“THE SNAKE AND THE PRINCE, THE SNAKE AND THE PRINCE!”
Snake smirked as he waited for Matthias to respond.
There was no way he was going to back down from this. If anyone was going to put this piece of filth in his place . . . it was going to be him.
Matthias rose from his chair and removed his shirt. The crowd stood to their feet and roared. Snake grinned and threw his shirt to the floor as well.
The prince signalled for a Thorn to bring him some cloth to wrap around his knuckles.
Snake did the same.
As they entered the ring, Matthias took in a deep breath. He’d been fighting for many years, but never once had he stood before the king’s advisor.
Snake took his stance, his toned and muscular body glowing under the low lights.
Matthias, who towered over most with eyes like the icy abyss, scowled at Snake, whose yellow eyes were equally imposing. Tonight, fate had brought them together for a duel that would be etched in the kingdom’s history.
His heart raced as the fight unfolded before him. His initial calmness had given way to a primal surge of adrenaline.
Snake lunged forwards, his cunning fists aiming to crush Matthias’s defences. But Matthias was swift and agile, dancing out of reach, grateful for the times he’d spent training in the woods with Bones, which aided in his agility.
The crowd roared as the pair danced across the floor. Snake’s foot slipped on the dusty stone ground. Matthias saw his openingand struck with a lightning-fast jab to Snake’s abdomen, knocking the wind out of him. Snake staggered back, wheezing for breath. Sensing an advantage, Matthias pressed the attack, a flurry of well-placed punches and kicks raining down on his opponent. The prince grinned, pleased with his efforts.
A fleeting thought of Adalia crossed Matthias’s mind, and he was grateful she wasn’t around to witness this. It was hard enough having his father watching.
The slight lapse in concentration allowed Snake the upper hand, and Matthias caught a sharp blow to the corner of his mouth and jaw, splitting the skin instantly. Blood sprang forth, and he tasted it on his tongue, the warm sensation drawing a low growl from his lips.
The dark prince threw a fist forwards, attempting to land a devastating blow, but Snake ducked gracefully, his yellow eyes never leaving his opponent’s. Yet, the prince was relentless. He charged back with renewed vigour, his eyes burning with determination. Snake met him head-on, his arm reaching out to encircle Matthias around his neck. Whipping the prince’s body around so his back was pushed up against the sweaty, warm skin of Snake’s chest.
“Right now I’m imagining a certain brunette in this position and I’m envisioning all the delicious things I’m going to do to her once I get my hands on her,” Snake whispered into Matthias’s ear. “I can’t wait to hear her scream my name.”
Snake ran the tip of his warm wet tongue over the prince’s ear as he chuckled, and in that moment Matthias snapped. Flaring his wings and throwing his arms wide, he knocked the advisor from his back, sending Snake sprawling onto the ground.
Turning, he lunged at the male, fists ready to strike. Snake rolled out of the way with seconds to spare, jumping to his feet to face the prince. Fury poured from Matthias’s skin as he lunged for the advisor again, clipping his shoulder, causing Snake to stumble.
The prince glared at the advisor. He was so done with this place, this creature before him, and the one on the throne who did nothing but watch with amusement written on his face.
As the crowds’ chants and cheering grew louder, their fight intensified. They were no longer two men battling for victory, but forces of nature colliding. Their grunts and roars filled the air, merging with the sound of fists against flesh and pounding feet against stoney ground.
Matthias knew he was wearing Snake down, his opponent’s movements becoming less sharp or focused. Finally, in a moment of divine timing, he found an opening. With a lightning-quick manoeuvre, he landed a final blow to Snake’s jaw and sent him flying across the room. Snake’s body hit the wall with a loud thud and dropped to the ground in a crumpled heap—his wings bent in ways they shouldn’t. The room fell silent as someone rushed to the blond man’s side.
“He lives.”
The crowd roared as they announced Matthias as the winner.
With his chest heaving, he sauntered towards his throne and eyed his father, sweat pouring from his brow. “I’ll be leaving now.”
The king, who seemed to be at a loss for words, didn’t stop him, so Matthias took his shirt and left the room. Only time would tell how this win would play out. If Snake had any sense, he would back off and leave Matthias be, but there was still a high chance that this victory would only piss him off even more. For now, it was Matthias’s victory and his alone and boy did it feel good.
It was now that he let himself feel every blow. Snake might be . . . a snake, but he still had a bite.
Matthias’s arm ached, and he looked down at the wrapped section. It was bloody and weeping. He needed to clean it before it got infected. There was no time for walking, so he winnowed into his room.
Bones softly growled at his master’s sudden appearance, but hastened to his side when he recognised him. The wolf licked his hand and gently nuzzled his leg. “I’m okay, boy,” Matthias spoke softly as he stroked the thick white fur of his furry companion.
Moving to the washroom, he filled the tub with warm water before unwrapping the thin white cloth bound over his knuckles. Faint red stains grew larger with each layer he unbound. Tendrils of fabric fell to the floor in a crumpled heap and Matthias stretchedout his hands. Even with them bound throughout the fight, it hadn’t been enough to protect his skin. Stepping into the tub, he sat and let himself sink beneath the water.
His mind wandered over the evening’s events as he lay submerged. Not that he couldn’t handle Snake or his father anymore, it was simply that he didn’t want to. If he was being honest with himself, how was staying here keeping Adalia safe?
