Page 124 of The Vampire's Thirst
Rein shoved guests out of the way. “Stay outside the circle.” He pointed to a bright yellow ring drawn in the grass.
“Might be better to step back a few. Don’t want any fancy duds splattered with gore,” added Chay.
Sig barged into the center, the first to take on the wolf shifter. He cracked his knuckles, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Thorn shook the challenger’s hand, using the gesture to pull his opponent in where he whispered in his ear. “I hope you have medical insurance, baby demon.”
Dax’s sharp hearing allowed him to make out the words. With a grin, he passed them on to Matty. “Thorn’s an expert at psych warfare.”
Throwing the first punch, Sig missed when Thorn dodged to the right. With fast footwork, the shifter continued to dance around the younger Firebrand. When the demon hurled another wild swing, Thorn sighed, moving in close enough for Sig to land a fist to his gut.
“Finally,” said the wolf shifter as he launched his first blow, knocking his opponent out cold. “Rein, remove the body. Next up? Get your Goth ass in here, warlock.”
Tyr made a show of removing his earrings and the silver rod through his brow, handing them off to Jace. “Hold these. If I return toes up, just stick them in my pocket.” He lumbered into the circle, beckoning for Thorn. “Bring it on. The things I do for myfrerons. Watch the face. It’s my best feature.”
“That’s not saying much,” barely left the shifter’s lips when Tyr sent a solid to his jaw. As he shook it off, Thorn came out fighting, taking the warlock down with a one-two punch.
Though Jace booed from the sidelines before rushing to Tyr’s aid, Brak let out a loud whoop. “Two down. My turn.”
Despite the carnal demon having a few inches on him and a lot more bulk, Thorn didn’t wait for Brak to get into position. He charged, ramming a shoulder into the big guy’s gut, taking him to the ground.
Thud.
They rolled. Thorn on top. Then Brak. Fists flew, blood splattered, flesh pounded flesh.
Braelyn jumped away too late, a drop of fresh crimson staining her white silk blouse. “Men,” she muttered.
Despite shredded knuckles, purplish bruises, and nasty cuts, Thorn got his demonfreronin a headlock. When he rolled, he pinned him to the grass. “Concede, you big mutherfucker.”
Brak pounded the lawn with the palm of his hand.
While blood dripped down his left eye from a gash through his brow, Thorn bolted to his feet, brushing his hair away from his face. “Any more takers?”
“One more.” A guy Dax recognized stepped through the crowd. Lobo had been with Kole’s stronghold before personal reasons had him transferring to North Shelters. Both wolf shifters, he and Thorn were close.
“You can’t challenge. You’re mated.” Thorn shoved his shaggy straw-colored hair off his face.
“Nothin’ in the rules say that’s a problem. Payback’s a bitch, Thorn.”
Thorn had challenged Lobo at his mating not that long ago.
As the big mutherfucker strode into the circle, a tall blonde ylve, her straight hair falling to her waist, sidled up to Fin. “You need to call for bets. First blood and the win.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Cause the Firebrands are pulling out the cash now. I made a haul at my mating to Lobo.” The blonde yelled, “We’re taking all bets against Thorn here. Get out your cash, honey.”
Dax pulled out bills, betting Lobo would draw first blood. It was for a good cause.
Matty patted his pockets. “Empty. Arisen Dawn wiped me out.”
The two contestants shifted to four legs, fur flying, teeth bared. Thorn came out the winner, and Fin raked in the dough.
“That’s cold,” said Matty. “What if Thorn lost?”
“Fin would end up with a strange bedfellow. No worry, though. During the ceremony, a wolf’s pheromones are so high he can’t be defeated. Besides, I don’t think ourfreronswere giving their peak performance. Especially Brak and Lobo.”
“I’m almost in tears.” Matty drew a sleeve across his face, wiping away moisture which wasn’t there. “Weddings make me cry. Course, I didn’t weep at my own, but I water-logged the carpet during my divorce. All that alimony. And to a conniving ex who cheated on me.”
