The vague idea floated weakly from her flailing, deprived brain even as her limbs continued to shudder and twitch uselessly against Doran’s hold. It went against every fibre of her being to stop fighting, and if it didn’t work she couldn’t even say she’d gone down swinging.
But in a moment she wouldn’t even have the option. Adeline’s arms went limp. Her legs stopped twitching, and her body went slack, pulling even more weight against her throat. For a moment nothing happened, and she thought perhaps she really had passed out. She felt Doran shift his weight, but he did not immediately loosen his hold; he probably would have held on a few moments longer had an angry hiss not risen from the stands all around them. His split second of hesitance was all she needed; Adeline burst from his iron embrace, stumbling forward and landing hard on her knees as air ripped through her aching chest. Her head swam and her throat throbbed, but she forced herself upright and put as much space as she could between herself and the Captain.
He advanced with a face like thunder, not even bothering to hide his irritation. This was it. He would toy with her no longer now that he understood her game. There was no evading him. She was slower now, weaker, lightheaded with the sudden rush of air to her lungs. She couldn’t stop him as he backhanded her, sent her sprawling facedown. She pushed to her knees, her cheek stinging where her face had skidded against the ice. Doran approached, and she turned just in time to see his boot lift, poised to kick her down again; she reached out reflexively and grabbed his shin, pulling his legs out from under him. He hit the ice with a satisfying thud, and for a wild moment, as she scrambled to her feet, she thought she might even have the chance to pin him. But the Captain rocked forward, thrusting his legs out, and his body seemed to roll upright in a powerful wave that brought him face to face with her.
Adeline slapped him.
A reflexive, petty, open-handed slap with a satisfying crack that swelled in the air throughout the stadium.
He blinked.
A small swell of snickers chased around the stands, and Adeline couldn’t help it; she laughed too, high and hysterical and yes, maybe a little taunting.
Humiliation burned an ugly red brand into Doran’s grey cheeks, and he grabbed Adeline by the arm and hurled her against the podium wall. There was a wet, gravellypop- and fire forked through her shoulder, the kind of fire that melted bones and tempered steel. Adeline’s scream rent the air, and it wasn’t the only one, but she was certain it was the loudest. Herarm- it wouldn’t move, and when she tried to force it, the muscles twitched grotesquely, stoking the flame still burning through her useless joint. A single sob escaped her, and then rage burned the tears away and she screamed again, roughly, needing the raw air in her lungs to distract from the pain. She would not cry. Captain Doran would not have the pleasure of winningandwatching her cry. She cradled her limp arm, gritting her teeth against the blinding wave of pain that crested with each twitch of her shoulder.
“Yield,” he said gently, in a mockery of pity, as he prowled toward her.
She should have. She really should have. She couldn’t see the clock anymore, but it couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes and she wouldn’t last another forty with one arm and a steady tide of agony threatening to pull her under. She should have yielded.
She clenched her teeth.
“Fucking make me,” she said.
Captain Doran nodded grimly, though the sharp line of his lips tilted up. He spun on the spot, and as he came full circle his leg kicked out high, one large boot connecting with her dangling arm.
The next wave of pain to break over her was black and silent.
Chapter 36
Adeline
Popping the joint back into her shoulder hurt so badly that Adeline’s vision actually went black again for a split second. Next to that, the needle stitching the skin of her elbow back together was nothing. The alcohol swiped across the grazes on her hands and cheek barely stung.
The Healer piecing her back together tutted and sighed, and called breathless requests to her two assistants who flapped efficiently around the tent gathering supplies.
“You won’t need a sling, at least,” said the Healer, gingerly touching her shoulder.
“Well, that’s something,” she managed, along with a forced grin.
One of the assistants handed Adeline a deep wooden spoonful of something thick and too-sweet smelling that stuck in her throat and made her gag - but as soon as she managed to swallow it, the ache in her reset joint eased.
“Better?”
She nodded, lifting her shoulder cautiously. “Much, thank you.”
There was a soft rustle of commotion on the other side of the tent and then a hand shoved the canvas apart and Kai ducked inside. His eyes were wild and bright as they roved the tent and paused over the Healer’s shoulder to land on Adeline.
“You can’t be in here – oh!” The Healer dipped her knees in a curtsey as she caught sight of their intruder. “Your Majesty.”
“Apologies for the intrusion,” said Kai, but he strode further into the tent anyway, still locked on Adeline. The Healer edged reluctantly out of the way and Kai’s eyes narrowed as he took in the scratches on her face. His jaw clenched tight enough to set a muscle ticking at its hinge.
“Are you badly hurt?”
“I’m fine.”
“Her shoulder –” one of the assistants began.
“Is fine. I don’t even need a sling, remember?”
