Page 24 of Becoming One
Ezra gave a tiny sneer, “I don’t like the way he fights. It’s without honor. I know that there are no rules, but when his opponent goes down, the man continues to fight until the referee has to pull him off, and even then, he refuses to listen. This tells me that he will not be good at following instructions and he will do whatever he wants over what is right for our people.”
Nelson watched as another referee had to jump in and help pull the man off his opponent. Nelson gasped when Napal twisted and Nelson caught sight of his green glowing eyes, or at least he thought he did, because his eyes were back to normal so fast, Nelson questioned what he had just seen. “Did you guys see that?”
Ezra separated his lips from Jewel’s and looked around as he rubbed his mate’s extended belly, asking, “See what?”
Not wanting to cause problems where there might not be any, Nelson shook his head, muttering, “Never mind.” His fox bristled a warning as a thick, sickly feeling came over Nelson. He had no clue what was going on with Napal, but he hoped the guy was defeated. The thought of his mate going against that man, made Nelson’s stomach tighten.
Orion’s name was called along with Franlon. Ezra smiled. “This should be quick. Franlon is an Imperial Leader in Killian’s coven. He’s good, but not good enough.”
Nelson turned to see his mate getting into a fighting stance. His arms were down, but his hands were fisted as he leaned slightly forward with his legs spread about a foot apart, his left leg pointing towards his opponent. Bringing his arms up and elbows closer to his body, Orion waited for the referee to shout, “Go!”
Franlon immediately lunged forward. Orion twisted slightly to his right, causing Franlon to stumble past him. Orion did a roundhouse kick, hitting Franlon and causing him to land on the ground. Franlon quickly flipped himself back to his feet as he turned to face off with Orion once more.
Orion had gone back into a fighting stance, waiting. Franlon came forward punching with his left, then right hand into Orion’s abdomen. Orion did a wrestler tie-up with his arms around Franlon’s neck, bringing Franlon as close to his body as he could. Just as Orion tried to grip the man to flip him over his shoulder and onto the floor, Franlon twisted out of Orion’s hold and sliced Orion on the side with his claws.
Nelson gasped as blood trickled from his mate, but all Orion did was smile wide and high five the man.My mate is certifiably insane,Nelson thought to himself as the two men continued to kick and punch at each other. It was like watching a mixed martial arts fight, with the punches and kicks being thrown at each other.
The crowd was yelling and screaming as Orion and Franlon went at each other. Money was held high into the air and Nelson was shocked at the blood lust he and his fox could feel in the room. Orion and Franlon both leapt into the air, one with his right leg bent the other with the left. Both men rapidly kicked into the sides of their opponent. As they began to come back down to the floor, Orion leaned forward, grabbing Franlon by the neck. Orion twisted to the side, using the force of his body as a strengthener to snap his opponents head back, then Orion twisted, and used a left uppercut then a right, bringing Franlon to the ground barely moving. The referee held Orion’s hand in the air and he was declared the winner of the match.
The crowd went wild on one side as Killian’s coven clapped, although looking disappointed at the outcome. Nelson felt someone watching him. Looking around, he noticed the man Napal standing there staring in his direction. Slowly he turned to Orion then back to Nelson, giving Nelson one of the creepiest fucking smiles he had ever seen while making a slicing motion on his neck.
Jewel must have heard Nelson whimper. He leaned forward, asking, “What’s wrong?”
Nelson turned to Jewel and pointed in the direction of Napal, but when he looked back, the man was gone.
“Nelson, what is it?” Jewel asked in concern.
Turning back to his best friend, Nelson could see Ezra looking at him with concern, too, as he continued to rub Jewel’s extended belly. Nelson knew if he told Jewel what just happened the man would want to go and check outRadeem Napal,and from the way he was acting, Nelson knew that wouldn’t be a good idea. Well it was, but not with his pregnant best friend. Instead, Nelson gave a wavering smile, saying, “Nothing. I think all this violence is just hard on me. You know with all I went through with Fallon. I think I’ll go check on my mate and make sure he’s doing okay after that fight.”
Jewel looked as if he didn’t believe him but nodded anyway.
Ezra stood up keeping Jewel as close to him as he could. Jael approached looking tired and disgusted. “Re, I’m here to give you my report so far into the investigation.”
Ezra nodded as he said, “Report.”
“We still don’t have the identity of the man murdered. He has no identification on him. However, we went over the scene and there is the scent of three different people. One is the dead man, and another is that of Nicu.” Jael stated.
“And the other?” Ezra asked.
Shaking his head. “I don’t know, Re. I’ve scented it before, but I can’t remember where. I have men out looking for Nicu and this other man, but it’s as if his scent dissipates in the woods.”
Nodding, Ezra ordered, “Keep looking and place more guards around Kaliss.”
“I already have, Re, but we’re really getting stretched for men. I was thinking that maybe we could bring in some of the Crimson Corps of the other Scions,” Jael suggested.
Ezra nodded once more. “I agree. I will contact them immediately.”
“Yes, Re. I’ll head back to the crime scene,” Jael stated, turned and walked away.
Ezra looked at Nelson. “I know you don’t want Orion to know what’s going on so he isn’t distracted, but we have to tell him. He has a right to know that his mate’s life has been threatened.”
“Besides, if Nicu is anywhere nearby, he could go after Orion,” Jewel softly stated.
Nelson sighed. As much as he hated to admit it, Ezra and Jewel were right. Had this situation been reversed Nelson knew he would want to know, and if anything happened to Orion because Nelson kept this secret, he would never forgive himself.
Turning around and facing his mate, Nelson could see Orion looking up at him curiously. Nelson gave his mate the best smile he could, knowing it wasn’t quite reaching his eyes, muttering, “Let’s go.”