Page 64 of Demons in My Bed
Palmer squirmed against me. “Put me down, Misha!” She was pissed, but so was I.
I glanced up to see Rhodes warming up, and I just cracked. “And you’re fighting him?” This had to be an alternate universe or some kind of punishment for all the bitches I’d knifed over the years.
“Sure am. Here’s my phone.” She shoved it in my face, and I was forced to set her down. “Hold that for me while I whoop some ass, okay?” Where the hell had she been storing this thing?
That was when I heard Talon. Also pissed. Everyone was pissed. Ashland and Felix arrived with him, promptly turning their anger to Rhodes.
I blocked out their bickering. I had one concern and that was making sure that she didn’t get squashed. Rhodes was an absolute beast in the ring, which was why every set of eyes was on us right this second.
Palmer barked at the others to sit down. Maybe I was included in that order, but like fuck that was happening. I crossed my arms and studied the dark-haired wildcat as she worked through whatever emotions were running through her. It was maybe the most expressive I’d ever seen her.
She paced back and forth, and when she reached me again, I took the opportunity to let her know she could act tough all she wanted, but there were going to be consequences for disobeying a rule and putting her safety in jeopardy. Leaning down, my lips barely brushed the shell of her ear. “I told you not to wander off,kukola. I’m already looking forward to making sure you don’t do it again.”
And I was seriously looking forward to it. For some reason, my little doll felt the need to prove herself right here, right now. Whether it was to herself or to us, I wasn’t sure. She stared up at me, processing my double-edged threat. I loved how those deep blue orbs always managed to look surprised when something dirty was said to her.
She and Rhodes traded barbs as she hopped up into the ring, and I was impressed at her skill level when it came to shit talking. Palmer never should’ve shown up wearing bunny ears—something more aggressive was much better suited. Like a tiger or a bear.
“Can you believe this?” Ashland grunted, joining me by the ring.
I made some kind of noise in response.
“I want to fucking whoop both of their asses for this stunt. I’m barely containing myself, Mish. What the hell is happening to me? I’ve never had control issues!”
Queenie P started belting out the rules to the crowd, who was surging like a pulsing wave of energy. “There’s only two rules! No magic and no fuckin’ weapons!”
Palmer held up a finger to Rhodes, signaling she needed a second before bouncing over to where Ashland and I stood. “Almost forgot I had these on me. Keep ’em safe?” She produced the bunny daggers I’d made for her and handed them over with a grin full of mischief. Before either of us could respond, she was gone, back to circling Rhodes like she was the viper and he was the mouse.
Moments later, the bell dinged. It felt like every soul in the building took a deep breath.
Ash reached up and gripped the rope, flexing his forearms. “She makes me crazy.”
I felt for him, because I was starting to feel the exact same way. I watched with whatever I had left of a heart in my throat as the two circled each other.
“Look, little one, how about I just stand here and you can take a few free swings? Then I’ll put you in a chokehold until you blackout, and we’ll call it a day?” Rhodes offered, keeping his eyes locked on the little fireball who was clearly ready to detonate.
The crowd was a ball of anxiety. Word had no doubt spread that this was the woman who had claimed The Exiled for her own, and with the way the rumor mill worked, no doubt the story was that she’d killed Steph behind that bar.
“Anyone ever tell you you’re a prick”” Palmer fired back, riling the masses even further.
Rhodes laughed and bounced on his toes. “Just that I have a big one, little girl. Quit fuckin’ around and fight me. You were so eager before.”
Ashland and I both watched as a transformation settled over Palmer. Her face lost all traces of what made her her. She became expressionless, except for the fire in her eyes as she stared down Rhodes.
“Oh shit,” Tal murmured, as he and Felix joined us. “She’s got that crazy look.”
Rhodes lost his patience first and darted forward, throwing a punch. Palmer spun, easily dodging him, but he hadn’t been really trying. More of a warmup. He came for her again, and this time she held her ground, waiting until he struck out. She ducked, landing a punch to his stomach.
“Oh damn,” Felix murmured, leaning in closer. “I didn’t expect her to land a single hit.”
Judging from the look on Rhodes’s face, neither had he. Recovering quickly, he plastered a grin on his face. “You know how to fight, little one? That’s a decent right hook, but you’ll have to do better than that.”
She only smirked before making her move. Her fists flew, and it was all Rhodes could do to block her relentless blows. She faked him out, spinning to the right and kicking out with her left leg, landing another hit. A solid kick to the back, knocking him forward, right above us.
“What the fuck?” he growled at us, accusation flaring in his eyes, like we’d known she could fight like a ninja. Palmer was walking around, waving her hands, pumping up the crowd. Rhodes was still glaring at us when she launched into a roundoff, back handspring, crossing the mat in record time. As soon as her feet hit the mat, she twisted and pounced on his back, scaling him like he was the oak tree in a childhood backyard.
He snarled, grabbing her calves and forcefully throwing her backward. I held my breath, but she somehow pulled it together, doing a back tuck and landing on her feet. Rhodes dropped low and spun his leg out, sweeping her right off her feet. She was prepared for that too, catching herself easily before she faceplanted.
She rolled onto her back just as Rhodes bent down, reaching for her. Her fist flew up, popping him right in the mouth. I side-eyed Ashland, whose jaw had dropped so low, he could’ve deep-throated an orc cock.
