I sighed, thankful it was over, as members of the circle dragged the bodies out.
The announcer shouted again. “Tate remains!” The crowd roared again, and when it settled, the announcer continued, “Brad, Mike, Hayden.”
My blood ran cold. “They are all human.”
Astaroth refused to look at me. “Very astute of you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Is that how you seemypeople? Toys to entertain you and yours?”
His head turned in that creepy way and locked gazes with me.
“Is that how you seeme?”
“No.”
“Let. Them. Go.”
Astaroth faced the field again as this group began to fight. The crowd chanted and stomped, but I refused to watch as they murdered each other. Instead, I glared at the side of Astaroth’s face.
“Cole remains!”
Another round came. Then another. Every single name tingled with familiarity. I gulped each down and chased them with a double shot of denial.
“Sam, Zane, Daniel.”
Astaroth gripped my chin and turned my head toward the field. I fought but couldn’t dislodge him. The tips of his fingers dug into my jaws.
“Watch.”
My lids clinched tighter and tighter with every howl and bloodcurdling scream. They were innocent people, and there was nothing I could do to save them.
“Daniel remains!”
I sagged into his hold, and he released my aching jaw. I soothed the forming bruises and turned to him. “Are we done now?”
Cold, hard eyes met mine. “One more.”
Astaroth watched and waited for my reaction when the announcer shouted one final name. “Nick!”
I glanced at the bloodying field as a human stepped onto it. Hair a bit darker, skin a touch sicklier, Nick stood his full height and looked exactly as he had when he fled my apartment. I couldn’t deny knowing them now. They were all guys I’d slept with and never heard a peep from again.
I shot to my feet, towering over the goblins below me in the stands. Nick did a doubletake and stopped dead in his tracks. Shock. We both wore it. He stumbled back a step when Astaroth stood up beside me. Fear laced Nick’s expression. Retribution etched Astaroth’s.
“Stop this,” I growled.
The arena grew quiet as they awaited their king. “To the death!” Astaroth commanded.
“No!” I screamed, but no one could hear me over the bloodthirsty excitement sweeping the stands.
The circle formed around Nick and Daniel. They stared up at me. I recognized Daniel then. He looked almost human, except his eyes were larger and black and his skin was gray. The realm claimed them quickly. Did all of them look my way for help while I refused to acknowledge them? I squeezed my eyes shut, tears forcing their way past my lids and running down my face. Their blood was on my hands, too.
Astaroth trapped me against him and pinned my arms down. His fingers dug into the sore flesh of my jaw and tried to force me to turn my head. “You will watch.”
“I will not,” I seethed and struggled to get free.
I knew when it happened by the reaction all around me and the agonizing scream that sliced the air the same way the sword tore through them. The fight left my body, and I sagged in Astaroth’s arms. I couldn’t bear to look down there.
“Nick remains!”
