Sovereign (11 page)

“Isn’t that better?” He stroked my hair as Brianne’s scream broke when one of the attendants cracked his baton across her back. She fell to her knees.

Cal clicked the microphone back on. “That’s enough. I think they’re ready.”

The attendants hurried back inside the wooden door as Brianne struggled to her feet.

Gavin was still consoling his little sister when Brianne launched herself onto his back.

“That’s more like it. Enjoy the show, folks.” Cal dropped the microphone and ran his hand along my thigh before peering at my neck. “What’s this here? Who bit you?”

I didn’t answer, only watched as Gavin yanked Brianne from his back and tossed her to the ground. She scrambled up and rushed him again, her blonde hair flying out behind her. He had at least fifty pounds on her. There was no way she could win. But she fought, screaming and clawing at him as he tried to ward her off.

“Something about you. The more I see you, the more I want you. I
covet
you. I’m not the only one, either. Why is that, do you think?” Cal’s voice slithered into my ear.

I kept my mouth clenched shut as Brianne kicked at Gavin’s shins. He yelled and shoved her back.

“I find myself wondering if your snatch is covered with the same color hair as this.” He twisted a lock between his fingers. “You were bare last time I saw you.”

I focused on Brianne and Gavin, analyzing their movements, looking for weaknesses. I could do it. I could fight and win. The only thing I couldn’t do was look at Gavin’s sister. Her frightened eyes were already etched in my mind, her youth ruined by this foul tournament.

“Hey.” He yanked my hair and moved his hand under my shirt. “I need your full attention. Gavin and Brianne can work out their differences without you.”

“You have it.” I darted my eyes over to Sin. He cut an imposing figure, standing completely still, his eyes on me.

“I don’t think I do.” He worked his hand up my shirt to my sports bra and pinched my nipple through the fabric. “But I know how to get it.”

I froze, humiliation washing over me at Cal’s unwanted touch. Even as Brianne screamed below, I met his eyes, the dark pupils wide.

“Was that so hard?” He eased up on my nipple and palmed my breast. “I just wanted to talk to you a little. I feel like I haven’t gotten to know you as well as Brianne.”

The crowd roared as Gavin let out a shriek, but I kept my eyes on Cal.

“Very good. See? You can be taught.” He pulled his hand out of my shirt and rested it on my thigh again.

I fought the urge to watch what was happening on the ground below.
Think
. I had to take this opportunity to learn what I could from Cal. “Dylan told me he owns me.”

“Ah.” His eyes went to the mark on my neck. “So I assume this is his handiwork?”

I nodded. “Sin owns me. Dylan owns me. You don’t. There’s no point coveting something you will never have.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure. I’m still Sovereign for some time yet. Besides, ‘never’ is such a broad term, don’t you think?” He leaned over and licked along the bite mark. I bit my lip to keep from crying out at the sting.

Brianne’s shriek got her mother to her feet as the crowd laughed and jeered. I glanced down. She was on her stomach, crawling toward Gavin. Bloodied and grim, he backed away from her.

Cal took my arm and wrapped it around his neck. “What if I said Sin would win if you’d be mine for the rest of the contract year? Voluntarily agree to do whatever I asked. I don’t want to fight you. That’s not my kink. I want total and utter obedience.”

I stilled and stared into his face, trying to measure the weight of his words. Was he lying? “Why do I care if he wins or not? I wish him dead every morning when I wake up.”

He smiled. “You aren’t fooling me. I can see you’re considering it. Good. Though it’s not up to you, really. Sin would have to agree since, technically, he owns you now.”

“How do I know you’ll keep your word?”

His face hardened, and he slapped me. “Don’t ever question my honor, you little cunt.”

My ears rung but I tried not to react to the pain along my cheek.

Gavin yelled, the sound throaty and full of rage.

The crowd roared.

Cal’s sneer turned into a smile. “I think that’s my cue.” He scooted me off his lap and stood.

Brianne lay motionless in the grass, her eyes closed. Gavin knelt beside her, tears streaming down his face as he stroked her hair. Her face was bloodied, his knuckles red.

“Looks like we need a medic. Get her revived for her bout with Stella. In the meantime, Red, you’re up.”

