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“Whaddo you want as a soundtrack, bean?” Charlie asks. “Mortal Kombat or Last Dragon?”
I snort at him. He knows me so well. “Last Dragon. You got it on loop or sommat in case this takes some time?”
“You know I do. Hour loop, not that you’re gonna need an hour.”
He’s right. If I’m still fighting Loyal an hour from now, I’ve lost. He’s a big, strong lad. He’ll have a lot of endurance. This isn’t a fight I win by wearing him down. I need a KO.
“Where’s Dar?” I ask, surprised he’s not here.
Charlie scrubs his hand through his hair. “Look, it ain’t that he’s taking sides or nowt.”
I glance from torn expression to torn expression. “He’s with Loyal?”
“Loyal asked to see him. Just for a few minutes.”
“You let him go alone?”
“Nah, practically everyone’s with him. Kathleen and her boy, the twins, that boy who can’t take his eyes offa Orlaith, even his grandfather went along. We wouldn’t have let him go alone.”
“Good. ‘Cause if this is a play against Princely’s house, splitting us up might be parta the plan. We stick together from here on.”
The boys nod.
“Sho-nuff!” Bursts out of the speakers.
Gabe shuts it off, grinning.
Chapter57
Old In Story
Darwin doesn’t say anything about going to see Loyal right before the duel.
But he comes straight over for a hug when he and his entourage enter the dome. He doesn’t kiss me, just straightens the band Charlie’s put in my hair to hold my fringe back from my face, and looks into my eyes. “You ready?”
I bounce a little on my toes. “Ready-ready.”
“Come here, champ,” Charlie calls.
I leave Darwin with Gabe and draw a few steps away to where Charlie’s standing. He puts his big hands on my shoulders and kneads them, warming up the muscles. Pressing his forehead to mine, he says, “What’s your job in that ring?”
“Fight smart. Fight hard. If he knocks me down, get back up again.”
“That’s right. Keep him at a distance where he can’t use Fire-hands or sommat on you. He’s good with hexes. That’s what he’ll rely on. You see the opening, take him down. No fucking around. This is not a spar.”
I roll my shoulders against his hands, loosening the tendons in my neck and shoulders which are tightening with tension. “If it comes down to him or me?”
“You fucking pick us, bean. You do whatever you have to do to walk outta here. He challenged you. He’s fair fucking game. Do what you have to do.”
I look into those emerald eyes that have never held anything but love and support. “You’ll forgive me if I kill him?” I whisper.
“Nothin’ to forgive. If it’s him or you, it’s not even a choice. I’ll chase you down to Hell myself and kick your arse you do somethin’ stupid and noble like sacrificing yourself.”
I smile and shake my head, rolling my forehead against his. “That’s Princely’s bag, not mine.”
“You remember that. Get in there and fight like a girl.”
He slaps my arse. I smack a kiss on his lips before I turn, bouncing in my trainers, and walk onto the sands.
