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Daniel’s racing heart slowed with each caressing stroke of Theo’s hand down his back. “I don’t want you to fight tonight.”
“I don’t think I have a choice. Not if we want to see this through.”
Heaving a heavy sigh, Daniel pushed Theo away. “You’re right.” In the background, Walt paced, clearly agitated. “You better go. Walt’s waiting.”
“Not without you.” Theo held out a hand, and Daniel placed his on top. Walt led their entourage into the hall, pausing and waving for the MC to announce them.
“And now, the match you’ve all been waiting for… weighing in at one hundred and eighty pounds, standing six-feet-four inches and currently undefeated… Viking!”
Cheers rose to a deafening volume. Flags from various Nordic countries and several rainbow pride ones lifted into the air as they traversed the narrow walkway from hall to cage.
Theo waved to the crowd with his free hand, his grip on Daniel sure and steady. Daniel had no idea how Theo could remain calm while he felt on the verge of a panic attack. A light touch on his shoulder sent warm calming pulses into his body, lowering his heart rate, and allowing him to take one deep breath after another.
As they had on the prior nights, Theo stopped beside the steps leading up into the ring and cradled Daniel’s face between his palms. “Everything will be alright, my love. Cheer for me. I will hear your voice above all the others.”
“I will.” Daniel lifted his chin, accepting the kiss Theo gave. When his lips parted, Theo swept inside, lingering a long moment to the rising chorus of ‘aww’s interspersed with cat-calls.
“Break it up, lovebirds,” the MC chided. “I need to introduce Viking’s opponent.”
Theo’s fingertips dragged across Daniel’s cheek as he dallied one second longer, stealing one last kiss before he leapt up the stairs and ducked inside the cage.
Thelial
Theo paced beside his mate as Daniel walked from the steps to where Walt, Sy, and El waited. Only then did he turn his attention to the MC and the brute of a man walking toward the ring.
“Please direct your attention now to our contender. Winner of over one hundred matches right here in this very cage, a giant at six-feet-seven inches high, and weighing in at two-hundred and ninety-five pounds of pure muscle—and if you thought Viking’s tattoo was great, you ain’t seen nothing yet… Everybody welcome back DeeeMon!”
Demon’s head was the first thing visible to Theo as the man strode through the crowd, pushing and shoving aside any who got in his way.
The announcer hadn’t been wrong. He was a giant. Taller, muscles bulging, and an ultra-short cut of dark hair. There wasn’t an inch of fat on him, but as Demon got closer, Theo realized that what he’d thought was black hair was actually a tangle of tattooed swirls amid images. Much of Demon’s exposed skin was covered in black-inked, Hellspawn tattoos: skulls, skeletons, grim reapers, blades dripping crimson blood, the marks of devil worship, and the images of gruesome ebony-winged imps, demons, and other underworldly creatures. When Demon ducked into the cage and straightened, Theo clearly read DEATH inked across his forehead.
“I might be in over my head here,” Theo muttered, tearing his gaze away to stare beseechingly at El and Sy. “What should I do?”
El grabbed hold of the cage. “Hey. You got this. You’ve beaten demons bigger than this guy.”
“Yeah,” Sy added. “Listen to us. We’ll give you clues about how to defeat him.”
“Theo… watch his eyes… If they glow, you’ll know he’s tainted—possessed. If need be, get him over here and we’ll ‘zap’ him.”
“You’ll what?” Daniel whispered urgently.
“Gentlemen,” the MC laughed, “or whatever you are, meet in the middle.”
With his mouthguard popped in, Theo cautiously moved to stand beside the announcer and referee.
“Viking, Demon, let’s have us a good, clean, fight… NOT!” He cackled as he dashed from the ring, the bell ringing simultaneously with the clang of the gate closing.
Theo dodged the rapid-fire right jab, backpedaling away. “Heavens,” he murmured. He bounced on his toes as he assessed Demon’s stance. The man stood in profile to Theo, flat-footed but knees bent. Demon flexed his hands, curling his fingers slowly into meaty fists. He turned only his head and jerked his chin for Theo to come to him. Theo moved, but it wasn’t toward Demon. Instead, he circled the fighter, searching for weakness, although he doubted he’d find anything.
“Let him come to you, Viking,” Sy called. Theo nodded, stepping carefully closer to the other angels, enough to hear Sy add, “Show him a weakness that isn’t.”
Liking the idea, Theo exposed his right side and dragged his right leg, the one that Aussie had pummeled, that Father had healed. A huge purple bruise still showed there, a point on his body that Demon would notice and try to take advantage of.
Demon’s eyes widened a fraction, body rotating to keep Theo in his sights. Perfect…
Theo squared off, dropping into a crouch. A fresh rush of adrenaline flooded his body. Demon twitched; Theo attacked. He leapt forward, throwing punch after punch, blocking where he could, grunting dramatically with every landed jab and kick. He was fueled up and ready to do some damage to this man who’d given part of himself to the devil downstairs.
The bell rang, and they both retreated to their corners. Daniel pushed him down onto the stool Walt provided. Theo’s gaze remained on Demon. He cataloged the damage he’d done: a broken and bloody nose, one eye already swelling. Faint red marks showed through the swirl of black ink wherever he’d connected on the man’s body. Demon’s breathing seemed ragged, but then again, so was his own.
