Page 36 of Blood and Thorns

“Was that really necessary?” I asked, taking the seat when he gestured to it. “I could have stood in the corner.”

His upper lip curved into a smirk.Stay here.He typed out on his phone.You’ll be retrieved when he’s done.

Without waiting for me to reply, he turned on his heel, and I was left sitting on my own while the surrounding crowd whispered and pointed.Great.

Even the guy next to me was intentionally giving me his back.

At least the current fight had finished, both the men seeking treatment from a medical team just off to the side. I actually had a good view of the ring, unobstructed. I’d be more impressed if I cared about watching any act of gratuitous violence. The idea that people enjoyed watching people fight was honestly barbaric.

Which was a shame because a new man just slipped beneath the ropes. He grinned to the crowd, waving and winking as he waltzed along the canvas. He must have been at least six three, maybe even four, with arms and legs the size of tree trunks.

Most people cheered, some even chanting,‘Reaper.’

The name didn’t suit him; he was far too cheery. But then a hush came over the crowd, and my eyes immediately were drawn to the side. Sebastian wore nothing but black shorts, not even his mask as he calmly walked towards the centre, Caden at his side.

“In the right corner, with fifteen undefeated fights, we have the Grim Reaper!” The announcer waited a beat for the cheers to quieten before continuing. “In the left, our gracious host, and three times Styx heavyweight champion, Beast!”

If I thought the crowd was loud before, they were feral now.

“Beast!”

“Beast!”

“Beast!”

The Grim Reaper’s smile vanished, his eyes narrowing on Sebastian as he slipped himself between the ropes. I sat, anxious as the two men waited. Caden stayed on the floor by the corner, Langdon joining him.

I could hear the shout of bets, of money being exchanged and arguments of who was going to win, but I couldn’t seem to take my eyes off Sebastian. His demeanour was cool, expression almost bored compared to Reaper’s enthusiasm.

After the initial shock of seeing Sebastian half naked, I noticed his chest seemed carved from granite, with a dusting of dark hair that arrowed down his stomach. The thorns that I’d glimpsed on his hands and throat wrapped around his entire torso, entwined with a few black and grey roses on his ribs.

He turned to speak quietly to Caden, and I realised he had even more ink. ‘Vincit qui se vincit’was written across his shoulders in beautiful calligraphy, but his scars were thicker, more prominent along his back.

Rather than hide them, Sebastian seemed to embrace them. The tattoo artist incorporated the scars beautifully into the design

And then the lights dimmed, and the fight begun.

There was no warning before Reaper launched himself forward with a roar, only for Sebastian to duck flawlessly to the side, forcing Reaper to crash into the ropes and twist with a snarl. It was like a choreographed dance, with Sebastian simply stepping away while Reaper tried and failed to land a hit.

Each of his movements were becoming more erratic, and then Sebastian hit back.

The sound of flesh hitting flesh was distinctive, the resulting grunts and then cheers of the crowd a cacophony of noise that I could barely hear over the blood rushing through my head.

Sebastian dominated the ring, powerful and self-assured. His moves were aggressive, each punch landing with a crack that had the crowd going wild. He barely made a sound when Reaper finally landed a hit to his face, seeming to roll with it rather than defend. Almost toying with his opponent, who was already becoming weaker on his feet.

Sebastian was a force to be reckoned with, his lips curving into a feral smile as another one of his giant fists hit Reaper with an audible crunch, and as soon as he looked over and met my gaze, I stood and ran.

Chapter 19

Arabella

I couldn’t breathe. Shoving through the crowd, I was crushed as I struggled to pass through. Their roars and cheers, it was all too much.

An elbow jabbed into my side, followed by a cutting glare before I managed to break through and run toward the black doors. They opened without assistance, but then I found the noise of the nightclub was worse, the music vibrating through my legs as I gasped.

My lungs felt like they were made of cement, my hands shaking when I made them into fists.

I needed air, space to breathe.