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“And his challenger, our very own, the Vinduthi, Jalik!”
I took my cue, strode out, and hopped into the ring. Most of the crowd cheered. A few of them, though, booed and hurled insults at me. I took all of it in stride and went to my corner of the ring.
Massinef gave me a grin that would make most people shake a little. But I’d seen and dealt with far worse than him. I gave him a smirk of my own.
The announcer continued. “The match will begin at the sound of the bell.”
I got into my stance and waited. The bell sounded, and Massinef didn’t waste a second. He was on me in the blink of an eye, going for a punch square to my jaw. I dodged and then leaped away before he could swing again.
He hissed, turning sharply, and swung again. I dodged once more, but this time I landed a hit of my own to his abdomen. As he staggered back, I went for another and another.
Massinef regained enough of his senses to dodge me and strike out again. A few of his hits landed, but most of them I was able to evade and deliver much harsher ones in return.
The adrenaline surged within me, and I felt the smile splitting my face. This was where I was the most alive. This precarious dance where I found my opponent’s weaknesses and exploited them.
My eyes caught a glimpse of brown hair and bright green eyes watching me in the crowd. And just like that, everything else faded away as I locked eyes with Serena.
Suddenly, something hit me hard across the face and I went flying.
SERENA
I’d seen fights before. There were more than enough in the shithole of The Under where I lived. Walking to work, I’d see them, too. Even here at the casino, the occasional brawl would break out before security broke them apart.
But this, the way Jalik fought, brought a whole new meaning to the word fight.
His moves were brutal, and yet he moved with the fluidity of a dancer. There wasn’t a breath wasted, a step out of line, or a beat missed. No, this was a true fighter. A warrior who knew exactly how to take down his opponents with brutal efficiency.
And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find it just a little bit attractive.
“Take him down!” Koda screamed from beside me and accidentally jolted me in the process.
I gave him a withering look that he didn’t see, too busy staring at the fight. It had been Koda’s idea to come down and watch this, even though I’d strongly protested. After all, I was still performing tonight, and with the threat still looming over me, we had no idea who we could trust.
Being in a big crowd surrounded by overenthusiastic fighting fans was not my idea of staying safe. Koda had promised and guilt-tripped me into coming anyway somehow. Mostly over how he couldn’t leave my side but would be missing the opportunity of a lifetime to see Jalik fight, and if I came with him then we’d both win.
I might not ever have thought I’d enjoy watching a fight, but when someone as handsome as Jalik was winning…
Well, I didn’t really know Jalik. Other than that he was probably the most intimidating person I’ve ever met, and he had a vague interest in not seeing me dead. Or not ruining the Black Star’s reputation by letting one of their entertainers get killed. That was probably more likely.
I also knew that he had kind eyes, at least when they were trained on me. I knew he would wait a little longer than absolutely necessary to make sure I left the stage safely after each performance. I knew his muscles rippled under his skin as he put everything into each jab and punch. I knew his tracery would sparkle like veins of silver under the right light.
I knew I was in trouble, in more ways than one.
His opponent, on the other hand, I knew nothing about. Only that he was Zequinid and also looked very intimidating.
Jalik scored another hit, and the crowd went wild, people bumping into me from all directions. I shrunk in on myself as much as I could. If only Jalik would just win so we could get out of there.
And then, as if he could hear my thoughts, Jalik suddenly looked right at me. For a heartbeat, our eyes locked and there was such a mix of emotions in his face. I sucked in a sharp breath at the intensity of his gaze.
And then just as quickly, his opponent scored his first real hit that sent Jalik reeling.
I gasped and watched as Jalik’s attention switched back to the other fighter in an instant. He sprang up and charged his opponent with a snarl on his face. Even though it was impossible to hear them through the throngs of people, I could tell the Zequinid was laughing.
He wasn’t laughing for long, though, when Jalik dodged his attack and sent a flurry of blows to his abdomen. The Zequinid hissed, and the two began to circle each other. This time, Jalik’s opponent was the first to lunge. He was fast with his four legs, and yet Jalik still managed to evade him and get in two hits.
The crowd cheered and everyone drew closer, including Koda. I scrambled to stay close to him and not get trampled in the crowd. So much for being under his watchful gaze.
My attention was quickly drawn back to the fight though as the Zequinid charged once again. Jalik and the Zequinid exchanged blow after blow, both of them moving with such ferocity that sometimes I’d forget to breathe.
