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Hands landed on his shoulders, and the angels pressed closer, their bodies crowding Daniel. “Watch,” El whispered. “Believe in your mate.”
Mate? What?But Daniel had no further time to speculate. Demon moved with incredible speed, fists flying, most not connecting as Theo weaved and dodged, landing his own blows on the black-stained flesh.
Demon staggered. Theo pressed his advantage with a fake to the head, a double jab to the abdomen, and a cut kick that swept Demon off his feet. He hit the mat, and Theo was on him in seconds. Unfortunately, Theo’s slighter weight allowed Demon to throw him off.
Theo barely bounced before he was up and on Demon’s back, who had rolled to get to his feet. He flattened Demon to the mat, using his feet and knees to keep his opponent’s legs spread while jabbing at the man’s sides relentlessly.
Ding!
“Damn it!” Daniel cursed under his breath. Theo had been winning. Allowing Demon to catch his breath might affect the outcome of the fight. He rushed after Walt, water bottle at the ready.
Walt applied coagulant to the few scrapes Theo had received while Daniel studied the angel as he gave him water. Theo’s full attention remained riveted on Demon. A glance revealed Demon’s gaze still locked on Theo.
When Demon finally looked away, Theo shuddered and blinked. It looked to Daniel as if he’d returned from some sort of out-of-body experience. He gazed at Daniel, his expression softening. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself. You’re doing great. How do you feel?” Daniel accepted a damp cloth from Walt and wiped away the blood and sweat from Theo’s face.
“Good.” He spread his legs and directed Daniel to stand between his knees. With his hands on Daniel’s waist, he tilted his head back as Daniel continued to wipe him clean. “Better. That feels great.”
“This guy is tough, huh?”
“Yeah,” Theo sighed, closing his eyes as Daniel drew the cloth across them. “Tougher than Bruno and Aussie. I think I’m doing good, though.”
“You’re doing amazing. Sy and El are impressed.”
“Yeah?” Theo smiled. “They’re so much better than me…”
Daniel lightly bopped Theo’s nose, just in case there was any breakage—Theo’s eyes and nose were slightly swollen. “I’ll say it again: they’re both impressed, so you must be doing something right.”
“You’re the most right thing I’ve ever done.”
Walt snorted as heat flashed across Daniel’s cheeks. He leaned down and whispered, “Who are you and what have you done with my sweet angel?”
“Trainers out!”
Daniel let his fingers drag across Theo’s chest as the angel stood, looking down at him. El’s reminder to boost Theo’s confidence ran through his mind. “Beat him, and when we get home, I’ll give you a reward.”
“I like rewards.” Theo escorted Daniel to the gate.
“Ten seconds!”
Theo whirled away, and Daniel scampered down the stairs. The bell rang, and Demon again attacked in a flurry of moves. This time, however, Theo wasn’t as fast to evade most of them. Strike after strike, many finding their mark, forced Theo to give ground.
“Don’t let him get you against the cage!” Sy shouted, just as Theo’s back foot made contact.
Daniel held his breath as Theo let himself be pushed backward, but then he lowered his shoulder and, using the cage wall as leverage, shoved hard into Demon. Both men went down with Theo landing on top, boxing at Demon’s head and ears. With his arms up protecting his head, though, Theo’s blows fell short.
Demon lifted his upper body, removed his arms, and headbutted Theo. Then, with one sharp thrust of his hips, Theo tumbled from his dominant position. Theo rolled quickly, coming toward Daniel. “More, more, more,” Sy yelled, keeping Theo moving until he butted up against the cage.
Demon dove on top of Theo, laying down the same type of barrage that Theo had just done to him. Walt pulled Daniel back; Sy and El slid into his place, blocking his view. Their hands were in front of their bodies, low along the mat, both of them shouting encouragement at Theo.
With his legs free, Theo lifted his feet and caught the side of Demon’s head with his heels, knocking him into the cage. Demon slowed, blinked, appeared confused, and Theo took advantage, shoving him backward onto the mat. Demon rolled over, but Theo was on him fast, putting him into a chokehold. Daniel surmised that the blow to Demon’s head had concussed him enough for Theo to gain control. Demon put up some weak resistance, refusing to tap out, and Theo kept going until his opponent passed out.
The bell rang, and the crowd went wild. Theo staggered to his feet, pulling himself upright, using the cage as an aid. He held on with one hand as the ref raised his other in victory. Daniel clutched the cage right below him, watching him sway, and praying to God that he wasn’t hurt too badly.
Sy and El ducked beneath Theo’s arms and held him upright. Walt flashed a light into Theo’s eyes, and he tried to bat it away.
Daniel hovered nearby, fretting as they helped Theo down the stairs. His stomach was in knots, and he thought he might not make it to the locker room upon seeing trickles of blood run down Theo’s once beautiful face. A face now marred with swelling, bruises, and cuts.
