Page 3 of Urban Gladiator

But what I hoped for, what I planned to enact should I get the chance, was vengeance. The fact that two hundred years later, witches were still being made to pay for the war was asinine.

The forest came alive at night with the scurry of rodents, the rustling of hunters, and the serenade of insects added to the cacophony.

And I waited. The quarter moon rose, shining its light upon me. My arms grew tired. My mouth grew dry.

I wanted to conjure up some water but couldn’t use my hands to drink it. And while I could use magic to lift the cup, I wasn’t willing to display just how powerful my magic was before my enemies. Better to keep my powers close to my chest than allow the enemy a single inkling of the forces I could use against them.

Silence descended over the clearing. It was the first sign that the enemy approached. My heart thumped wildly beneath my breast. I was thankful I wore a dress because it hid the trembling in my legs.

They emerged from the trees like wraiths.

Silent.

Deadly.

Fucking massive. In numbers too great to count while I attempted to keep myself from hyperventilating.

I’d never been this close to a wolf shifter before. Their heads were at least a foot or two taller than me. Not that it was hard to do since I was on the short side of things. But their sheer size intimidated me nonetheless.

As it was meant to.

There was one wolf who stood out above the crowd. He had fur blacker than midnight with ice-blue eyes that blazed his hatred for me. Menace emanated from his being. Flutters of fear over how truly fucked I was wreaked havoc in my belly. Because those eyes, full of danger and darkness, pierced me. Penetrated through layers of protection I’d carefully woven about myself in preparation for tonight.

And I stared, transfixed by his magnetism. It wound around my being in a suffocating fashion until I fought to keep myself from fainting. A blindfold was placed over my eyes. The world around me went pitch black.

Trapped. Every instinct demanded I curse them and free myself, but I ignored the warning bells and curled my hands into fists to cease their shaking.

How long did I have before they attempted to kill me?

2

Without my sight, I called upon the elements to elevate my other senses. Air caressed my cheek and whispered, they come.

My arms were jostled without a care for my well-being. Chains clanged against the stone as I was released. But I wasn’t given use of my hands. The cuffs remained. With a rough yank, my hands were bound before me.

An owl screeched above my head. And I heard its warning. Run.

I wished I could. Being denied sight, I couldn’t predict what came next. Should I spell them now? Cast them back and break my bonds.

But to what aim?

They were taking me somewhere. I needed to see where they were leading me. Otherwise, witches would never regain their seat at the council as a full member of Avalon.

A wolf howled. Chills erupted down my spine as the rest joined in. The symphony meant to intimidate me. And it worked.

Then my arms were jerked in front of me. Not two seconds later, I was forced to lift my feet and follow. Hard to do when I couldn’t see where we were headed. They moved quickly, but it was done on purpose with malicious glee. The crowd was rife with hatred for me and my kind. I stumbled and tripped over rocks and twigs.

Curse them all.

When I implemented my attack, they would wish for death before the end. No more witches would be slaughtered under my watch. I ran to keep up—in a fucking dress. They made me run in a damn dress. The skirt billowed and tangled around my legs.

I should have fought harder to wear pants. But I hadn’t wanted to raise a stink with the coven mother eyeing me with a promise in her eyes. Because she would have made me regret my defiance of our traditions.

I ran until my side ached. My foot twisted on a rock. Blistering pain shot up my leg, but I refused to surrender to it. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of my pain.

I intoned a prayer to the trinity.

Maiden, Mother, Crone, aid me this night. Heal the hurt caused this night. Help me save my people.

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