Two attendants rushed out and grabbed Brianne under her arms before dragging her back through the door we’d entered. Gavin sat heavily and stared up at me, his eyes open windows of pain and regret. I kept taking deep breaths, refusing to panic at the rising tide of horror around me.

Red walked to a steel table along the battlement, though I couldn’t see what was on the top. I shivered as Cal came up behind me and lay his forearm across my chest above my breasts.

“You’re really going to love this part.” He held me in place so I was looking right at the chained victims.

Red picked up something that looked like a monkey wrench, the metal dull and heavy.

“Oh, good choice, my man. Let’s see what he can do with it.” Cal laughed, and the rest of the audience laughed with him.

My blood turned to ice as Red approached the bound woman. She tried to stand and back away, but she was chained to the floor. I glanced to Sin. He shook his head almost imperceptibly. Maybe he was telling me not to watch. It didn’t matter. I had to see it, to witness every last disgusting act. It was the only way to keep my fire burning, the same fire that would destroy these animals.

Red pulled the wrench back and swung as Brianne’s mother screamed. The sound was cut off as the wrench made contact with a wet thud. Her teeth flew out, like white pearls in the low light of the clouds. Blood poured down her face.

Gavin retched into the grass, and I bit my cheek hard enough to draw blood.

The crowd leapt to its feet and screamed with approval. Brianne’s mother screeched and fell to her hands and knees. The child wailed, covered her face, and scooted closer to my father. He didn’t comfort her, only stared at Brianne’s mother as she moaned and touched her ruined nose and mouth.

“Well, well. Red’s been working on his aim.” Cal patted my ass. “Good show. Now let’s move on to the next round. Gavin and Stella.” He pushed me toward the stairs and lowered the mic. “Go on, and don’t forget what we talked about. I only hope Gavin doesn’t mess up your pretty face too much. I’d like to do the honors on that.”

I descended the narrow spiral stair and walked out onto the grass, the turf soft beneath my feet as the light mist continued to drizzle down around me.

Pulling another elastic from my pocket, I wrapped my hair into the same tight bun. Sparring with Dmitri was one thing. Fighting a stranger was something else. But having to fight Gavin when the consequences were torture and death?

Gavin still sat in the grass, head in his hands.

I glanced up to my father. He leaned forward, his eyes imploring me. Sin stood behind him, his arms crossed and his mask inscrutable. The child cried and clung to my father. I’d trained, struggled, and pushed myself so I could win any match. But the more I looked at the child, the more I questioned my desire to win.

I stopped in front of Gavin, my hands at my sides. “Gavin, you need to get up.”

“Did you see what he did? Did you see what
I
did?” He turned his hands over and showed me his bloodied knuckles.

“You did what you had to do.” Just like I was going to do what I had to do. “Get up or I’ll kick you in the face.”

“No.” He shook his head.

“Bring out the batons, boys.” Cal’s voice drew the attendants, weapons at the ready.

I let out a breath, steadied myself, and aimed a kick at Gavin’s ribs. He clutched the spot and fell to his side.

“Oh, we’ve got some fireworks.”

The attendants retreated as Gavin struggled back to his knees, then his feet. He finally met my eyes. I wanted to hug him. Instead, I raised my hands, ready to fight.

“Are we really going to do this?” His question was more sorrow than anything else.

“We have to.” I tilted my chin toward the captives. “For them.”

He glanced to his sister and brought up his fists. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” I charged him and darted to the side at the last second, punching him in the side of the head. Pain shot through my fist and radiated up my arm, but I turned to face him again.

He shook his head as if he had water in his ear. “Fuck.”

“Come on.” I waved him to me.

He looked to his sister again before pounding across the grass. I dodged, letting his weight carry him forward, and jumped on his back. He flailed, grabbing at my arm as I brought my elbow down on his shoulder again and again.

He slapped my face and finally got hold of my arm, then threw me over his head. I hit the ground with a thunk. The wind rushed out of my body as the crowd tittered. I rolled before his foot came down where my stomach had been. Climbing to my feet, I backed away, breathing hard and looking for an opening.

