Page 14 of Black Hearted (Cursed Fae #4)

Zane

I’d won my first two fights within seconds. One punch to the side of their head or an uppercut to their jaw, and the scrawny fae had dropped like a stack of old books.

The crowd had cheered for the first two knockouts, but now they just looked bored. Donahue was probably annoyed that I wasn’t giving them more of a show, but I didn’t care. I was consumed with getting to Lorelei, and each fae I faced was just another obstacle I needed to defeat to reach her.

After defeating my third opponent almost as quickly as the first two, I was beginning to think I’d be out of here in less than a half hour. Then, the next fae entered the ring.

One I recognized.

The bastard who broke my wrist.

The crowd roared their approval as the large, muscular fae with short black hair sneered at me. He flexed his pec muscles, making them jump from left to right like some kind of ridiculous showman.

As much as I wanted to knock this fool out the second the bell rang, I needed to make him pay for what he did to me—and, ultimately, to Nellie. That sweet girl was lying in pain back at the inn because of him.

“Our next fight,” the Enforcer announced from his seat just outside the metal cage, his voice booming magically throughout the space, “is between the newcomer, Zane, and the legendary Hammer.”

Hammer?

I rolled my eyes. What a stupid name for a coward who tried to take me out of the fight rather than face me head-on.

“Feeling better, I see,” he growled, flicking his gaze toward my forearm.

“Oh, you have no idea how good I’m about to feel,” I shot back just as the bell rang.

Instead of going for my usual uppercut knockout, I kicked out my foot and landed a solid hit squarely in his chest.

He grunted, spittle flying from his mouth as he staggered backward. The crowd roared their approval.

“It looks like our newcomer is finally going to give us a show,” the Enforcer’s voice boomed around us as Hammer ran at me, eyes feral and hands up. He was ready to box, and I reminded myself how fast he could be.

Bring it, you slimy coward.

He might have bested me once, but I wasn’t about to let it happen again.

When he got within striking range, I clipped his jaw with an uppercut. My hits were fast and hard. Even though it was a light hit since he shifted left at the last moment, it still rattled him. He shook his head as if trying to clear the ringing in his ears.

He tried to counterattack, but his punches were sloppy. They had weight, but I was able to block every blow.

After only a few minutes of fighting, Hammer was already winded. He swung at me—a move I saw coming from a mile away—and I easily dodged. His punch missed entirely, and his momentum carried him forward, slamming him into the bars.

I couldn’t help but grin as I watched him stumble before regaining his footing. I moved to the other side of the cage, and he twisted back toward me with a growl.

To think I thought these fights would be a challenge. I mean, I was an Ethereum lord, but since I wasn’t using my magic, I’d expected to at least work for my wins.

With a roar of fury, Hammer charged at me with renewed energy. He faked left, and I should have seen it coming, but I’d gotten cocky. He landed a solid blow to my right ear that sent me staggering to the side. As I steadied myself, I felt wetness trickling down my cheek.

Wetness.

Blood.

Black blood.

No.

Panic seized me as I realized my huge oversight. I’d been so careful not to use my magic since I saved Nellie, but I’d completely forgotten that my magic wasn’t the only thing that set me apart from the seelie in Faerie.

Reaching up, I quickly covered my ear with my right hand.

The lighting in the cavernous room wasn’t great.

Maybe no one had noticed the color of my blood yet.

If I could get through this fight, I could clean up and bandage my ear.

As long as I avoided another hit, I might still have a chance to continue in the tournament and win the prize money.

But with my ear covered, I’d have to fight one-handed.

Hammer came for me again. I jabbed out with my weaker left hand, landing three quick blows to the side of his head. The hits opened a gash over his eye, and crimson blood trickled down his face. He staggered back but didn’t go down like I’d hoped.

“Both fighters look hurt. Zane appears to be protecting an injury on the side of his head,” the Enforcer announced as the crowd roared.

“Knock him out!” a familiar voice ripped through the noise, and my blood ran cold.

Nellie.

No. She wouldn’t.

I flicked my gaze toward the voice and saw her pressed up against the bars, cradling her injured arm to her chest.

My heart skipped a beat.

I barely had time to process the fact that she’d snuck out and found her way here before Hammer lunged at me again. Twisting away, I stuck my foot out at the last moment and tripped him. He went down hard.

As he lay on the ground at my feet, I punched him in the back of the head four times until he went limp—knocked out cold.

