Claiming His Chance (8 page)

I came with a loud moan, curling my torso to the side as every nerve ending fired at once. Cahill slowed, rolling his body into mine in a way that made me keen. Buried deep, he flexed his hips and pushed against my clit to drag out my pleasure. Just enough to keep me on edge, to make me feel ready for more, never pushing me too far. Never making me want him to stop. Every movement a tease of what else we could do. Of all that was possible to experience between us.

His hips soon lost their rhythm, his movements becoming uneven and quick. Three slides, five…body locking in place. He came with a groan, holding himself inside me, every muscle hard and tense for one beautiful moment. Then he relaxed, grunting softly as his thrusts turned shallow and slow, filling me with heat and wet and right. Keeping us joined under the sun as he began to explore my curves with his hands and mouth. Pushing my dress all the way up over my chest.

“I’m going to claim you right here,” he murmured, his lips trailing to my breast, just under my nipple.

“Soon,” I replied, my hand in his hair, holding him to me. Wishing we could give in now, could do what we wanted.

He slid out of me with a groan, rolling to the side with his arms wrapped around my back. Holding me close. And though I missed him being joined with me, I loved the feeling of his body wrapped around mine. So I sighed.

“You smell like me.”

He laughed softly, tickling my side with his wet fingers. “I taste like you too, I bet.”

Laughing, I reached up to wipe the moisture from his chin, not at all embarrassed. The sight more turn-on than anything else. That was me, us…proof of our connection and attraction. Evidence of how he knew what I wanted, how I needed him. He grinned as my fingers slid over his bottom lip, eyes bright, seeming happy and at peace. If only for a second. Because really, that was about all the time we had. Stolen minutes and hurried seconds that brought me to the highest heights of hope and promptly dropped me back down into despair.

“We have to go back soon,” I whispered, hating to break our little bubble but knowing Cahill would be missed if he disappeared for long.

His eyes darkened, his smile fading. “I know. Though I’d rather stay here with you—or rather, not here. On my mountain, where we can be protected by my pack and still find privacy.” He leaned down, pressing his lips to mine in a soul-searing kiss before he backed away to place his forehead against mine.

“Come home with me, Trinity.”

“Soon,” I said, smiling. Wishing we didn’t have to wait. Wanting him so much, my heart felt as if it were pushing against my ribs.

“Soon,” he whispered back, giving me one last kiss. That promise must have been enough for him. Seconds later, he hopped to his feet, not at all concerned by his nakedness. I wasn’t concerned by it either, though I did take the opportunity to really get an eyeful. Not that anyone could blame me. The man was gorgeous, robust and stunning in his skin. And he was mine.

Reaching down, he helped me to my feet. I wiggled and tugged, making sure my dress was back in place and covering me, not even bothering to look for my discarded panties.

“Ready?” he asked, smiling as I ran my palms over my ass one last time.

“I think so.”

“Good.” He yanked me up into his arms and then over his shoulder, smacking my ass hard once I was basically hanging off of him.

“What are you doing?” I screeched with a laugh.

“Carrying you back.” He took off at a jog, following the path I’d taken earlier.

“Well, aren’t you just a mountain Romeo.”

“Romeo was a tragic hero who died because of stupidity. I’m not about to follow in his footsteps.” He smacked my ass again, leaning in to bite my thigh as well. “I’m not wasting our forever on a misunderstanding. Not a fucking chance.”

T
he arena was packed
, humans yelling and screaming as the fight before mine came to a close. My stomach twisted, churning in an almost painful way. I absolutely loathed what I was about to do. Two more, just two more, and I’d have worked off the debt my pack had accrued. Two more, and then I could figure out how to get Trinity home with me. I could do this. I’d waited decades for her—a few more days was nothing. As long as we were in the same place, we’d be okay. I wouldn’t leave her behind as she waited for Piers to finish his term. I’d fight as many battles as needed to stay put.

And I’d win them…for her.

My mate was standing at the back tonight, farther away from the ring but close to where I waited. I liked her near me, even though we couldn’t touch or talk. Still, she was close enough to hear me if I spoke. Too bad we were surrounded by handlers and trainers.

