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“The fuck?” Oscar snarled quietly.

“Oh, those?” Yulia smirked right at Isobel. “Don’t worry about the decorations, you’re free to do whatever you like in here as long as it’s entertaining. Your performance last week was lacklustre, but you’ve never disappointed me before, so I’m trusting that it was an aberration.”

It was lacklustre because you drugged me, bitch .

Isobel sucked in a breath, choosing silence.

“Right, let me show you the viewing rooms.” Yulia squeezed past Kalen and Mikel and stepped into the room with Isobel, Oscar, and Moses.

She walked to one of the mirrored walls and flicked a latch that Isobel hadn’t noticed, pulling the door open to reveal a small pod-like room, like the business class suite on an airplane.

There was a thick leather recliner, headphones, and wall compartments on either side, some of them covered and some of them not.

The uncovered sections looked to hold drinks and snacks.

The lighting was dim and soft, and the entire space made Isobel want to peel off her skin.

It was so close to the glass. The people watching her would be only a few steps away.

“As you can see,” Yulia showed the back side of the door. “These lock from the outside, so your safety is guaranteed. No touching.” She squeezed herself back into the dressing room. “Are we all happy?” she asked, settling her eyes on Kalen … and then moving them to Isobel.

Desmarais really did think she was the one in control of the Alphas.

“What are the headphones for?” Isobel asked.

“Ah, good question. Ever the choreographer, already focussing on the technicals. I trust that means you’ll put everything into this performance, Carter. I have six clients who have paid a lot of money to get into these available pods tonight.”

“Of course,” Isobel said, still waiting for an answer to her question.

“There’s a button on the wall, beside the door here.

” She motioned the sex toy wall. “When the button is illuminated, you’re playing music into their headphones from the control panel on the wall—it’ll play the same music in your room.

When the light is switched off, they’ll get a feed directly from your room instead so that they can hear you. ”

“I see.”

“Now, let’s head down. You too, Carter.”

Isobel trailed after the group, Cian moving to her side and threading her hand through his arm again.

She was suddenly glad for how obsessively they had crowded her all day.

It didn’t remove the feeling of slime coating her skin, but it lessened the sensation a little, especially when Cian’s saltwater and sunshine scent curled around her.

Why are they taking Isobel to the fights? Theodore spoke into the bond nervously.

Because she’s the Alpha whisperer, Oscar responded.

That’s obviously a joke, Elijah said, but it’s probably exactly why—they seem to be testing the theory that Isobel can control our emotions.

Is it obviously a joke ? Isobel asked. I could be an Alpha whisperer.

Poor baby thinks she’s higher up the Alpha rank than Kalen. Kilian’s gently teasing intonation almost brought a tense smile to her lips. Who’s going to break it to her?

Me , Oscar claimed quickly. I love breaking her.

Break it to her, Kilian snipped. Is the reception bad in here or something?

Hey, Isobel interrupted, the reception inside my head is great, don’t even go there.

Before we get off-track , Moses drawled, let me break it to you, Carter. I’m the lowest in the Alpha rankings, and you’re so far below me that I’m not even sure we’re on the same ladder.

I don’t believe you , she shot back. I’m so dominant, I’ve thought about caving in Yulia’s skull at least six times since we entered this hellhole tonight.

That’s not dominance, pet . Mikel sounded amused. That’s a litmus test for psychopathy. Only psychopaths can look at Yulia without being inundated by violent thoughts.

I assure you, that’s not true , Oscar countered. I’ve envisaged it more than six times. I actually haven’t stopped. I’m doing it right now. Check in later, I’ll be doing it then, as well.

Well, there you have it , Moses said dryly. From the psychopath’s lips to your ears.

Their conversation was cut off as they were split into two groups and ushered into elevators that dropped them down to a lower level of the Stone Dahlia.

The air carried a tinge of sweat, the walls and floors a polished dark marble threaded with gold.

It was the busiest Dahlia room she had ever stepped into, people jostling for space as they all scurried to find seats in the smooth wooden stands haloing a main stage.

There were a few platforms closer to the stage, closed in boxes with tinted glass, though most of them had drawn back the windows so that the sound of the frenzy below would spill in.

