“No, no, please. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please don’t—”
I held the blade up high so everyone would see. The crowd gasped, anxious for the severing stroke.
“She’s chosen me over you.” I brought the cleaver down hard. His scream of pain pierced the air and rent the darkening sky. Cheers went up from the spectators.
The hand pulled away cleanly. I rose and grabbed it by the fingers, lifting it above my head as his agonized screams fed the bloodthirsty crowd. Then I tossed it down into the grass like a piece of garbage.
“Oh ho-ho, Sinclair came to play.” Cal gave me an elaborate bow from his platform. “Well done.”
Stella’s father screamed again before huddling over his maimed limb and rocking back and forth. Satisfaction welled inside me, though I knew Stella wouldn’t approve.
“Amazing. Ladies and gents, give Stella’s father a hand!” Cal laughed, practically screaming at his own joke.
I leaned down so only her father could hear me. “That was a small price to pay for betraying her. I almost hope she loses again so I can finish the job.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
STELLA
ROUGH HANDS DRAGGED ME back into the stone walls of the fort. I kept my eyes closed even as they dropped me on the hard floor. Footsteps clacked along the stones, and then I was doused with freezing water. I opened my eyes and sputtered, no acting necessary.
Sophia stood above me, hands on her hips. “Sit up.”
I struggled to a sitting position, my body aching, my face especially.
She knelt and wrinkled her nose in distaste before waving the attendants away. “You will win this.”
I stared at her, unsure of what sort of pep talk this was.
She grabbed my chin, her nails digging into me. “You will win this.” Her voice was a threatening whisper, her eyes malevolent. “Sinclair will be the next Sovereign with me at his side. If you fail me, the consequences will be beyond your worst nightmares.”
I laughed and spit in her face. “Get the fuck out of here.”
“You little bitch!” She screamed as if I’d burned her, and wiped my bloody spit from her cheek. “Sinclair will hear about this.”
I shrugged, the simple movement sending shooting pains down my spine. “Yeah, go ahead and tell him I think you’re a cunt while you’re at it.”
She raised her hand to strike me, but paused as I stared her down. She was beautiful, her face a perfect oval, her eyes dark and sultry, her lips an indulgent red pout. My hands itched to destroy all of it.
She seemed to rethink the idea of hitting me, and dropped her hand. “I’ll make sure you regret that.”
“Put it on my fucking tab.” I would fight to the death to keep Teddy safe, but this bitch would never be a part of that calculus. She was just a grasping climber, trying to hang on to the man she saw as the next Sovereign.
I looked past her and saw Brianne leaning against the wall by the door, her eyes closed. Sophia rose and stormed away, her heels echoing on the cold stone.
“Brianne?” I crawled over to her.
We would have to fight. One of us would lose. I clenched my eyes shut. The knowledge that more blood would be on my hands made the room spin. My actions to protect Gavin’s sister had led to this, but was I strong enough to follow through and let my father meet his fate?
A scream sounded, followed by the roar from the crowd overhead, loud enough to make it through the heavy doors and thick walls.
She mumbled and didn’t open her eyes.
“Brianne?” I got to my knees in front of her and stroked her hair from her face.
Mr. Tablet walked up behind me. “Let’s go. It’s time.”
“She can’t go again. Look at her.”
A shooting pain in my ribs took my breath away. I fell to my hip. Mr. Tablet had kicked me.
He tried to grab my hair, but he was slow. I shot my legs out and sent him toppling over. Wrath coated every one of my senses as I climbed on top of him, pinning his arms to his sides with my knees. I nailed him with a right, breaking his nose as he screamed. I hit him again and again, my aching fists making fleshy sounds against his pudgy face.
Two other attendants grabbed my arms and ripped me off him, though I got in a good kick to his ribs before they threw me to the floor next to Brianne. My ass hit the ground hard, and a shooting pain tore up my back.
One of the attendants opened the door.
“Bring them out. We’re ready for the bitches to go at it.” Cal’s irritated voice filled the air.
I got to my feet again as an attendant yanked Brianne up by her arm.
She flailed for a moment and opened her eyes. She looked everywhere, but seemed to see nothing. Despite her reticence, she fell into step with her attendant, and we walked out onto the muddy grass.