Chapter 32
NATE
Ishut out the connection with Sera and hate myself for it.
I do it so the bond does not give away my preoccupation during the Tournament, for no one can know that Sera and Lizzie are anywhere other than sitting at home, turning their hands to embroidery, and waiting for us to go back and feed. They cannot know I am worried about her.
I may not be able to feel Sera’s emotions as clearly as when the connection between us is open, but the bond is taut and my body burns with the need to relieve the tension that has descended since our argument in the carriage.
Sera is strong. She will find the answers we need and get out of there, all before Rafe is forced to yield to Benjamin. I just need to keep an eye on Nikolai.
The Court’s chambers have been repurposed for the Tournament — turning it from a place of assembly to the gladiator’s amphitheatre it was fashioned after. The stands are filled with vampires — just as they were the night Juliette was condemned to dust. But this time, the matriarchs are sat amongst us, watching on.
I find Nikolai in the crowd. He sits with his mother, grandmother, and hoard of siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles, along with the great number of vampires who pledged for them and are not yet competing.
I have been pressed next to Valeria, sitting at her right, Charlotte to the left. We are surrounded by the few nobles that pledged to our House and who sit, ready to cheer Rafe on to victory.
The two of them will put on a good performance, whatever the trial might be. Rafe has the ferocity and jaws of a lion, and Benjamin is quick on his feet. If they are to go hand-to-hand in combat, those who pledged to House Blackwood will not feel they have made the wrong decision when Benjamin wins. Rafe will not come out of this looking weak.
A familiar hush falls over the assembly as Genevieve walks into the middle of the pit and looks up at the crowd. “The first trial of the Tournament will see our competitors face each other in close combat whilst tied together. The first to yield, or die, will be the victor.”
There is movement behind her and two gutterfangs dragging an enormous iron chain come into view. It is heavy and thick — so much so that the gutterfangs are struggling to move it between them. It will be another testament to Rafe and Benjamin’s strengths when they pick it up as if it weighs no more than a strand of rope.
Charlotte grins, shifting in her seat. “This will be excellent, Grandmother.”
“I will see if you are of the same opinion when it is your turn,” Valeria replies, her voice like ice. “There is no telling who you will face in the trial, Charlotte. You will need to be strong to impress Lord Nikolai.”
Charlotte rolls not only her eyes, but her entire head sways around with the strength of her petulance. “Nikolai won’t be impressed with how I yield a chain, Grandmother. He wouldn’t want me to compete and risk damaging my face, anyway.”
“You will heal fine, providing you have not taken too much from your pledge.” Valeria is short, snappy. She is not a good-humoured vampire at the best of times, but it seems Charlotte is already rubbing her the wrong way. “Let us hope she recovers with some time away from you.”
A din erupts as Benjamin and Rafe stride into the pit. Valeria stares down at her grandsons, her eyes narrowing as they rest on Benjamin. She will hate him for what he has done. And that loathing will become all the more violent when he doesn’t die tonight.
Both Benjamin and Rafe are shirtless, their skin gleaming in the candlelight. I study their faces. They are doing well to make it seem that every bit of the animosity between them has carried over into this moment. They snarl and grimace at each other, fangs flaring, poised for the fight.
They will be convincing throughout. No one will suspect that Rafe has every intention of losing. I dare say it will be easy for him to forget that is his purpose, too.
With Genevieve back in her seat, there is the distant sound of a large gong being struck that signals the fight can begin. Neither of them hesitates. They explode into motion.
Rafe’s fury is barely contained as he yanks the chain hard, trying to throw Benjamin off balance. But Benjamin’s ready for it, planting his feet and using the slack to whip the chain around in a deadly lash.
They do not look like lords who have been sitting at their country estates — they are warriors honed by centuries of conflict and survival. When Benjamin wins, it will bode well for House Vossler. And Valeria will be all the more determined to destroy him.
Rafe dodges the chain, narrowing his eyes as he leaps out of the way. Gone is the cocky grin, the easy charm. This is Rafe stripped down to his essence — a predator, pure and simple. He keeps weaving, moving left and right until he is close enough to Benjamin to land a blow. But it is Benjamin that strikes with a backhand that, if he had used his full strength, would have taken Rafe’s head clean off.
Rafe staggers, blood trickling from his split lip, but he’s grinning now. “Nice try, cousin,” he taunts loudly, and I can hear the old Rafe in his voice. “But you’ll have to do better than that.”
They circle again, the chain dragging between them like a serpent. It’s a deadly dance; one that is easy to be caught up in and make one wrong move that could end it all.
As Rafe blocks, twists, and strikes. Benjamin counters, yanks, topples. They’re on the ground now, a tangle of limbs and metal, and for a heart-stopping moment I cannot see who has the upper hand.
But then I see it; Rafe’s got the chain around Benjamin’s throat, his face twisted with effort. I’m on my feet, willing Rafe to look at me. This isn’t how it's supposed to go. Benjamin needs to win, needs to prove himself to the Vosslers and gain their trust.
Benjamin knows what’s at stake. He jerks backwards, head-butting Rafe, sending him reeling, and suddenly they’re back on their feet, the chain singing through the air as Benjamin swings it like a mace.
My heart pounds as I watch them. This is what we are at our core. Beasts in fine clothing, playing at civility while our true natures lurk just beneath the surface.
After our carriage ride, that is what Sera might finally be closer to understanding.
The crowd roars as Benjamin lands a vicious blow that sends Rafe stumbling backwards, blood streaming from a gash on his forehead. He wipes it away with the back of his hand, eyes locking onto Benjamin with renewed fury.
The crowd’s cheers are deafening — enough to make the streets of Bath shake beneath the humans’ feet.
Benjamin advance once more, the chain swinging in his hands. Rafe stands, his movements more desperate. He’s on the defensive now, blocking Benjamin’s relentless attacks but struggling to find an opening. Each clash of metal against flesh reverberates through the arena.
With a swift, lasso-like move, Benjamin wraps the chain around Rafe’s arm and pulls, sending him crashing face down to the ground. Rafe grits his teeth, pain flashing across his face as he struggles to rise. But Benjamin is relentless. He tightens the chain, pinning Rafe down, his knee pressing into Rafe’s back. The crowd holds its breath.
“Yield, Rafe,” Benjamin growls, his voice barely audible over the sound of roaring vampires who are baiting for blood. “Yield, or I’ll finish this.”
Rafe tenses for a moment, wrestling against him. Then finally, his body goes slack, the fight draining out of him. “I yield.” His voice is strained but clear. I know how much it will have taken for him to do it.
The crowd erupts in cheers and applause until the noise is almost unbearable. Benjamin stands, releasing the chain and stepping back, his chest heaving. He looks down at Rafe and offers him a hand to pull him to his feet.
Rafe takes it.
A gutterfang’s voice booms across the arena, declaring Benjamin the winner.
The Court will have to take notice of House Vossler now.
I look over at Valeria. Her face is strained, her knuckles white. She was not expecting such an outcome. It puts our House at a disadvantage; makes us seem weak. And it could undermine whatever arrangement she had made with Nikolai.
I stand and as I do, ready to go to my brother, Valeria snarls at my back. “Tell Raphael he can forget any notions he had of marrying into House Vespucci. They will not want him now.”
She does not sit and wait for the next round, but snaps her fingers at Charlotte, fleeing the arena.
When I turn back around, Nikolai has gone, too.