The crowd went wild as the bell rang, and my heart hammered in my chest.

Think. Think.

The second I took my hand off my ear, it would expose my black blood.

Hammer regained consciousness quickly and rolled onto his back. His eyes were unfocused, and his face was covered in red blood from the damage I’d inflicted with my fists.

Reaching down with my free hand, I grasped his face, smearing blood all over my palm and fingers.

“That beating was for my wrist,” I growled at him before pulling away.

I swapped hands quickly to cover my bleeding ear, hoping that Hammer’s blood, now smeared over my hand and the side of my face, would hide my own incriminating black blood.

My heart raced as Bucky leaped into the ring with a small patch-up kit, probably intending to stitch up my ear.

I glanced at Nellie, who chewed her lip worriedly, and shook my head lightly. I couldn’t believe she was here. But on the other hand, the girl had more spunk than anyone I’d ever met. Should I really be surprised she’d found her way to the fights?

“Let me take a look so I can get you patched up,” Bucky said.

I cast him a wary glance before slowly removing my hand, praying I’d smeared enough of Hammer’s blood on my face to make it look like I bled red like everyone else.

At least the corner where we sat was dark, but even so, I avoided throwing Bucky nervous looks as he worked.

“It’s not too bad. I think the bleeding has stopped,” he said, and I sagged in relief. “You only need a stitch or two.”

“Great,” I muttered, swallowing a curse as he stuck the needle into my ear and began stitching me up.

Glancing down, I noticed my black, oil-like blood covering my fingers and palm. I quickly began unwrapping my hand to destroy the evidence.

“Can you rewrap me, too?” I asked.

“Sure thing,” Bucky said. I felt the warmth of a washcloth against my neck and face as he cleaned me up.

Nellie’s little face suddenly swam into view between the bars, and the little brat had the audacity to grin.

“That was awesome,” she told me.

“How long have you been here?” I asked, searching behind her for Evander or Elida, though I was certain they wouldn’t have let her come. She’d likely snuck out while they slept.

“Since the second fight,” she said. “I wasn’t going to miss this. You might need me.”

I glanced at her injured wrist and shook my head. “Nellie, go back. Please.”

She tipped her chin high. “No.”

I growled in frustration as Bucky took the wadded-up cloth from my old wraps and tossed them into the trash. I peered down at the rag he’d wiped my face with, relieved to see it was mostly dark red, with only faint streaks of black.

Now I had to get through the next fight without bleeding, and I’d be in the clear. It was the final match, and I was up against Brunok. This one was going to be brutal. But could I get through it without taking a hit to the face?

I’d have to try. The easiest way to avoid a punch was to knock him out cold right away. No more messing around like I had with Hammer.

Once Bucky finished rewrapping my hand, I thanked him and kneeled down to where Nellie was still pressed against the bars. Many in the crowd had refilled their drinks during the break and were now making their way back.

“Nellie, things might go bad. I need you to go back out to the alley and wait for me in front of the alterations shop on the corner.”

She frowned, glaring up at me. “No way, Zane. I’m not leaving.”

Heaving a sigh, I tilted my head back and spotted the moon through the skylight above. Why was this child so difficult?

Taking a deep breath, I glanced back down and into her eyes.

“I’m trying to get you to your aunt in one piece,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin.

“And I’m trying to watch your back, too. We’re a team,” she snarled, and something inside me softened.

She had the disposition of a feral lion cub sometimes, and I adored that about her. I’d grown up with brothers, so I never had a sister, though I imagined if I did, she’d have been like Nellie.

Fierce. Loyal. Loving on the inside with a hard outer shell.

“Fine.” I lowered my voice. “Stay close, but be ready to flee at any moment.”

Her eyes widened slightly at that, as if surprised I’d relented, but she nodded dutifully.

“And now for our main event,” the Enforcer’s voice boomed, and the crowd erupted with applause.

I turned just as Brunok stepped into the ring, his eyes locked on me like I was prey.

Movement on the other side of the cage caught my attention.

I saw Malek, Donahue’s associate, standing beside the Enforcer.

His black hair and ice-blue eyes reminded me so much of Isolde.

Still holding the wooden box with the winnings and the faestone dagger, he stood like a sentinel, guarding the prize.

“The winner of this fight walks away with one hundred gold coins,” the Enforcer roared, and the crowd cheered their approval. “Not to mention the bragging rights,” he added with a chuckle as Brunok beat his chest like a wild animal.