52

G E O R G I E

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I heard the tumult of the audience cheering excitedly and letting out screams of fright. They called names into the hall, cheered on their darlings. No one mentioned Beau's name.

"Up!" the guards ordered me up the stairs.

I dug my heels into the ground, but they heaved me up mercilessly. I snorted angrily. “I am a guest of the king! You can't arrest me!"

They didn't say anything to that, but continued to drag me through the audience until we reached the upper boxes. We passed the guards and the twelve girls Reyna had called to her side. Then we stood in front of the royal siblings.

“We found them by the cages, Princess. She was snooping around without permission.”

Reyna glanced sideways at me. "It's okay, she can stay here, but keep an eye on her."

"Yes, Princess."

I growled at Reyna, tempted to bare my teeth. "How dare you let Beau fight?"

“Sit down and enjoy yourself, you make me very nervous.”

"I'm supposed to enjoy my mate fighting for his life?" I hissed venomously, having to keep from throwing myself at her and strangling her. "Take him out of the games immediately!"

"He's doing well," she just said with a smile, sipping her wine.

I growled and dug my hands into the red velvet of the back of the chair. "Of course he does, what were you thinking?"

Reyna had the nerve for all serious people to roll her eyes. "Guards, get her seated."

"No, don't touch me! I'm not going to just watch you let him slaughter!” I jerked at her grips, trying to wriggle out, but it only resulted in more guards joining us. I didn't stand a chance. "What's this about, Reyna?" I blurted out in desperation as I was pushed against my will into the seat next to Reyna. "Have you forgotten your sister? She will die the moment Xenos and Arya get wind of it."

Reyna placed the golden goblet on the table in front of her, murmuring, "One less problem for me to take care of."

I stared at her in horror. Who was this cold, horrid woman? I couldn't believe I was ashamed a day ago for calling her a dope. I couldn't believe we trusted her. That we hadn't looked behind her facade into her false soul. She fooled us all. But why? Did she want us to take down the Deathbringer for her? Or was she also interested in freeing the slaves?

What of what you said was a lie and what was the truth?

All of these questions swirled through my mind as I sat surrounded by guards watching Beau fight for his life. Three of the five warriors lay dead and bloodied on the sand, two were still alive.

Beau would win - he had to win.

Each warrior was dressed in a different color. Beau's uniform was a dark red and his opponent Akio wore a bright orange on his body. Both did well. They had no weapons, only their claws and fangs could be used to defend themselves.

As good as Beau was, he had also made a name for himself in a short time and found followers. His name was shouted around the arena, and the audience cheered on every hit and pocket he made.

I could puke in disgust. 'So you're that kind of princess? You sacrifice members of your people to slaughter each other and for what? For a little fun? That's sadistic."

"I have not compelled any of my people to do so."

"Yeah sure." I snorted derisively. "So you're telling me they're doing all this voluntarily?"

"Naturally. They all want the prize.”

My brows shot up. "Must be a fantastic prize."

Reyna's eyes glittered and the smile on her mouth was mysterious. "That's him."

"And what are all the girls supposed to do?" I leaned in so the guards wouldn't look suspicious, and whispered, "Who are you really telling that the great dragon spoke to you?" I gave a wry laugh. "Bullshit," it slipped out. Uh, I've really been spending too much time with Beau.

Now Reyna glared at me. "I'm a Dragonborn, I don't expect you to understand how important that is."

"Just because you can control the element of fire and-" My eyes widened as the penny dropped. The branded cross on the front doors. Reyna roaming the alleys at night. The happy faces of the girls and parents as she shared something with them.

So that's what Reyna did, she chose the girls.

“What are you going to do with them, Reyna? do you want to sacrifice them? Are you going to kill her?” My whispering grew louder and a guard took a step in my direction. Teeth gritted, I backed away from Reyna, crossing my arms and looking down at the spectacle ahead. "Those are innocent girls, you should-"

Just then, Akio's claws slashed across Beau's chest, catching him so deeply that blood spurted out and a pool of blood seeped onto the sand. Beau fell to the ground and Akio elbowed him. A loud crack echoed through the arena.

"No!" I yelled, already shooting out of my seat as several hands pushed me back into the seat. I leaned out of the seat as far as I could and clutched the fabric with my hands. The bond was still pulsing between us, he was still alive, but then why didn't he get up? Why didn't he keep fighting?

Beau, I whispered over the line, but it's holding nothing back.

I was slowly freaking out. What happened?

Akio stood and waited, looking down at his motionless opponent, whose shoulder and arm hung at an abnormal angle from his body.

A second passed. Then another, until suddenly Beau's hand shot out, grabbed Akio's ankle and knocked him over. Then it was on top of him, biting his throat with a loud, savage growl.

The audience went crazy and applauded like crazy. "Beau! beau!

My pulse was racing and adrenaline rushing through my body as I watched Beau get to his feet and stand on the court, breathing heavily, staring up at me. His mouth was smeared with blood, as was his whole body and there was a wolf in his eyes.

"The winner of today's games is Beau!" Shiyan exclaimed happily, rising from his seat. "You fought hard for victory and won the prize with sheer strength!"

My hand trembled over my heart and I wanted to touch the ribbon. I wanted to touch him. Beau followed my movement, imitating me and still staring at me. It was as if the audience didn't exist, as if we were not several meters apart, I felt him here with me and I could see that he felt the same.

"To Beau, werewolf soldier of the Kingdom of Semeera!" Reyna joined the applause and rose as well. Her smile was so big it had to hurt. “The prize is officially yours, you can take me as your wife! With that, the election is sealed and the future Prince of the Fire Islands is elected!”

Everything around me ceased to exist and my breathing stopped. Was that the price?

"To Beau, the winner of the Games!" Reyna raised her goblet. "To Beau, my husband-to-be!"

"So be it!" Shiyan exclaimed, and the whole arena erupted in cheers and applause.