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As Ichiro gripped my arm tight, his cold gaze seared through me. “There will be no turning back, boy. If you lose, you die.”
Although I assumed that would be the case, hearing my death sentence spoken out loud chilled me to the bone. “Good thing I never turn back.”
Ichiro gave a curt nod. “As you say, let it be bound.”
Wisps of red smoke curled around our enjoined arms. The vapor seeped into our skin, binding us with magic before disappearing.
It was done.
Leaving the suffocating confines of my grandfather’s study, I strode down the hall, each step echoing on the polished wood floor. The farther away I got, the more the weight lifted from my shoulders and soul.
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was stepping into the unknown, but whatever awaited me after the fight, I knew I wouldn’t face it alone. The image of Bree’s smiling face filled my heart, her presence a beacon of hope in the ever-present darkness.
With her in my life and by my side, there was nothing I couldn’t overcome.
CHAPTER 25
Bree
Dressed and ready for the big fight, I paced restlessly in my room, stealing glances at the door that led into the main gym. As ready as I would ever be, anyway.
Every few minutes, I worked up the courage to peek out. Beneath the harsh spotlight, the boxing ring cast long shadows across the gym, and the crowd had tripled in size compared to the last fight, larger than any I’d seen here before.
True to her word, Frankie had brought in some big names from past years, including the Savage Wolf and the Wicked Witch. They both wore masks to protect their identities, but with their reputations, no one would dare mess with them anyway. Their mere presence was a huge draw for our members.
Excited murmurs drifted through the cracked door and fueled the anxiety churning in my gut:
“Have you heard anything about the mystery fighter?”
“No, but I’ve heard their opponent is one of Subliminal’s best.”
“Who is it?”
“Frankie’s keeping it under wraps, but I’d pay a fortune to see the dragon back in action.”
Smirking, I closed the door and resumed pacing. There was only one dragon they’d be referring to, and he’d retired years ago.
But as the conversations continued, the air around me crackled with anticipation. There was still time to change my mind…
Right?
My gaze flicked between the door and the floor, cold dread pooling deeper into my veins. This was such a terrible idea.
Not bothering to look up from her phone, Marissa sighed. She was sprawled across her rickety cot, her legs dangled over the side. “Will you relax? You’re making me nervous.”
“You’re nervous?” I snapped. “Do you understand the consequences if I lose?”
“You’ll win. You’ve trained all week and for years before that.”
Trust Marissa to remain unfazed about such a monumental moment. She’d waltzed through earthquakes without blinking an eye.
“So have all the other fighters, but they don’t have to worry about losing their homes.”
Actually, I had no idea if that was true. Some of them weren’t much better off than we were. Hopping on board that train of thought, my mind crept closer to chickening out.
Groaning, Marissa sat up and finally put her phone down. More like slammed it down on the bed with a dramatic flair. “Oh my god, stop. You’ve got this. Just do what you always do and show them who’s boss just like you boss me around.”
“Yeah, but you don’t listen to me,” I pointed out.