Then I glanced up at my father. The girl sat next to him, frightened and alone. My father ignored her and watched as I fought to keep him from harm.

Gavin leapt toward me, but I backed away, curving around the platform as he followed. He sprinted at me, and I feinted right before kicking his shin as hard as I could. He fell to his knees, and his sister screamed. The sound was piercing, far too powerful for her small body. My father smiled down at me, triumph in the tilt of his head.

And then I knew what to do. My father had made his mistakes, committed his sins. Gavin’s sister hadn’t. I wouldn’t let her suffer. I could lose this battle, but win the war by giving in to Cal’s demand.

Gavin clambered to his feet and I kicked him in the stomach. He stumbled back as I launched myself onto him, wrapping my legs around him as he staggered back into the unforgiving wall. I took his head between my hands and knocked it against the stones.

“Fuck!” He grabbed my waist and tried to pull me off.

“You have to win this.” I hissed in his ear.

He stopped struggling against me, so I punched the side of his head. “Don’t stop. Make it look good. But win. For your sister.”

He punched me in the ribs. I gasped and fell back, landing on my feet. I brought my hands up.

The wails of Brianne’s mother carried down to our ears as we circled each other again. The crowd went silent, and the rain began to intensify.

He lunged at me, but I sidestepped easily and swung around, landing the back side of my fist into his kidney. Stumbling forward, he doubled over. I kicked his legs out from under him and jumped on top. The crowd roared as I rained blows down on his face. He threw his arms up and tried to block me.

“Fight back.” I said through clenched teeth.

He rolled to his right, throwing me onto my back and climbing on top of me. His palms slid against my wet skin as he wrapped his hands around my throat.

“Squeeze harder. Leave marks.” I gasped, and he obeyed.

I clawed at his hands as the cold rain soaked into my clothes. When my vision began to dim, I pushed one arm between his and wrenched his elbow out to the side. It gave me the opening I needed to flip him and climb off. I backed away, my neck burning from his pressure.

“We still have a live one down there, my friends.” Cal laughed.

I bent over and put my hands on my knees, taking deep breaths as Gavin scrambled to his feet and approached me. We were both wet and muddy as the rain began to pour. “Just give up now. You’ve put on a good enough show.”

I shook my head. “More. We need more. We can’t risk it.” I exploded off my back foot and nailed him in the jaw with my right fist. Pain burst along my knuckles as he stumbled backwards.

Aiming a kick at his side, I struck him squarely with the tip of my boot. He howled and tightened up, pulling his arm in close to the injured spot. I darted away, adrenaline making my movements even faster.

Tracking my arc, he tackled me and we rolled until I was able to crawl away. He grabbed my ankle and hauled me back. I rolled onto my back and kicked at him, but he grabbed my knees and pinned me between his thighs. His fist came as a blur, and pain radiated from my eye and across my face.

I screamed and fought as he tried to get his hands around my throat again. Another burst of pain at my temple and my vision went dark for a moment before brightening almost unbearably.

“I’m sorry.” He hit me again, this time lighting my ribs on fire. Another blow on my other side had me writhing and trying to dig my elbows into the soft ground and slide away from him. Rain pelted my face as he loomed over me, his fist drawn back. I covered my face, but he connected with the back of my forearm. Crying out, I scratched deep gouges in his neck. He slapped me, the sound like a shot, the pain bringing tears to my eyes.

I bucked hard and pushed with my right foot. He toppled sideways, and I scooted back from him. Turning to get on all fours, I tried to crawl away. His weight landed on my back, crushing me as his forearm went around my throat.

“Pass out.” He hissed in my ear. “I can’t hurt you anymore. I won’t. Please don’t make me.”

I struggled, digging my nails into his arm and trying to roll him off me. He was too big. My breathing became labored simply from his weight on my back.

“That’s enough. They’ll buy it. Please. It’s enough.” He squeezed a little. “Just stop.”

I slowed my movements and let my head loll to the ground.

“Thank you,” he whispered as the crowd roared.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

S
INCLAIR

S
TELLA STOPPED MOVING, AND
the crowd erupted in cheers. Her pain had me stretched tight, every fiber I possessed pulled to its breaking point.