But fuck the rules. If it looked bad, I’d jump in and defend him. The fight club could suck a dick.
A fight had just ended. A merman was getting dragged off by a couple of officials while a shifter stood tall in the middle of the arena, his arms raised to the crowd. The merman’s face was little more than a bloody pulp.
“First time?” a girl asked me. She wore a sports bra and boxing shorts, and she leaned against the ropes of the ring. It looked like she was up next. She had dark skin and a long black braid that went all the way down her back, along with deep red eyes. She was gorgeous, but seemed dangerous.
I knew by her sultry tone she had to be a succubus, but she seemed nicer than Naya. “Yeah,” I said. “I’m here to watch my boyfriend fight.”
The word slipped out before I could stop it, and both Kallie and Marcus looked at me. But the succubus smiled and said, “Ah, you’re Charlie’s girl, aren’t you? He doesn’t shut up about you. When he’s not getting his face beat in, anyway. But we all take a few punches around here.”
She reached out to shake my hand. “Name’s Scarlet. Hope you placed a bet on me, because I’m going to win.”
Scarlet grabbed the ropes and swung herself into the boxing ring. Kallie’s eyes glittered as she bit her lip and looked Scarlet up and down. “She’s kind of hot,” Kallie whispered to me.
“Her?” Marcus spat. “Succubi aren’t hot. If you don’t want to get your face eaten off, I mean.”
“She’s clearly the hottest person in this room,” Kallie shot back.
Marcus sat back and grumbled something incoherent. He was totally jealous, but Kallie didn’t seem to notice. She was too busy checking out the succubus.
Well, good. Maybe if Marcus felt envious, he’d do something about his feelings for Kallie.
Scarlet stood across from a witch, who was bouncing up and down with her hands up. The official came between them and announced, “Introducing the Scarlet Letter, challenging our top female champion, the Tarot Mistress. You all know the rules. No magic— anything else goes. May the best fighter win!”
The bell rang, and both girls sprang at each other. The witch cracked Scarlet’s head to the side with a few punches, but the succubus quickly responded by nailing her foot into the witch’s face. The witch ducked and put her fists up to block Scarlet’s hits, but Scarlet delivered a few fast kicks to her sides, which left the witch unguarded.
The fight was over in a matter of seconds. Scarlet knocked the witch out with a harsh swing to the jaw, and victory was declared. The witch was carried off stage by her coach, and the referee raised Scarlet’s hand in victory.
“This looks like fun.” Kallie’s eyes glittered. “MaybeIshould join the fight club.”
“No fucking way!” Marcus shouted. I cringed between them.
“You don’t think I can take it?” Kallie’s expression burned.
“It’s not about that,” Marcus flustered. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Kallie rolled her eyes. As Scarlet walked off, two other fighters joined the arena, and a new brawl began. As I watched the latest fight, Kallie and Marcus walked off to get popcorn. The taste in my mouth soured as a certain angel came slinking up to my side.
“Glad you could make it,” Chancey said, shuffling dollars in his hands. “Want to place a bet? Charlie’s the favorite, slated to win at six-to-one.”
I still hadn’t forgiven him for getting Charlie mixed up in all this. “Be glad I’m here at all,” I stated. “This isn’t okay with me.”
“Relax. The man can handle himself.” Chancey pocketed the money he had. “He’s so good they put him in the main line-up, for crying out loud. He’s not in any danger of getting hurt.”
“Then bring Ivy down here if it’s so safe.”
Chancey went rigid. “No,” he said sharply. “He don’t need to know about all this.”
I huffed, before I added quietly, “I’m glad you stopped dealing drugs. There are better ways to make money.”
Chancey’s mouth became a thin line. “Nightshade isn’t something to play with. Overdose one too many times, and it’ll get ya.”
I didn’t say anything. Chancey pinched his nose, prompted to speak up.
“Ives can’t be around drugs,” Chancey whispered. “He’s pushed his limit one too many times. He gets back on nightshade, it’ll kill him.”
“And why do you care?” I asked, prodding for more.
Chancey strode off, clearly ending the conversation. “If you see Ives, tell him I said hi, okay?”
