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No, absolutely not. This was not happeni—“And you.”

He pointed directly at me. I felt frozen in time, unable to move.

But Commander Macanthos did not seem like a male to challenge.

“Hey,” Lanson whispered behind me, placing a hand on my lower back. “You got this, okay?”

Gotthis? Hells, I wanted nothing more than to smash this arrogant prick’s teeth in the second this match started, but that wouldn’t be an option.

Not on day one. Not with everyone watching.

Blend in. Don’t win the damn fight.

I turned and gave Lanson a half-smile before stepping into the circle.

“Ryder and Huntyr, let’s see what you’ve got. Fight like your life depends on it,” the commander called out.

My opponent, Ryder, stepped forward, rubbing his hands in front of him. He looked me up and down, sizing me up like a toy to be played with. He had taken his shirt off, his glistening, toned body beaming in the sun.

He was strong and had clearly been training for this.

I planted my feet into the ground and lifted my fists.Come on, you big brute. Hit me.

The snarl on his face said it all; he was coming at me with everything he had.

A few seconds later, he did.

He towered over me in size, taking two long strides to close the gap between us and swing toward my face.

I ducked and rolled to the opposite side of the clearing before jumping back to my feet. My instincts screamed at me to do something, to fight back. To tackle him below the waist and throw him off balance.

Fucking hells.

“The Golden City needs fighters,” Ryder snarled. “Not little rats like you.” He finished his words with another swing, attempting to grab my shoulders. “Did you really think you would survive long enough to become one of the elite?”

I spun away from his grasp, giving his fingers barely enough time to graze my shirt before I escaped him.

He smiled and cocked his head to the side. “Can’t run forever, rat.”

My heart pumped adrenaline through my veins, only fueling the instincts that I tried so fucking hard to fight. Everyone watched us. Everyone waited for him to end me, to end this fight.

I wasn’tsupposedto win.

“End this, then,” I said. “If you’re so worthy, hit me already.”

Ryder’s eyes darkened, the primal fae instincts taking over. Instincts I knew all too well. This time, when he rushed forward and sent a fist flying toward my stomach, I let him hit me.

I was prepared for it, but the air rushed from my lungs, leaving me doubled over in the middle of the courtyard.

“Give up,” he hissed. “You don’t stand a chance.”

I shook my head and braced myself with hands on my knees.Strong enough to survive, weak enough to blend in.I couldn’t give up. Not on day one. Not like this.

“I’m not giving up.” No, if he wanted to win this fight, he would have to earn it. I could only fight my lifetime of training so much.

“You want me to hit you again, rat? Fine by me,” he growled. The next punch landed square on my jaw, sending me stumbling sideways.

My vision blurred. Blood filled my mouth.