“Did you bring healing potions?” I ask, reminding him of our earlier conversation about precautions. Celine doesn’t know, and if nothing goes wrong, she won’t have to. But these fights are dangerous. If things go south, we’ll need a fast-acting way to patch her up.
I feel pressure in my pocket as Alistair slides his hand into my jeans, then pulls it out, leaving the weight of a vial behind. “It’s the best,” he assures me.
“If she asks,” I remind him, “then no, the fuck it isn’t.”
Alistair clenches his teeth, fangs peeking over his bottom lip. “She’s too stubborn. Why won’t she accept my help?”
I put my hand on his shoulder. “She’s entitled to her pride, Ali. For some of us, it’s all we’ve got.”
“Celine has far more going for her than pride,” he hisses. “As do you.”
The bell ringing saves me from having to come up with a response. An excited rumble runs through the crowd as the emcee appears in the cage through a cloud of smoke. Stretching his arms wide, he shows off his colorful tattoo sleeves to the rabid supernaturals packed shoulder to shoulder in the warehouse.
“Welcome to the Mouth of Hell,” he booms. “We have a special treat for you tonight: four new fighters ready to test their mettle and whet your appetite for blood.”
“Four?” I raise my eyebrows, surprised that many were added to the roster.
“Resker loves her games,” Alistair mutters. I barely hear him over the approving screams of the spectators. The row behind us lurches forward, and Malach, Alistair, and I have to plant our weight to keep from getting bowled over.
“Rowdy,” I say. “I’ve never felt so much anticipation on fight night before.”
“They can sense it,” Malach says. “They want to be entertained.”
An ominous chill runs down my spine. His words aren’t prophetic—I don’t think he has magic like that—but they are spooky. “You’re creeping me out, dude.”
“My apologies.” Malach’s lips curl, and Alistair shoots me an unimpressed look.
“Already making nice with your new roommate?” he asks, his voice dripping with bitterness. “He tried to have you killed, and had me run through, I might add.”
I massage my temples. “Yeah, yeah, everyone here is a murderous dick. Can we forget about it for now? We’re here to support Celine.”
“Indeed.”
“Judgment, not murder,” Malach mutters.
Despite myself, I grin. Then the announcer calls for Thorn and Verity to enter the cage, and I tense. From opposite sides of the elevated octagon, Celine and some guy I’ve never seen before enter through rounded gates. Once they’re through, faint bands of magic quiver and wall the openings off.
Dressed in all black, Celine’s tight sports bra and spandex shorts are molded to her curves like a second skin. If I weren’t soworried about her, I’d be drooling. She rocks on the balls of her feet; her full mouth is pressed into a tight line.
Her hair is braided to the scalp to prevent anyone from grabbing it. In normal fighting, hair pulling wouldn’t be allowed, but this is the Fringes. If you’re dumb enough to have your hair swinging around, you deserve what you get.
With a fresh buzz cut, Thorn clearly got the memo. Otherwise, he’s difficult to read. Of average height and weight, he’s still and watchful, completely ignoring the crowd as he stares Celine down.
I can’t tell what kind of supernatural he is. He looks completely human, so maybe a witch? The only notable thing about him is his ears. The tops are discolored, a mottled pink and white. Maybe a birthmark or tattoo? It’s nothing I’ve seen before.
“What do you think?” I ask Alistair.
Celine bumps knuckles with Thorn, and they circle each other.
When Thorn charges her, I flinch.
“He’s fae,” Ali says. “The ears. They’re not pointed because the tips have been cut off.”
“What the fuck?” I snarl as Celine narrowly dodges a brutal uppercut.
Thorn’s fist grazes her cheek, leaving a bloody gash in its wake. Superficial. I know that. But seeing him go for her face pisses me off. He put so much force into the blow that he’s off balance. Celine sees the opening and delivers a swift kick to his gut.
“Yes, baby,” I mutter, too scared to shout and steal her focus even though the crowd is deafening.