Trinity was alone, something I wasn’t comfortable with. This place, these humans and the shifters, were too out of control. She needed someone with her just in case. I needed someone with her as well. Otherwise, my attention would never fully be on the fight I was about to be involved in. And that was a dangerous situation. Hopefully, Piers would be joining her soon, then I could relax a bit. Though I’d be happier if I were the one standing at her side, holding her hand, wrapping my arm around her.

She must have felt my eyes on her because she turned, meeting my gaze. That moment, the tiny turn up of the corner of her mouth in a smile, was worth more than anything else at that time. I cared for her, and I knew I’d grow to love her. We definitely had a future together, one I’d honor and cherish forever. One I couldn’t wait to begin.

But first, two more fights.

“Okay, Appalachia. You’re up next.”

I nodded to the handler, slipping my bite guard into my mouth and bouncing on the balls of my feet to keep my legs warmed up. I needed to get my head in the ring.

“We want a good fight with lots of time for people to bet. Do you hear me?” The handler grabbed my wrists, smacking my taped hands to make sure they were wrapped tightly enough. “I don’t care how easy the fight is, you drag it out. Though this one might be tougher to win, kid. We’re putting you up against one of our best.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I mumbled around the bite guard. “I’ll win.”

“If it means anything, my money’s on you.” He glanced over his shoulder as the announcer called for me. “They bet when there’s blood. Give me blood. Drag it out; I want to see your opponent in a lump on the floor when this is done.”

I nodded as Trinity again turned to me. By the sadness and disgust on her face, I knew she’d heard the handler. My stomach sank, and I wished I could wrap my arms around her, tell her how much I hated this, too. Make sure she understood what was at stake. She should never have been exposed to this world. She was too sweet, too soft for this life. Soon, I’d get her out of here and home with a pack who would care for her as much as I would. She’d love the mountains, love the freedom and beauty that came with living there. And she’d definitely love the quiet our sheltered packlands provided.

After one final glance her way, I headed toward the ring. I couldn’t think about her right now, not unless I wanted to lose the fight. I’d meet up with her later, talk her through what was said, explain how much I hated this and didn’t want to live a life so violent. I’d calm her down. But right now, I needed to focus, to concentrate. Fuck, these guys were vicious, the crowd bloodthirsty, but I’d give them what they wanted. Two more fights, and my devil’s due was paid. Two more, and I could begin a new life with Trinity.
Two more, two more, two more.

I swung up into the ring and bounced around, throwing punches at thin air. With every beat of my heart, I repeated my mantra in my head.
Two more. Two more.

“And going up against our mountain man is one of our winningest new fighters. A man without a past. Our very own Tidal.”

I swung my last punch, almost losing my balance.
No.
It couldn’t be. But when I turned, there was Piers, stepping into the ring. Mouthguard in place, hands taped like mine. Ready for battle. And looking at me like he wished I’d just disappear.

“What the fuck?” I hissed when he was close enough to hear.

He shook his head. “I know, man. But this is the draw. I didn’t have time to track you down once they said who I was fighting tonight.”

I looked over his shoulder into the crowd, spotting Trinity with ease. She stood in the back still, eyes wide and filled with fear. I couldn’t do this to her. I couldn’t hurt her cousin, and yet if I didn’t, he’d end up hurting me. Blood would be spilled on the mat tonight no matter what…mine or her cousin’s. I had no idea what would be worse for her to bear.

“At least it’s not a fight to the death,” Piers mumbled.

I nodded, keeping my eyes on Trinity. “She’s not going to take this well.”

“Understatement. Pretty sure we’re fucked.”

“Sounds about right.”

The bell rang for the fight to begin. I tore my eyes away from my panicked mate, wishing there was something I could do to comfort her. But there was nothing. If I didn’t fight, I’d have to stay longer. If I lost, I’d have to stay longer. If I beat Piers, he’d have to stay longer. It was a complete no-win situation.

