Free Web NovelChapter 54: Ends of the Earth
I wasn’t too surprised to find out that Fangborne had a stage — or arena, depending on how one looked at it — prepared for holding bouts of ritual combat. They had an impressive stage for my mating ceremony with Damon, so why wouldn’t they have an equally impressive venue for such an important pack tradition?
The mating stage had been quickly dismantled the morning after, but I knew from the first glance there was no way anyone was altering the structure of the arena. It was a fairly large arena carved from solid rock, the grayish patches were tinged with a dull coppery brown at certain parts, as though a painter had haphazardly dotted color over the surface to use up the paint.
I could only laugh weakly to myself; the color was most likely leftover from the blood splatters of past challengers. Which meant that this arena must have been as old as Fangborne itself.
However, there were newer additions to the structure― I could see barbed wires all around the top of the steep stone dish, forming an impressive netting and surrounding it entirely so as to protect the spectator seats outside from possibly getting harmed by a challenger whose body was thrown too far out into the stands.
However, I noted with grim amusement that there was nothing inside to protect the challenger if the alpha decided to tear off his head and fling it into the stands.
By the time Blaise and I had entered the ring, a crowd had already gathered. They filled the seats with food in their hands as they jeered and pointed at me, giving me a clear view of how many people were in Fangborne and what exactly they thought about me. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Even then, I was sure that this wasn’t everyone. Our duel had been decided on such short notice, and I doubted Damon would take kindly to his werewolves neglecting their duties, even if it was to support him.
There weren’t many children around, and women were few and little. I supposed not everyone enjoyed the blood and gore of a scuffle, even if it was with their beloved alpha.
Fine then. The fewer people there were to see me punch him, the better it was for his reputation. And I vowed to myself that I would land a blow. Hopefully by kicking him in the nuts.
"You really shouldn’t have accepted that challenge," Blaise said with a world-weary sigh, as though he knew exactly what I was thinking but he was helpless to stop me.
"I really shouldn’t have accepted that challenge," I agreed, nodding and echoing after him as my mind pictured myself being beaten to a pulp in front of an audience. My muscles were so tense with anxiousness and anticipation, that I could feel myself turning into stone.
Blaise merely smiled tiredly, a little exasperated by it all. "What’s done is done. You can’t take the challenge back after it has been accepted, condition or not."
I spun around to face him so quickly that I could’ve gotten whiplash. I said, "That is a shit condition. He is doing it on purpose!"
"You did accept it even before hearing him out," Blaise said with a shrug. "If anything, let this be a good lesson for you. Harper, you shouldn’t make promises to someone without knowing as much as possible. Fighting my brother is dangerous enough, but I trust him to not go too far. Imagine if you agreed to a vampire’s request without any limitations. You’ll be in true danger then."
Fair point. I could only scowl. Part of me wanted to learn more about vampires from Blaise, but a bigger part was just cursing my own behavior. I had been too hasty and that was my fault and only mine. No doubt, though, Damon knew that too― I merely played right into his trap, no matter how much Blaise tried to stop me.
And Blaise somehow still thought highly of Damon, even after he made such a ludicrous condition.
Blood must be thicker than water, or perhaps Blaise had been dropped on his head at birth. It was uncharitable of me to think this about my mate, but I was sure that Damon was going to make me suffer a fate worse than death the moment I slapped him in the face.
He would torture me in the arena and torture me outside of it.
"I am not going to sleep with him!" I said, clenching my fists. "I already have you. I am not going to betray you like that."
Blaise’s smile remained a steady fixture on his face. "It’s fine, Harper. He is also your fated mate. If it’s the Moon Goddess’s intention, then it must be for a reason. Besides..."
He trailed off, nodding to the collar at my neck. My fingers reached up, grazing the material of the choker, wishing for nothing more than to break it off. freёwebnovel.com
"That is a sign that you belong to him. Even before we belonged to each other," Blaise reminded. "You must already know what the collar means for the women who wear it."
"Right, this stupid thing," I muttered.
I fidgeted with it, testing how far I could yank at it before it caused discomfort. It was beyond a strain― there was something off about it, almost magical and sinister. The sort of discomfort I felt wasn’t pain, but agonizing pleasure that would only cease if I stopped persisting in trying to have it removed.
"How could I forget?" I said with a deadpan. "Me and so many other women wear this same damned collar."
"Not exactly the same," Blaise said with a wry half-smile. "Remember the color of your collar. You’re his fated mate, and nothing will change that."
’Except for my death,’ I thought morbidly and hurriedly shook my head to rid myself of those negative thoughts. Besides, death might not free me from Damon’s greedy grasp. He seemed like a wolf that would follow someone to the bitter ends of heaven and hell just to hurt them.
"I’m also yours," I said instead because that was a more cheerful thought than the alternative. Yes, Blaise was my fated mate, the very reason why I was involved in this mess to begin with. Even if the world was on fire, I’d be on his side till the very end.
"I’ll win," I said determinedly, feeling the mark on my left side throb with a strange pulse. "You’re rooting for me, right?"
"Harper Gray, I’d always root for you," Blaise said with a twinkle in his eyes. He pressed a kiss to my lips. "Now, let’s show my brother what you can do."
