Page 32

He glanced up at the man and shook his head. Once the ref bumped his fist, he turned his attention to Alex. “When do we find out who our first opponent is?”

“When you get in the ring,” Alex answered. “Flex your hands and tell me how that feels.”

“Feels good.” Nico opened and closed his hands. “Do I have to put those stupid gloves on?”

"Not if you don't want to. The best way to finish quickly is submission. Take the guy down and make him tap.”

“What else?” Glanced around the area, taking in all of their competition.

“Don’t lose.” Alex handed him a mouthguard. “You’ve got this tonight.”

"Yeah, I do." Street fighting had kept Nico safe for a good portion of his life. Doing this? A cakewalk. The only person he worried about taking on was Hill. It would feel good to knock that douche down a peg or two.

“We’re ready,” Bodhi said from the door. “Let’s go kick some ass.”

The basketball gym had been transformed into an arena with two square rings in the middle. The students had turned out for the Sunday afternoon festivities, and they wouldn’t be disappointed. Nico walked to where Jackson and others stood, waiting for the brackets to be posted. He glanced up to the roped-off riser section around the ring and found Bell and Hayden sitting in their seats. Today, Hayden wore a crimson flowy dress. Her braid wrapped around her head in some intricate updo except for a few curls framing her face. His breath hitched.

Wow.

Hayden always managed to take his breath away. She was beautiful. Gorgeous even. Over the years, he noticed more and more how much she looked like her uncles and her cousins, right down to her full, heart-shaped lips. As she matured though, her wolf genetics had also added to her beauty, tipping her eyes in such a way, he could see her and the big, black wolf within her.

She nibbled on her bottom lip, and his groin tightened. Did she even realize what she did to him? How she drove him insane without even trying. Her gaze lit on him, and he smiled. Her eyes went wide before she gave him a little wave then started talking to Bell. Memories of the afternoon they spent together flooded his mind. She was so small in his arms, thin and lithe. She trusted him not to see the scars of her abuse, and he didn’t. They made her more beautiful in his estimates. Those blue, purple, and red bruises. Those cuts from the chains holding her down, he wanted to lick and kiss each strip until she begged him to stop. When she climaxed in his arms, pure magic. He’d never been so enthralled in his life. Watching her shatter with pleasure—perfection.

She was everything to him.

“What did you say to her yesterday?” Bodhi came up beside him, drawing Nico out of his thoughts.

“What I always say. I’ll do whatever it takes.” He shrugged.

“That all?”

He laughed. “Yeah. You expecting more?”

“With you, I never know what to expect.”

Truth. Nico hadn't always been the predictable one. He couldn't say when things went to shit, where he'd end up, but somehow, he'd always ended up in the right spot at the right time. Seemed as though he was part feline too because he always landed on his feet—until recently. If he couldn't fix things with Hayden, he didn't know what he'd do.

Nico nodded, slapping his friend on the shoulder. “Come on. It’s almost showtime.” They took up their positions near the other competitors. “What happens now?”

“Now, we wait to be introduced then we get in the ring and beat the shit out of each other,” Christoph said. “Should be fun.”

His idea and Nico’s idea of fun were two different things, but if getting the shit beat out of him meant he had a chance with his mate, he’d do it. “Who’s going to be the hardest to take down?”

“Hill is good, but Winston has a nasty habit of cheating to get what he wants. However, Kane is a scrapper." Jackson pointed at the guy on the end. He was tall and had shoulder-length brown hair. His green gaze took in everything around him while he too waited. “Watch for Winston to shift mid-round.”

“We’re warned not to shift,” Nico stated, a little dumbfounded.

“It won’t stop him. All those assholes care about is getting in as many hits as possible and wearing you down. Don’t for a minute think anyone here has the best of intentions.” Jackson snorted then turned his attention to the stands as the man from the day before stepped up onto the raised dais positioned between the risers.

“And you, Jackson?” Nico prodded.

“I’m your worst nightmare come to life, but it doesn’t mean I’m not loyal to those who are loyal to me.” The dragon crossed his arm over his chest.

Before he could ask another question, the announcer raised his hands, settling everyone. “Day two has brought forth the competitors worthy of calling themselves champions. Today, we’ll see just how strong they are.”

The man played up the whole gladiator vibe of the event. His toga had gold clips holding it together in place of yesterday’s bronze, and his wreath of leaves gleamed in the bright light of the gym—a dramatic flair if Nico had to guess.

“Who is that guy?”