He stalks over to Grey and thrusts his hand out. “Here.”
Grey covers his surprise quickly and takes the blade carefully from Jet’s outstretched palm. He runs his thumb along the edge. “Silver-coated?”
“Can’t have you getting killed by fucking FBs.” Jet scowls. “I’m not taking the blame from the hunter council because of your idiocy.”
“Of course,” Grey answers quickly, and I catch the smile he tries to hide. It’s his own funeral. But I do feel better now thathe has that knife. Jet’s right, we’d get the fucking blame even though Grey insisted on joining us.
More crowd noise, this time boos mixed in with the cheers, meaning a fight just ended. My heart sinks to my stomach, every bone in my body telling me we just ran out of time.
I catch Beth’s eye and nod. “Go.”
MORGAN
“Surprised?” Evan Fox twirls a wicked-looking knife in one hand as I’m thrown to the floor of thefight ring.In reality, it’s just a rough roped-off circle in the middle of the clearing. There are more people than I was expecting, those at the back standing on whatever they’ve brought with them to get a better view.
Fox glares at me, expecting an answer, but fuck him. I’m too busy trying to block out the noise, to rein in the super senses threatening to overwhelm me.
“Take his cuffs off,” he orders, and I’m grabbed again, hands yanking me up as someone unlocks the silver-coated handcuffs burning my wrists.
The relief is immediate. I hadn’t realised the effect they had on me until it’s not there anymore. Everything becomes clearer, sharper. I sit back on my heels and look around. Hungry faces line the edges of the circle, eager for blood. I’ve never been a fan of violence, always firmly in therun awaycamp. But these people have come to watch me bleed, maybe die, and there’s a part of me that wants to invite them in the ring to try it themselves if they’re so fucking eager.
“If you’re thinking you can escape,” Fox croons, “that it’s only rope and a few humans between you and freedom...” He pulls something from his pocket and grins.
“Arrghhh.” It’s half roar, half scream as the shock collar lights me up. My vision blurs, teeth grinding together as pain, hot and sharp, explodes through me. Something tugs deep in my belly. I know what it is, but Ican’t.
“And I’m not the only one with ones of these.”
I lift my head to see him pointing to the side. The two hunters who came with him to the compound stand there, arms folded, watching. I can’t see Birch anywhere, though, not that it matters. As I slowly push myself to my feet, I notice the blood already mixed with the dirt and grass on the ground. Smell it, too.
Luke.
I didn’t see or sense any other shifters as they marched me to the ring, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t here. Maybe they take them elsewhere after they’ve fought. He can’t be dead. He just fuckingcan’t.
“Where is he?” I ask, even though I know I shouldn’t. Shouldn’t let Fox know that I give a shit. “Where’s Luke?”
Fox tilts his head, as though he has to think to remember who I mean. Then he shrugs. “He lost. You won’t be seeing him again.” Laughter ripples through the crowd, crawling under my skin.
I turn and snarl at them. A telltale tingle starts in my jaw, surprising me enough to gain some control.
“Shall we?” Fox throws his blade from hand to hand, that stupid fucking smile on his face. He’s got more knives strapped to his thighs and body. I’d bet my life they’re all coated with silver.
I’ve got nothing.
I hold out my hands. “Hardly a fair fight.”
Fox laughs, some of the crowd joining in. “You’ve got your own weapons.” He cocks his head again, gaze travelling over me slow and predatory. It makes my skin crawl. “You can’t shift, can you?”
I don’t react. Refuse to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’s right.
“New shifters struggle the first few times.” He comes closer, voice dropping to barely more than a whisper. “Might have to give you a little incentive.” He gestures a hand behind him at the blood-hungry crowd. “Got to give them what they paid for.” He darts forward, fast and smooth, slicing the knife over my forearm.
It burns.
Oh god,it fucking burns like liquid fire on my skin.What the fuck?
“Aconite.” Fox laughs. “Stings like a bitch, right?”
I want to wipe the smug expression of his stupid fucking face. No wonder Callum was in so much pain after Fox threw that dagger at him. This is a scratch in comparison, but it’s all I can focus on.
