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Terrific.
I knew what Sekhmet was capable of. The more important question was—did Kaleigh? My best hope was that she wasn’t as knowledgeable about her abilities as I was and wouldn’t tap into the more potent ones.
The warded enclosure prevented the scorching air from harming the spectators. Too bad. I would’ve liked to see them scatter. I was horrified by anyone who considered this a form of entertainment. It would be different if Magnarella chose volunteers, but instead he took advantage of women in vulnerable situations. I’d like to see him become the chew toy of the gods.
I glanced in the stands to see the swan seated beside Gunther. Dusty wouldn’t have survived this.
“Do something!” a voice yelled. Male, of course.
Kaleigh responded to the demand by morphing into an enormous lioness with a golden coat. Lioness powers—check.
I danced backward as far as the enclosure allowed. I didn’t want to harm Kaleigh; it wasn’t her fault she’d been pitted against me. By the same token, if I didn’t defend myself, she’d kill me.
The lioness lunged. I jumped to the side, hoping Kaleigh would slam into the ward and knock herself out.
No such luck.
The lioness was agile enough to turn before she hit the ward. Her body whirled toward me with unexpected speed. Her mouth gaped open and released a deafening roar.
I crouched low to the mat, debating my options. Sadly, that thought experiment didn’t take long.
The lioness stalked toward me. The size of one paw was larger than my head. One good swat with those claws and it was goodbye noggin.
I sprang first and launched myself onto her back. The crowd went wild.
“Didn’t expect that, did you?” I dug my heels sharply into her sides.
The lioness twisted and snapped her jaws. I’d ridden my share of bucking broncos; Pops had insisted on it. He may not have anticipated this particular scenario, but he certainly seemed to know the types of challenges I’d one day face.
The lioness dropped to her side and started to roll, pinning my foot between her body and the mat. I ignored the painful snap and managed to dislodge my foot.
I dragged myself across the mat, vaguely aware of voices outside the ward calling for my god to come out and play. I resisted.
The lioness’s mouth opened again. This time, instead of a roar, I heard Kaleigh’s voice, low and urgent. “I know what you’re trying to do, and it won’t work. Only one of us is leaving here. I don’t care if you refuse to fight. I’m not willing to die today.”
No one else could’ve heard her over the din of the crowd. “I don’t want either one of us to die today, Kaleigh.”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “If I have to do this, then at least don’t make me feel bad about it.” She raised her head and roared with a ferocity that shook the enclosure. The spectators hooted and stomped their feet in return.
“Fight me or die!” she rasped. The lioness charged.
I remained firmly planted and ignored the throbbing of my foot.
Closer.
Closer.
Curling my fingers together, I stepped aside at the last second and used my hands as a club, slamming them down on the lioness’s spine as she passed. The lioness fell to the mat, immobile.
Applause shook the enclosure.
I shot a quick glance at Albert. Kaleigh was down and not getting up. Maybe they would agree to end the match without the need for death.
Cheers erupted again. At first, I thought they were for me until I turned to watch the lioness transform back into Kaleigh as she pulled herself to her feet. It seemed the match wasn’t over after all.
Her body swayed from the effort. Pain was etched in her features. I wasn’t sure what she intended to do until her skin began to glow with a golden light.
Every muscle in my body tightened.
