Page 24 of Fractured Memories

Seeing how Eden reacts will just be a bonus.

When there’s only five minutes left, I hear shuffling down the hall. My opponent emerges from a nearby room, eyes widening when they land on me. I only arch a brow as I take him in. He’s large enough, covered in scars and hands wrapped. I see some blades strapped to him, but it looks like he prefers close combat.

Funny. So do I.

I straighten when the guard comes around the corner. This one I don’t know, but he inclines his head when he sees me. I only motion to the door, my adrenaline starting to spike now that I’m about to step onto the mat.

Just like when I watched Eden, we filter out of the door to a loud and restless crowd. The guards take their spots, as does the medic, and then my opponent. I step out last, keeping my features neutral as the volume hits new levels.

The people here know my reputation. They know how well I can shed blood. It has them in a frenzy.

My eyes don’t move to them, though. Instead, my gaze goes straight to Eden, who is seated right where I told her to be. Jude is behind her, his stare narrowed. It seems he isn’t so happy about this plan, after all.

Eden’s careful to keep any expression off her face, but I can tell that she’s not as unaffected as she might like to seem. She’s shifted forward on the chair, tension lacing her body, and I’m going to struggle not to look at her every reaction throughout this fight.

My sleeves are already rolled up, and my gloves are in the car. I’m not foolish enough to remove my shirt. The fabric is designed to provide protection and it’s always useful to have something to stop bleeding if you need it.

Glancing at my opponent again, I decide to unholster my guns and slip the holder from my shoulders. It provides me with more movement, and I won’t need them anyway.

“Kieran!” I hear Jude hiss beneath his breath. I know he would want me to stay armed to the teeth.

But I feel like getting a little bloody tonight.

That’s why I rip the blades from my boots and the sheath at my side. I toss them all into a pile while ignoring Jude’s protests. My body is humming with excitement as the seconds tick down, and I see the way my opponent is eyeing my weapons.

“Pesky things ruin the fun, don’t they?” I call out to him as the crowd grows louder. It’s almost time. “I prefer getting my hands dirty.”

Dread flashes across his face, and I fight off the amusement that surges through me. I’m not like Lochlan, who turns his kills into a game. And Rohan is almost emotionless when he takes a life. I prefer to make things interesting.

I won’t drag this out, not when I spot Eden staring at me with a heated gaze that makes it hard to focus on anything else. But I do want to remind everyone that I should be feared. Death shouldn’t be quick and painless—not in this context at least.

The buzzer sounds through the arena, and I finally let a crack show in my composure. A menacing grin spreads over my face, and I see true terror in my opponent’s eyes.

With the bloodlust flooding my system, I stop holding back. I lunge forward, landing a quick combo of hits as I back the other man up the chain-link fencing. He’s forced to cover himself as blow after blow lands.

He tries to push me back and get some space, but I headbutt him with his guard dropped. He grunts as he falls back, blood pouring from his nose. The sight only spurs me on, especially when a metallic taste floods my mouth. I’m certain my smile has turned bloody.

In a desperate attempt, he takes a few blows to the head as he takes my legs out from under me. But I twist immediately, getting him under me so that I can keep landing blows.

His face is a mess at this point, and with his arms in the way, my focus is forced elsewhere. But I don’t discriminate where I can cause pain—as long as I’m inflicting it.

He cries out when I manage to crack a rib, and it forces him out of the protective position he’s been in. He squirms, attempting to flip me, and I let him. Instead of him throwing me to my back, he only manages to twist in my hold.

I sink back, my legs pinning his to the mat beneath us as my forearm presses against his throat. He has nowhere to move as I tighten my other arm in place, choking him.

He thrashes, but I hardly move, not giving him any room. I don’t feel his nails clawing at my skin or his meager attempts of breaking my hold.

I’m too focused on Eden.

Her cheeks are flushed, and she’s nearly out of the chair she’s leaned so far forward. She looks stunning as her teeth rake over her bottom lip, eyes heated and locked on me. She’s nearly frothing as she watches, like it’s taking everything in her to stay put.

Still holding her gaze, I relax my arms. The man sucks in deep breaths, but he doesn’t realize this isn’t a mercy. Instead, I drop both hands to either side of his head and twist.

Eden’s teeth sink into that lip, her gaze blazing as he goes completely limp in my hold. She looks like she's seconds away from an orgasm, and I want to get her out of here before anyone else gets to see it.

I ignore everyone else as I get up, stalking toward her. She’s already on her feet, and Jude doesn’t interfere as she rushes to me.

I drag my eyes from her long enough to look at his angry gaze. I know that this time, he won’t bite his tongue on the ride back up the mountain. He’ll give me an earful about taking a challenge—especially with no weapons on me—and tell Rohan for good measure.