AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 50
Rafferty
Rafe did not like this.Not one bit. Regardless of Taveon’s strength, there was a chance that Bree would not make it out of this alive. And the thought terrified him to the point where he could barely think straight. He was supposed to be preparing her for the upcoming battles, but all he could focus on were nightmare images of Bree’s vacant eyes staring up at him from where she laid broken on the bloodyground.
He watched her shift her hand into a claw and back again. She looked so strong standing there. So fearless. He wished he could protect her from this thing. He wished he could go into the fighting pit for her. But he couldn’t. And not for the first time in his life did he curse his raven form. It might be good for spying but it was useless forfighting.
In the distance, a loud horn sounded. Bree glanced up from her claw to stare up at the tiny window at the top of the domed ceiling. A slight flicker of alarm passed across her features, the only sign that she felt even the slightest bit nervous about what she was about toface.
“It is time, Bree.” Rafferty took a deep breath and wrapped his arms around her slender body. “You can still turn back from this. This is your last chance to walk away fromeverything.”
“No,” she said firmly, pulling him tight against her body. “I will not walk away from this, and I will not walk away from you. My beast is strong. I can win thesefights.”
“Very well.” He gave a nod. In his mind, Rafe knew that he truly could put a stop to this if he wanted to. All he had to do was throw Bree over his shoulder and run right out of this castle. He could take her back to Otherworld, whether she wanted to go or not. Sure, she wouldn’t like it, but there wouldn’t be much she could do to stophim.
But he would not do that to her. Bree had made a choice, and he had to honor her decision, as much as it pained him to doso.
Bree smoothed down her fighting leathers just as the door of the Academy opened to reveal a very tense Taveon striding into the room. He took one look at Bree, and his shoulders rose just the slightest of inches. Rafe caught his friend’s eye, and his eyebrow raised. He knew that look. The Prince cared about his champion far more than he was lettingon.
“The horn has been sounded. It is time for you to meet your opponent in the fighting pit.” Taveon’s gaze locked on Bree’s face. “You can still back out now if you have changed yourmind.”
Bree’s hands curled into tight little fists by her sides, and she narrowed her eyes. “You and Rafe need to chill out. I’ve decided to fight, and I’m not backing out. Now, show me the way to the fighting pit. I’m as ready as I’ll everbe.”
Rafe’s heart lurched, but he nodded, and the three of them made their way out of the Academy, out through the dungeons, and down the silent corridor. All of the other fae would already be at the pit, sitting on the edges of their seats to watch the upcoming fight. There would be several this night as the first round of the battles. So many would fall. Rafe couldn’t bear to think that Bree might be among those poorsouls.
Taveon suddenly stopped in the hallway and placed his hands on Bree’s shoulders. “Are you ready to link our strengths together? Once we reach the pit, there will be a ceremony. Our forces will bind together as one. You must open yourself up enough to me to accept it. If you try to push me away,then...”
Rafe stepped up to his friend’s side, nodding. “Accepting the Prince’s strength as much as you can will give you the greatest odds ofwinning.”
Bree’s cheeks went pink. “I think I can dothat.”
“Good,” Taveon said with a nod before continuing to stride down thehallway.
But Rafe couldn’t move, not just yet. He reached out, grabbed Bree’s hand, and pulled her close to him. And then he kissed her with all the passion roaring through his veins. Because this might be the last moment they would ever get to spend in each other’sarms.