“West and Easton, you can come with me,” Yulia said to Kalen and Mikel, as a man with a clipboard ran forward to usher the other Alphas into the crowd, launching straight into the rules for Gifted participants, though half of them were already experienced down here.

Isobel took an uncertain step toward Kalen and Mikel as Yulia began to lead them away, but a heavy hand on her shoulder pulled her up short. “You’ll be in my box tonight, Miss Carter.”

Desmarais.

He steered her with that steady hand on her shoulder, pushing her toward the steps leading up to one of the private boxes.

There was only one seat, and she briefly considered praying to Stygian to smite Desmarais if he expected her to sit on his lap, but she didn’t have any candles, and she wasn’t sure it would work without candles.

That creepy fucker better be keeping his hands to himself, Theodore’s voice echoed into her head, his feelings of uncertainty and concern spiking through the bond.

I think we can stay connected from further away now , she responded, sweeping the room in an attempt to see where any of them had gone.

I’m actually going to need to know that he’s keeping his hands to himself, Theodore reiterated.

“Have a seat, Carter.” Desmarais motioned to the single chair—wooden, no padding—and she perched nervously on the edge of it, leaning forward to stare down into the too-close ring below, the smell of leather, rubber, and disinfectant mixing with that hint of sweat in the air, and something else too. Metallic.

He’s keeping his hands to himself , she reassured Theodore, before speaking out loud.

“You want me to watch, sir?” She eased back to sit up straight in the chair.

He scoffed. “I thought you were smart? No, I don’t want you to watch.

I want you to prove . You led me to believe you can influence and control these beasts, and now, here’s your chance.

” He flicked a piece of paper into her lap.

“I have other matters to attend to, but Novikov will report back on your success or failure. Good luck.”

He strode from the box, the door closing behind him, and Isobel unfurled the piece of paper, staring at the words written neatly in black ink.

Niko Hart: Lose.

Moses Kane: Lose.

Oscar Sato: Lose.

Theodore Kane: Lose.

Elijah Reed: Win.

Kilian Grey: Win.

Gabriel Spade: Win.

Cian Ashford: Win.

What is it? This time it was Mikel who called into her head, and she sensed that he and Kalen were closer than the others.

She even thought she could feel their eyes on her, somehow.

She scanned the crowd again and then the other private boxes, finding them sitting directly across from her in one of the boxes, sitting in wide, cushioned armchairs.

Yulia Novikov sat between them, a hand stroking Kalen’s firm thigh.

Isobel swallowed, trying to breathe through her nose, fighting down the sickening, horrible twist of emotion that bubbled up in the pit of her stomach.

Kalen edged his thigh away from Yulia, but her hand was stuck to him like glue.

He spat out something low beneath his breath, shifting his thigh again.

This time, Yulia allowed him to pull away, but a deep scowl dug into her features.

Isobel , Mikel commanded her attention. What is it?

She glanced down at the note, her eyes swimming with tears. She angrily swiped them away and read out the contents of the note in her head, adding, They want me to prove that I can influence and control you all with my Sigma power. They clearly have no idea how Sigmas work.

Even less of an idea since they lost the only Sigma they had on their payroll , Moses added, referencing Teak.

Yulia leaned toward Kalen, trying to speak into his ear. He picked up his chair and shifted it an inch away.

What the hell is going on out there? Cian demanded. Why does it feel like all three of you are about to throw fists?

Just Yulia trying to lose a few fingers , Mikel replied dismissively. Kalen has it handled. Focus on how you’re going to win or lose these fights for your little puppet master.

They fell quiet, and when Yulia reached for Kalen again, he jolted out of his chair, choosing to lean against the window ledge to focus on the ring below.

Isobel relaxed when he was out of Yulia’s reach, but then the matches were starting and the crowd was screaming.

The air was intense and electric, and while Isobel couldn’t actually see people passing money around, there was no other reason for them to be screaming for victory so fretfully.

There was money riding on these fights.

Probably a lot of it.

Moses strolled out into the ring to an uproar of cheers—the people knew him.

They were thumping their feet against the floor in a vicious chorus like they had absolutely no doubts that he would win.

Isobel consulted her list again, realising that Desmarais had asked for all the experienced fighters to lose and all the inexperienced fighters to win.