Chapter Twenty
Mary stared into the eyes of the manic-looking Arkadian currently pointing at Rykaur.
She couldn’t believe the giant had challenged Rykaur to fight.
Her heart hammered in fear and more than a little disbelief. Surely Rykaur would decline to fight the barbarian?
The room had once again grown completely quiet as everyone waited to see what Rykaur would do.
And of course, he did exactly as Mary feared he would.
“Zaureth?” Rykaur called out, leading Mary to the healer’s side. “Take care of her for me.”
Mary panicked the second Rykaur walked away from her. “Wait!”
Rykaur stilled but kept his back to her. “Stay with Zaureth. He will see that no harm comes to you.”
“Please don’t do this,” Mary pleaded to no avail, watching in helplessness as Rykaur sauntered into the arena, peeling off his vest as he went.
Her terrified gaze followed his every movement, watching as the muscles rippled along his massive back. The tattoos adorning his arms and shoulders only added to his fierceness.
Rykaur stopped in front of the Arkadian, pulled his hair back into a ponytail, and lifted the corner of his mouth. “You should have chosen more wisely, pale one. As the humans say, I am about to kick your ass.”
Mary pushed her way through the crowd, ignoring Zaureth’s insistence that she stay against the wall. Rykaur was fighting what could only be described as a beast of a Bracadyte, and there was no way she would cower back like a frightened kitten. No, she would stand by his side the way he’d stood by hers.
A bell rang, signaling the fight to begin.
Pyre jumped first, slamming a fist against Rykaur’s jaw with the force of a truck.
Blood sprayed through the air, eliciting cheers from the bloodthirsty crowd of Bracadytes surrounding them.
Rykaur’s head had snapped to the side from the powerful blow, but his feet remained rooted to the floor.
He slowly brought his head around, spat blood at the Arkadian’s feet, and grinned. “As I said, you should have picked another.”
With lightning speed, Rykaur’s huge arm snapped out, his fist shattering Pyre’s nose. Blood exploded from the orifice, and both the Arkadian’s hands flew up to cover the bleeding appendage. He staggered back but managed to stay on his feet.
Rykaur struck again, this time nailing his opponent’s chin.
Pyre staggered back another step before shaking off the blow’s effects and returning to his original fighting stance.
Tears of terror filled Mary’s eyes as she stood on the sidelines, watching the fight grow to brutal lengths.
The sounds of bone connecting with bone echoed off the walls of the training room, the two warriors painting the floor with each other’s blood.
A savage smile suddenly appeared on Rykaur’s face, his fangs dripping crimson from the blood of his injuries.
Something flickered in Pyre’s eyes. Whether fear or pain, Mary couldn’t be sure.
A roar burst from Rykaur, a vicious sound that damn near stopped Mary’s heart.
She watched in stunned silence as Rykaur’s knees bent slightly, his huge body blasting through the air and his leg kicking out to connect with Pyre’s face.
The Arkadian’s head snapped back on his shoulders, and his legs folded beneath him. He was out cold before his back touched the floor.
Mary took a step toward Rykaur, pride filling her heart when a voice in the back, stopped her.
“Rykaur!”
Turning in the direction of the voice, Mary’s mouth went dry with fear. There, pushing his way through the crowd, was the biggest Bracadyte she’d seen yet. He had to be over seven feet tall, with a chest the size of a refrigerator. His white hair hung loose about his shoulders and his amber-colored eyes burned with confrontation.
Rykaur wiped the blood from his mouth and faced the giant with a calmness that belied his exhausted state. “Zyen.”
“I challenge you,” Zyen growled, flipping his hair back in a taunting manner.
Nausea rolled through Mary at the thought of Rykaur fighting the giant. “Please don’t do this.”
Rykaur mentally answered without breaking eye contact with Zyen. “It will be all right, Mary. Have Zaureth take you to our apartment. I will be done here soon.”
It wasn’t lost on her that he’d referred to his apartment as theirs. “I’m begging you not to do this.”
“I challenge you, Zyen.” The loud proclamation reverberated inside Mary’s head, jerking her attention to the part forming in the crowd.
Melvin, the ex-CIA agent Mary had met earlier stepped into the arena, wearing fatigues and mirrored Ray-Bans. He began unbuttoning his shirt.
Zyen’s eyes glittered with something dark, something Mary had only seen once before…in Doug Jefferies.
Mary held her breath as Rykaur stood immobile, facing off with the blond Arkadian.
“He’s mine,” Melvin demanded, tossing his shirt somewhere behind him. He took off his sunglasses and handed them to Mary. “Keep these safe.”
Rykaur wondered what the Arkadian had done to warrant Melvin’s ire. “Are you certain?”
“Do not leave,” Zyen growled to Rykaur. “You are next.”
Rykaur merely smiled. “I am counting on it.”
Mary inched over to give Rykaur some room. He squeezed in beside her, his attention on the crazy ex-CIA agent about to get his ass handed to him.
The bell rang, signaling the fight to begin.
Mary could do nothing but stand there and watch along with the rest of the crowd as the barbaric game began once more.
The Arkadian stood a head above Melvin. And though the agent was bigger than the average man, there was no way he could match the Bracadyte in strength.
Zyen moved first, jumping at Melvin with a quickness that surprised Mary. But Melvin was faster, sidestepping the Bracadyte and slapping him on the back of his head.
Laughter erupted inside the training room, further pissing the Bracadyte off. He roared his rage, spun around, and charged Melvin once again.
Melvin sprang into the air, vaulted over the giant’s head, and kicked him in the butt.
Spittle sprayed from Zyen’s mouth, so great was his fury. He quickly righted himself and turned to face the agent. “Why do you not fight!”
Melvin rolled his shoulders. “Perhaps if I had a worthy opponent.”
Mary could practically feel the rage radiating from Zyen. His eyes were manic and unfocused. He stalked slowly forward until he was at arm’s length from Melvin. “You will die.”
Melvin struck with the speed of a snake, his knuckles extended away from his hand to connect with Zyen’s exposed throat.
The massive giant dropped to his knees, his eyes huge with disbelief. A whistling sound came from his throat with every breath he attempted to take.
Melvin showed no mercy. He kicked out with his leg, his booted foot slamming into the Bracadyte’s chin.
Mary watched in amazement as the blond giant’s eyes rolled back in his head and his body went limp.
The dark-haired agent merely stepped forward, collected his Ray-Bans from Mary, and sauntered from the room without a word.