Page 2 of Born Savage

All while smashing the club against the other Savage’s face and shoulders, enjoying how he dropped to his knees, hovering as if between life and death.

The crowd was suddenly silent, every person on their feet. I wiped blood and brains from my face before lifting my weapons toward the open arena once again. Neither were dead as was the requirement, but there was nothing wrong with obtaining crowd interaction.

With a heavy stomp of their boots, the storm of anger and joy flowed through the arena, thousands cheering while others were uncertain how to react.

Even King Washburn was on his feet, gripping the railing before him. He didn’t quite know what to make of me.

He’d learn soon enough.

As I turned, I did so with all the pomp and circumstance due the moment. After that, I issued the killing blows.

And the crowd went wild.

A victory lap was deserved, which I did with a smile on my face. When I passed the open doorway, I glanced at the two contestants waiting their turn.

The smile remained, their nods in approval as well as acknowledgment they were ready.

Another game, only one in which we controlled the rules.

I returned to the spot in front of the king, waiting for his pardon, granting me life. As he sauntered forward, I sensed the queen looking on with curiosity. Perhaps she was wondering where she’d seen me before. Well, I did have that kind of face.

As the king approached, I gave into the protocol, lowering my head as if I gave a damn about him or his stolen kingdom.

“You did very well,” he stated, studying me as one would do a bothersome rat. When I said nothing, he moved behind me, unlocking the shock collar. “You are well liked, an asset. What say you that instead of exiling you from my kingdom, I provide you with an opportunity to serve me.”

“Doing what?” I gritted out, keeping my voice low.

“Protection detail. I could use a man with cunning and brains instead of the mindless twits serving me now. You would be provided with your own quarters, and an occasional concubine for your loyalty.”

Concubine.

Women were nothing but objects in his kingdom, shiny possessions that had value because of their beauty and nothing else. The man was a true pig. I curtailed a smile from the thought.

Once the collar was free, I took a deep breath and waited until the great monarch returned to standing in front of me. As I lifted my head once again, I finally allowed a smile. This was the moment I’d been waiting for, the gravitational pull that had filled my nightmares, fueled my need for revenge.

The moment when the past and the future collided, presenting a reminder that with all acts of treachery, there were consequences. No matter how long I had to wait.

In locking eyes with his, in sharing with him a closer look at the man I’d become, I could slowly see the conflict of recognition.

A perfect invitation for what was about to occur. “Liberty is never more than one generation away from extinction.”

A private thought shared between friends, a private moment of discussion between colleagues, and a memory that would only be known by a single surviving member of a family thought dead and buried.

As hoped, his reaction was slow.

Mine wasn’t.

With a single step backward, I raised my sword.

“For my father.”

CHAPTER 1

City of Lights, formerly New York

Months later…

Star