Page 7

LIVIA

“I’m gonna go grab a glass of wine,” I murmured to Dad and Caelan, walking away from them during the pre-wedding festivities. We had been attending meeting after meeting after meeting with people throughout the lands, and I hadn’t gotten time to sneak away.

Until now.

After bunching up my dress, I walked toward the bar, glancing over my shoulder every so often to make sure Caelan wasn’t watching. The Mortal Combat games had already begun, and I needed to be there three hours ago.

Once Caelan and Dad finally turned away, I jogged toward the door and slipped out of it before either of them could see me. I was wearing a stupid dress that Caelan had forced me to put on, and I was one hundred percent regretting it now.

After tearing it halfway up my thigh so I could walk— and fight —I stuffed the torn part in the trash and headed toward the games. My heart thumped loudly, my blood pumping. I hoped I hadn’t missed my chance to compete.

Outside the main building was a blur of people, talking and chatting and laughing with each other. I followed the signs for the games and found myself standing at the entrance of the arena in front of a man who looked of high importance.

“I’m Colson, Chamberlain of Pridehaven Palace. How can I help you?”

“I signed up for the Mortal Combat games last night. I want to fight.”

“What’s your name?”

“Livia. Daughter of Beta Marcus from the Whitecrown Pack.”

“Livia… Livia, Livia, Livia.” He scanned the papers in front of him, looking for my name, then he nodded. “Perfect, you’ve arrived just in time. Once you’re ready, I will lead you down to the holding cells, where you will wait for your name to be called.”

“I’m ready,” I said, straightening my shoulders.

He eyed my pink dress for a moment, his brow arching. “You’re going to fight in that?”

“Yes, I’m going to fight in this.”

I didn’t have any other change of clothes, and I wasn’t going to go buy some. Caelan had bought this stupid dress for me to wear, and I was going to wear it to do what I wanted—not to go to those stupid meetings with him.

Especially not to watch him flirt with other women either.

“That’s no problem,” he said. “Please, follow me.”

After cutting through the outer courtyard, I stayed hidden behind him, in case Caelan decided to look for me. He had been so busy talking to the other packs, flirting with their women, that I doubted he even knew I was gone.

Dad might, but… I didn’t even think he’d look for me.

Colson led me beyond the castle, to a series of narrow tunnels underneath the ground and hillside. The stone walls were damp, smelling of earth and stale air. Chains clinked throughout the tunnels and darkness, and distant voices echoed through the chambers.

“Do you know who I’m fighting?” I asked.

“Not yet, but it will be another wolf around your standing.”

Adrenaline slowly began seeping into my system. I had experience fighting against other wolves, even though I couldn’t shift, so I was confident that I could put up a fight. If I was matched against someone with magic, I wasn’t sure how I’d hold up.

“Has Elijah from the Whispering Pines Pack competed yet?” I asked.

“No.”

“Will I be able to watch him once my fight is over?”

“Yes, we have an area for competitors to watch the games. Once your fight is over, you’ll leave the arena through the exit gate and take a right at the first hallway. It’s a quick two-minute walk. Don’t worry.”

Once we descended a staircase, the room opened into a wide underground holding chamber.

Torches lined the walls, their light flickering against the darkness.

Competitors looked our way: all from different species, some young, some old, some female, some male, some who’d fight physically, others who’d fight with magic.

In the corner, warriors battled it out, practicing before they made it into the arena themselves. They threw each other against the walls so hard that they trembled. Others manipulated the vines, binding up each other’s hands and feet.

“Watch yourself here,” Colson said. “Not everyone respects the fortress rules. Someone might try to injure you before the games start.”

Outside, I could hear the crowd cheering and howling in excitement. This was another world entirely from the wedding. Here, nobody cared about the festival. They only wanted to see the fight, the games .

All they cared about was blood and victory, about the thrill.

“You will wait here,” Colson said, dropping me off in a chamber with a few other females. “There are several different games going on currently. When it’s your turn, somebody will call you. Good luck.”

Once he disappeared back through the crowd, I glanced over at the other young women, wondering what they were here for. Were they fighters too? Or were they participating in other games?

“You’re here for the Mortal Combat games,” someone said to my left, as if she already knew. She sat in the corner with a sharp claw sunk deep into her palm, the blood pooling on her skin. It was a deep crimson color and glowing.

My brows furrowed. She must… be a mage or part fae.

“How’d you know?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Just do, but you don’t look like the type.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Don’t worry about it, Livia,” she murmured.

“How do you know my name?”

A smile fluttered at her lips, and she balled her hand into a fist, the blood dripping onto the sand under her feet. “All I’m saying is that if you’re out there and need to surrender, you should. Don’t let anyone kill you.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “You’re competing too?”

“No.”

“Then what are you doing down here?” I asked.

“Livia!” someone shouted through the holding chamber. “You’re next!”

I stood up, heart racing, and headed toward the voice, but not before I heard the girl murmur, “I’m here for you. You will need it.”