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Hayley’s gaze was distracted by a flash of light glinting off something metallic at the back of the room. Her eyes widened, and her heart raced. Diadora was here. What in the hell was she doing here? How did she know Hayley was involved in this? She must have discovered something was wrong when both Vegas and Hayley went missing.

Hayley grimaced as she continued to stare at her. Maybe she’d forced the information out of Nell. If Diadora knew about this, what else did she know? Panic flared in Hayley’s chest, and she lowered her hands.

“Look out,” Elias yelled.

Hayley screamed as sharp teeth sunk into her arm. Princess Isolt had used her lack of focus to clamp her teeth down hard. Damn it, that hurt. Hayley kicked at the princess. “Get off me, bitch.”

Princess Isolt’s gaze looked feral as she dug her teeth in harder.

Hayley slammed her fist into the side of the princess’s head. “I said, get the hell off me.” She kicked and punched until Princess Isolt let go and staggered backwards.

Hayley backed away, gripping her bitten arm and feeling the blood trickle down to the elbow and drip to the ground.

Sickness roiled inside her, and Hayley felt faint. She couldn’t win this. She’d gotten in a few lucky blows but couldn’t keep up this pretense. Just like the rest of her life, everything she did was built on a lie. She’d lied to get this job; she’d lied to her sister when she’d promised she’d help her get well. And now she was here, lying to everyone, trying to convince them she was able to defeat Princess Isolt and save Elias.

She should concede defeat. Hayley was no match against that bitch’s teeth. Her shoulders sank as she looked at Elias. His gaze was fixed on her, the worry clear on his face as he looked at her injured arm.

He nodded at her as if letting her know it was okay to give up; he understood. He’d told her to concede before she’d even begun this fight, knowing deep down she had no chance of winning.

She looked at Princess Isolt and saw a smug smile on her face. Screw that. Hayley wouldn’t be defeated. She couldn’t let this princess have Elias. If she did, he would die slowly and painfully. Hayley wouldn’t be able to live with that thought every day. This was her one chance to do something right, to do something for the good of somebody else. To stand up for what she truly believed in and get something that would turn her world upside down in the most incredible way.

Hayley pulled her shoulders back, blocked out her worries, and stared down Princess Isolt.

“Are you ready to concede?” Princess Isolt smirked as she looked at Hayley’s injured arm and licked her lips.

“That’s funny. I was going to ask you the same thing.” Hayley stood her ground as Princess Isolt charged toward her. At the last second, she pulled back her right fist and punched Princess Isolt straight between the eyes.

Chapter 26

Elias’s eyes widened. Everything happened in slow motion as Princess Isolt rebounded off Hayley’s fist. Blood spurted across her face as the audible crack of bone breaking filled the room. Then Princess Isolt was falling, her arms pin wheeling as she fell to the ground.

For a second, nobody spoke. Hayley stood staring at the princess’s bloody face, her breath panting out of her and her fists clenched and blood-stained.

The silence was broken by the outraged squeal of Princess Isolt as she squirmed on the floor, blood leaking from her broken nose and her eyes already puffing shut. “Kill her! Somebody arrest her. How dare she attack a member of the Retar royal family? She is a common criminal. She has no legal claim over my Retar.”

Dathos stood and cleared her throat. “That is not true, Princess. Our laws state anyone can lay claim over a male Retar, providing they go through the appropriate channels and make their formal claim known. Hayley has done just that. She submitted her claim, stated her valid reasons for the claim, and engaged in combat with you as the other claimant. She is within her legal right to own this Retar.”

Elias wanted to shout with delight. He was elated. Hayley had won. She owned him. He was entirely hers, and he’d give himself to her willingly.

Princess Isolt continued to roll around on the ground, making inhuman noises, her fury turning her into a rabid animal.

Hayley backed up a few steps, her attention still fixed on Princess Isolt. She held her bitten arm close to her chest. Elias was deathly worried about the bite she’d received. It had been a vicious attack. He wasn’t certain what had distracted Hayley from the fight and allowed Princess Isolt to bite her.

“Princess Isolt, calm yourself,” Dathos said. “I must ask you the formal question. Do you concede your claim over Elias?”

Elias sucked in a breath, and his happiness died. Of course, Princess Isolt had yet to concede her claim. If she was angry enough, she might continue her fight. Despite the fact she would be almost blind from her puffy eyes and the blood on her face, she could be insane enough to carry this on and force Hayley to keep fighting.

Princess Isolt struggled to her knees and spat blood on the floor. “Have him. I concede my claim. This Retar is not worth it. You have secured a pathetic specimen and will be as disappointed as I was when I had him. Take your second-hand Retar. I hope he makes you miserable.”

Hayley turned and grinned at Elias. “I’m sure he won’t. I have a feeling this second-hand Retar will make me ridiculously happy.”

Dathos nodded. “The claim has been settled. Hayley Goodacre, your claim is valid and successful. Elias is yours.”

Elias’s heart swelled as Hayley ran over to him. She released the ties on his arms and grabbed his hand. His gaze went to her injured arm, and he winced. “You must seek treatment. That is a deep bite.”

“As is yours,” Hayley said. “I’m surprised you’re still standing, given the amount of blood on your clothes.”

“I will recover. It’s not my first Retar bite.” He cupped her face in his hands. “You were incredible. You are a magnificent fighter.”