She opened her mouth to argue, but he shoved her toward the arena. “Get in the ring or forfeit. Now.”

She stumbled forward, fear making her feet leaden and her muscles loose and rebellious. The varcolai stayed behind as she stepped over a raised lip that separated the grated metal from the sand. A light flared above her, trapping her in a blinding circle. The crowd exploded, chanting words she was glad she couldn’t understand. The impact of what was about to happen crushed her chest like a falling building. She focused on the only thing she could see, the sand, and tried to shut everything else out. The sand was soft and white as sugar. The tiny grains sparkled like little stars. Like diamonds.

Like Mal’s eyes when he was angry.

She closed her eyes. What would Mal do in this situation? He’d fight until he dropped. Until he had nothing left. Just like when he’d been in the Pits. She nodded to herself. That’s what she’d do, too, if her plan didn’t work. No one would be able to say she hadn’t given it her best shot.

And Doc would know that she’d died loving him enough to lay it all on the line.

With a fresh boom of noise, the crowd’s chanting broke through her thoughts. She looked up, peering through the light.

Heaven walked toward her from the far side of the arena. Even from a hundred feet away, Fi could see her jumpsuit fit like haute couture, her hair and makeup flawless, her combat boots shiny. As the spotlight above her came to life, she stopped, raised her hands, and waved to the crowd. They cheered back.

Fi felt like the girl who hadn’t made the pep squad all over again. Not that she’d ever really wanted to be a cheerleader. They were all so shallow. And slutty. Anger overtook fear. Why was she scared of this prissy little Brazilian chick? So what if she had the wardrobe that Fi had always wanted. That was all she was going to have because no way was Fi letting Heaven take her man. No girly-girl who’d had life handed to her on a silver platter was going to beat Fi; that was for damn sure.

Fi dug her feet into the sand, planted her hands on her hips, and lifted her chin to survey the crowd for Doc. Row after row of varcolai eyes met hers, some golden, some gleaming, all filled with anticipation. Except Doc’s. She found him in the pride leader’s box, the chair beside him empty. And waiting. Fi nodded. That was her chair and she’d take her place there, just as soon as she showed Heaven what she was made of.

She looked back at Heaven, still standing at the opposite end. Heaven made eye contact with her and a slow smile upended the corners of her mouth. She started forward again with a weird, loping gait.

Fi just watched, slightly puzzled. Talk about running like a girl. She hunkered down, digging her feet in a little more and lowering her center of gravity in preparation. She’d expected a bell to ring or someone to shout, “Go” or something to let her know the fight had started, but whatever. This was going to be so freakin’ easy—

Suddenly, Heaven leaped. Midair, she shifted into her jaguar form. She landed and kept running. Straight at Fi.

The crowd yowled in approval.

Fi held her ground. Only yards separated them now. Her heart pounded louder. This would work, wouldn’t it? It would. If she timed it right. If she didn’t—

With a snarl, Heaven leaped again.

Chapter Thirty-Four

When Luciano had told Lola he’d wanted to be satisfied before he’d turn her, this was not what she’d expected. For several hours they’d sat in his apartment, a beautifully decorated suite of rooms so deep within the bowels of the building that they physically shouldn’t exist, and done nothing but talk. Or rather she had.

He’d wanted her to recount in detail her favorite sunny days. And so she had. Days spent at the beach, days with family, when Julia had been young and still her sweet little girl, busy spring days working in the garden, lazy fall days swinging in the hammock with a drink and a good book, stormy days that ended with rainbows and air that sparkled in the sun.

He’d sat in a dark corner far away from her, and although her eyesight and her hearing couldn’t compare to his, she was pretty sure he’d wept during her descriptions. If he’d meant to make her doubt her decision, he hadn’t. He’d only strengthened her convictions. Made her impatient for the change.

He rolled his hand through the air. “Tell me more.”

“I have nothing left to tell you.” She pushed to her feet. “Please. Time is running out.”

“Soon you’ll have nothing but time.” He stood and in an instant was in front of her. What would it feel like to move that fast? He held out his hand. “Come.”

She took it and he led her to the bed. At last, he was going to sleep with her as she’d originally thought. She was ready and willing. It wouldn’t be such a sacrifice. He was handsome and charming and possessed the same dark allure all vampires seemed to. Her body would welcome the use after the years she’d gone without. Not since her divorce if she counted the time. Being mayor made dating difficult. Few men wanted the scrutiny.

“Lie down,” he told her. “Make yourself comfortable.”

She did as he asked. “Do you want me to take my clothes off?”

“What?” His mouth opened quizzically. “Why would I want you to do that?”

“I thought… Don’t you want to sleep with me?”

His face stayed blank for a moment; then he burst into laughter. “Cara mia, you are human. Perhaps when you are turned, but now?” He shook his head. “You will understand soon enough. There are some of us who have sex with humans, but”—he raised his brows and tilted his head as he lifted one shoulder—“they do not plan to let them live anyway. Do you understand what I am telling you?”