There isn’t an alpha among them, and I cannot fathom what these guys are thinking. Fuck, Kaige doesn’t even need totouchhis opponent to be able to steal his strength and turn it against him. Still, despite being well-aware of that knowledge, these three strangers are confident enough in their abilities that they’re willing to take the risk, to put their lives on the line simply for a chance.
I’m a terrible person, because the flattery apparently decided to bypass my head and settle between my legs instead, and I mentally side-eye my counterpart.
Stop getting such a kick out of this. The guys could get seriously hurt or evendie.
“Don’t be dramatic, they’re not going to die. Besides the obvious, Acheron is using it as an excuse to assess their current skill level as well as torment them since each of their challengers are from their respective packs. It’s a dick move, one to instill discord so that their packs aren’t going to be so easily swayed to join us and turn on him. He’s the king of multitasking, and nothing he does is without at least a handful of reasons.”
With more enthusiasm, she adds,“But it’s going to blow up in his face, and I for one am going to savor every moment of it.”
How so?
“Because he didn’t consider that you took away the guilt that was torturing Damian and Hunter. That was the foundation that set the course for Acheron being able to exploit, torment, and control them. He could anticipate how they’d act in any given situation because of who they were at their core. Now, they’re as much of wild cards as you are.”
And Kaige?
She begins to grow restless, writhing around beneath my skin and sending a shiver down my spine.“Think about it. The Kaige Acheron knew went zero to one hundred, and that was while his demon was still confined. Even Ash doesn’t know how he’ll behave now that his demon’s free, at odds with his naturally sympathetic nature as he faces his friend in a match to the death, hence him testing the waters by arranging this. And the best part? Neither do I.That’sthrilling, and provides more hope for us actually being able to kill him than anything else.”
“They’re banking on their pride keeping them from using their abilities, aren’t they?”
Leo rests his arms on his knees, leaning forward to watch them intently. “Possibly. Might also think they’re quick enough draws they can afford the risk.”
“Wait, weapons? That’s not fair!”
His grin splits his face. “All’s fair in love and war, Sabrina. You going to try to tell me you wouldn’t take a cheap shot if that’s all that stood between you and getting what you wanted? Especially if it was to protect someone that you loved?”
Scowling, I run my gaze over the strangers more critically, searching for any lumps in their clothes or twitching of fingers that might indicate their intent. “Fair point.” As I scan them another time, I ask, “How do they know when to start?”
I jolt, nearly dropping the bag of chips in my hand as he shouts, “Fight!”
The resounding crash has me wincing as bodies collide, and I’m pretty sure a few bones fractured upon that initial impact. I really should have anticipated that they wouldn’t use their abilities; all of the signs were there. Hell, Kaige decided to make a show of me coming on his face in front of a handful of frat boys that weren’t even a threat, merely annoying. They live to toy with people, to flex the fact that I’m theirs and rub it in people’s faces whenever they get the opportunity. They aren’t going to end this in two seconds like they could, they’re going to make a point so that it doesn’t happen again.
Of all of them, Kaige’s match? Brutal is an understatement. It’s an all-out attempt to cave the other’s face in, a savage display that has blood flying, ribs breaking, and a sick thrill running through me despite my concern about how this is going to mess with all of their heads.
Clearly, I need therapy.
“Like a therapist wouldn’t commit you the second you opened your mouth,”she says with a snort and reluctantly, my lip twitches as a little of the guilt is shed from my shoulders.
Beside me, Leo commandeers my chips and is snacking away with delighted enthusiasm as he watches the carnage unfold before us. “Fuck, I didn’t know Kincaid had it in him.”
Following his line of sight, I witness the cold, stoic mask he’s wearing crack as something Damian’s opponent said slips through his defenses. Immediately afterward, in a series of precise movements, Damian breaks the guy’s wrist and drags him closer, whispering something in the man’s ear before releasing him, only to palm both sides of his head. A second later, there’s a sickening crack echoing across the clearing as he snaps the man’s neck. Two minutes and a whispered threat; that’s all it took for Damian to kill a man he’s known his entire life, and there isn’t a trace of remorse on his face.
Skimming down the line to where Hunter is dodging strikes with graceful precision, I bite the inside of my cheek. Acheron really does think that this is all a game, treating people’s lives as worthless despite his righteous claims of freeing his kind. He has his sights set on every step between him and the finish line, choosing the most wandering, convoluted path simply to enjoy the ride that much longer. I don’t havenearlythe same amount of patience.
I’m getting pretty tired of taking every blow life throws my way, and think it’s past time to throw a few hits back.
