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She nodded, not wanting to add to their worries.
“Soph,” Casper reached for her shoulder. “Give it your all out there, okay?”
“I’ll fight like my life depends on it,” she quipped.
As if by some miracle, the two of them began to smile.
Casper waved his hands in the air, defeated. “It was a stupid question. I see that now.” He then looked over to the arena and said, “I’ll be watching from the stands,” and split away, leaving her with Antonio.
Antonio put a mask of confidence over his face, telling Sophia, “I’ve been watching you train with your friend, Conall, and I can say with absolute confidence that you will be fine out there. You’re a warrior,Fia.Afeywarrior, no less.Now it’s time to show the world what you’re capable of.”
“Thanks.” She glanced at the arena. She didn’t have much time before her match. “Antonio, promise me you’ll rest a bit before your battle later.”
His lips curled into a sexy grin. “Ah, is my fey worried about me?”
“Uh,obviously.”And right now his obvious exhaustion was setting alarms off in her head. He needed to sleep a bit. Thankfully, as an immortal, he would only need to nap about half an hour for his condition to improve. “Oh, also promise me you’ll give it your all out there. Stay motivated.”And rest!
“Knowing I’ll never see you again if I don’t is all the motivation I need.” He ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “I promise,Fia.”
Sophia lost her breath, taken aback by what he said, raw emotion rippling over his features, his eyes growing dark with passion.
A thought - both exhilarating and terrifying - danced across her mind.I might be falling for this man.
“Antonio…”
He looked up to the sky before meeting her gaze, his expression eerily foreboding. “The moon is full tonight.” His words were laced with warning, fear flickering over his eyes. “Good luck.”
He started off before she had the chance to comprehend the severity of his warning. When she finally did, she became unsteady, swaying where she stood as a wave of dizziness washed over her. The look of dread in Antonio’s eyes told her everything she needed to know.
She was going to become familiar with his beast tonight whether she wanted to or not.
Chapter Forty-Four
Antonio Payne
Antonio’s heart raced as the gates below wrenched open, the dreadful sound of grinding metal piercing his ears. He had become all too familiar with that sound over the last few days, but it hit him differently today.
This time I’m not with her, he thought as he rocked where he sat, detesting that he could do nothing more than watch Sophia fight from the stands. “Prove how worthwhile all those years of training were. Prove it toeveryone,” he whispered, hoping the wind would carry his voice to her.
Losing my mind.
“Weapons are finally permitted. Conall told me she’ll be unstoppable with one in her hand.” Antonio hardly noticed when Casper split beside him. “Are you alright?” Casper sounded confident enough, but Antonio knew his confidence was nothing more than a facade masking his misery. There was no hiding the worry that laced Casper’s words.
“Been better.” Understatement.
Antonio began tapping his foot against the concrete, as if involuntarily, and he couldn’t stop it if he tried.
“She’ll do fine.”
Antonio ran his hands over his face, trying to snap himself out of this mood.Stay strong. For Sophia.Soon she would walkinto the arena and he didn’t want her to see him like this. He needed to show her he was confident in her ability to win, and hewasconfident in that.
So why couldn’t he breathe?
Antonio looked up to the sky, reminding himself of yet another impending threat. He didn’t plan on telling Casper how deep his relationship with Sophia actually was, but he was now left with little choice. “The full moon is tonight.” He finally willed himself to look at Casper. “I need you to help me get as far away from here as possible tonight. Sophia’s my mate.”Split me to the other side of the world.
Antonio’s fight was scheduled to take place a mere hour before the sun set, which meant he wouldn’t have enough time to get off the island before nightfall. Once the moon rose, he’d be powerless against his rising beast and primal need to claim his mate. Even worse,she’dbe powerless against it.
She’s still a virgin,he reminded himself, the thought chilling him to the bone.
