahue and stepped into the cage as the amassed crowd roared with excitement.
Win the fights. Get the money.
Heal Nellie. Find Lorelei.
I was on a mission, and I wasn’t going to let anything stand in my way.
Chapter Ten
Zane
I’d won my first two fights within seconds. One punch to the side of their head or an uppercut to their jaw, and the scrawny fae had dropped like a stack of old books.
The crowd had cheered for the first two knockouts, but now they just looked bored. Donahue was probably annoyed that I wasn’t giving them more of a show, but I didn’t care. I was consumed with getting to Lorelei, and each fae I faced was just another obstacle I needed to defeat to reach her.
After defeating my third opponent almost as quickly as the first two, I was beginning to think I’d be out of here in less than a half hour. Then, the next fae entered the ring.
One I recognized.
The bastard who broke my wrist.
The crowd roared their approval as the large, muscular fae with short black hair sneered at me. He flexed his pec muscles, making them jump from left to right like some kind of ridiculous showman.
As much as I wanted to knock this fool out the second thebell rang, I needed to make him pay for what he did to me—and, ultimately, to Nellie. That sweet girl was lying in pain back at the inn because of him.
“Our next fight,” the Enforcer announced from his seat just outside the metal cage, his voice booming magically throughout the space, “is between the newcomer, Zane, and the legendary Hammer.”
Hammer?
I rolled my eyes. What a stupid name for a coward who tried to take me out of the fight rather than face me head-on.
“Feeling better, I see,” he growled, flicking his gaze toward my forearm.
“Oh, you have no idea how good I’m about to feel,” I shot back just as the bell rang.
Instead of going for my usual uppercut knockout, I kicked out my foot and landed a solid hit squarely in his chest.
He grunted, spittle flying from his mouth as he staggered backward. The crowd roared their approval.
“It looks like our newcomer is finally going to give us a show,” the Enforcer’s voice boomed around us as Hammer ran at me, eyes feral and hands up. He was ready to box, and I reminded myself how fast he could be.
Bring it, you slimy coward.
He might have bested me once, but I wasn’t about to let it happen again.