Piers and I bounced and circled, neither taking the first swing. The crowd grew quieter, their cheers turning to yelled profanities and calls for blood. Even the handlers and trainers looked ready to blast us for not fighting. But I couldn’t attack him, and he knew my fighting style well enough not to attack me. We were at a crossroads neither of us wanted to take.

Finally, Piers huffed and moved closer. “The bosses are going to make us fight more matches if we don’t give them what they want.”

Two more.

I glanced up at Trinity as we swung around the floor. “I know.”

“So let’s do this…for real.” And then he swung.

T
he crowd erupted
as Piers blasted my mate with a punch to the jaw. My stomach twisted at the sight of Cahill’s head spinning to the side. As he wiped the blood from his jaw and zeroed in on Piers, my heart raced and I couldn’t catch my breath. I didn’t even know where to look, which man to focus on. The noise bouncing around the concrete arena only added to my disorientation. My mate and my cousin, in the ring. I was sure Piers had gotten the same message as Cahill—make it bloody, make it last.

I was going to be sick.

“Kill him! Knock his teeth out.”

The humans screamed things made up of my nightmares. I gripped the wall, needing it to stay on my feet. I hated to watch, didn’t want to see, but I couldn’t look away. I hated to even blink. Piers and Cahill were at war, and there was nothing I could do to stop them. Nothing I could do to make it all end.

The fight seemed to last for hours. The humans around me grew louder and more violent as the minutes passed. With every punch, every kick, every speck of blood that flew in the air or dripped down skin, my temperature dropped. I was shaking, shivering from a cold emanating from within. One formed of pure and utter terror.

As the fight went on, the hits grew harder. The sounds louder and more sickening. On a turn around the backside of the ring, Cahill threw a quick jab with his left, then struck hard with his right. Piers stumbled back, spinning face first into the chain link fence caging them in from the force of the brutal hit. Even from where I stood, I saw the striations in his eyes go red, saw the edge of his hairline darken with the shadow of scales. As the crowd screamed, I saw our world begin to crumble.

“No,” I whispered, stepping away from the wall. Not now, not when we were so close to escaping. Not in front of all these humans, for God’s sake, and especially not when he was fighting my mate. But it was too late, the beast within had taken over. Piers roared an almost inhuman sound that reverberated through the arena. The crowd cheered louder, having no idea what was to come. Cahill took a step back, eyes locked on Piers, probably seeing the same changes I did. He was focused and attentive, but he didn’t understand. He didn’t know the truth. He couldn’t possibly have any idea what was about to happen. How bad things were about to get.

With no warning, Piers leaped into the air. Black claws ripped through the tape on his hands, something I could only pray the humans didn’t notice. The handlers and trainers raced for the ring, probably having seen the same thing and knowing they needed to end the fight. Not that I thought they’d make it in time. I’d seen my cousin shift a thousand times, knew what to look for and what was expected, knew his speed and strength. The spectators, trainers, handlers, and Cahill didn’t.

Hopefully, none of the humans had any idea the man jumping at my mate was about to shift into a dragon.

Piers landed directly in front of Cahill, too fast for my mate to back away. The cold spread all the way through me, leaving me frozen in place, unable to approach the ring. I stood helpless as Piers brought his hands down and thrust them forward with the momentum of his jump, hitting Cahill square in the chest. The thud, the crack of broken bones, the deep, angry sound of what could very well be death would be a noise I never forgot. One that would haunt me, no matter the outcome.

I watched as Cahill’s eyes rolled, as his entire body seemed to fold in on itself. As he fell onto his back on the ring floor. As he didn’t move.

The crowd took a deep, collective breath, a single, odd moment of utter silence, before it erupted in screams even louder than before. But for once, I didn’t care about the volume. I stood as still as a statue, staring at Cahill’s motionless form, silently praying to the gods and the fates that he’d move. That he’d stand up. That he’d breathe.

As the medics rushed the ring, Piers turned to me, still fully human, his defeated posture drawing my attention. The sadness, the fear in his eyes was more than enough for me to understand. He’d lost control, he’d almost shifted, and his dragon had eliminated what he saw as a threat.

His dragon, a beast more powerful than any wolf could ever hope to be, had very possibly just stopped my mate’s heart and killed him on contact.