Chapter Four #2
don’t have a lot of ultraviolet light. Dellacorp is currently working on a
cream that will protect the skin.”
“Yes, it’s called sunscreen. It blocks UV rays.” Finally
something my plane did better. “We piddling humans came up with it long ago.”
“Seriously? You don’t happen to have any of that on you? I
could make a killing with that.” Dante’s business sense is quickly shelved as a
vampire walks into the arena. Dante stands and strides to the railing, his
sunglasses flowing as he moves into the light. “Well, if it isn’t Kinsey
Palgrave, you stupid ass. You suck, Palgrave! And your profits were down ten
percent last quarter! Yeah, everyone saw it, you pathetic chump. Your stock’s
going to take a nosedive.”
The other vampire shoots Dante the bird and bares his fangs.
“Why don’t you get down here, Dellacourt? Or do you need your sister’s
permission?”
“My sister would never allow me to fight in this
tournament,” Dante shoots back.
The big vampire, who looks like he might be taking steroids,
laughs. So do all his friends. They seem to be having a laugh at Dante’s
expense. “Big sister doesn’t want baby brother to get a boo-boo?”
“Big sister knows it’s stupid to fight the warrior half of
symbiotic twins.” Dante’s face twists into a smirk. “Besides, I would never
fight my cousin.”
It seems like the entire arena suddenly falls silent. The
vampire named Palgrave goes even paler than before as he stares up at his
rival.
“Beckett Finn is here?”
Dante points toward the back of the arena, and there’s Beck.
There’s confidence in his easy gait as he strides into the arena. The rest of
the males sink into the sand, but Beck seems to almost glide above it. He’s
graceful. He is a shark, and suddenly everyone else looks a little like
guppies.
“They’re scared of him.” I can sense the anticipation in the
crowd. The minute Beck steps out, the crowd falls silent and the whispering
begins. Every eye in the arena is on the big, dark-haired man with the stormy
gray eyes.
“He’s the greatest warrior of his generation.” Dante sits
back down. He opens his jacket and pulls out what looks like a tablet computer.
He pushes the screen a few times and then touches his ear. I hadn’t noticed it
before, but there’s a small device there. “Yeah, give me my sister. Hey, Susie,
you gotta dump all the stock we have with the Palgrave funds. No, I am not out
drinking. Listen to me. Kinsey Palgrave is about to fight Beck. Yes, that’s
what I said. Even if Beck lets him live, he’ll be out of commission for weeks.
His even dumber brother will be acting CEO. Dump it now before the price goes
down. You’re welcome.” He smiles smugly my way. “That will teach them to call
me a screwup.”
“How many does he have to fight?” This is really happening.
These men are going to fight. The one left standing will expect me to go home
with him.
“Stop panicking.” Dante leans back negligently. “It’s all
going to be fine. You’ll love Beck, and you’ll be crazy about Cian. No woman
can resist Cian when he’s on his game. They’ll treat you like a princess. This
is going to be a piece of cake for him. There’s only twenty-five, no, there
they go…fifteen to fight. Wow, they must be desperate. I was sure we’d get it
down under ten.”
A group of men shake their heads in disgust or fear and walk
out of the arena.
“They don’t want to fight the great Beckett Finn,” Reeve
explains. “He’s a legend across the planes. The vampires will stay because of
pride. If the word got out that they paid for an entry and then wasted the
money by walking away, they would bring their families shame.”
Dante nods, agreeing with the gnome. “Vamps are damn serious
about corporate funds. The Fae can walk away because there’s no shame in
surrendering to the king.”
“King?” I heard Beck referred to that way, but now it seems
serious.
Dante’s arrogance is gone, and in its place is an
earnestness that makes him almost angelically attractive. “Yes, Beckett Finn is
the rightful King of the Seelie Fae. A pretender sits on his throne and has
since Beck was seventeen years old. Beck lost his mother, father, sister, home,
and kingdom all in one day. He’s been on the run ever since. He’s been forced
to live as a peasant, barely getting by. He sells his sword to put food on the
table. All he has in the world is his brother.” Dante sits forward, placing his
hand on mine. It’s slightly cool to the touch. “You can change that for him.
You can make his life worth living. I love my cousin. He’s more like a brother
to me. If Cian makes a comeback, it is entirely possible I can get my sister to
back them financially. Once the money starts flowing, Beck’s loyalists will
come back.”
Well, I knew there was more to this than simple
lust-at-first-sight. Beck has ambitions, and I figure into them. “He wants to
take back his throne?”
“Yes,” Dante replies, as though it should be blatantly
obvious. “He wants to overthrow his murdering uncle. I know that you intend to
run at the first opportunity. Don’t try to deny it. I would do the same thing
in your place, but I’m asking you to give him a chance. Is there anything you
could do on your home plane as important as freeing an entire population from
tyranny?”
Well, put like that, getting home so my Tbr doesn’t fill up
seems self-absorbed. What do I have to go back to? When I don’t show up at
work, the district manager will fire me and put another in my place. I’ve been
told on more than one occasion that I’m a dime a dozen. There are overeducated
morons everywhere who need a job. My parents divorced years ago and started new
families. It will be months before they even realized I’m gone.
This is not my problem.
I didn’t ask to be brought here. Just because my life is
dull doesn’t mean it’s inconsequential. I have friends. Well, I had Michael’s
friends, and they had all taken his side in the divorce, but I’m going to make
friends one day. I can’t do that if I don’t get home. Cara’s small hand patting
me in a comforting way doesn’t count as friendship. The little gnome is my
jailer.
No. No matter what that vampire says, I’m leaving as soon as
I can.
A loud horn sounds, and the crowd leans forward expectantly.
The battle is beginning. My breath catches as I watch Beck scan the crowd.
Somehow I know who he’s looking for. Our eyes meet, and he bows formally my
way.
I can feel his pull as though we’re already connected on
some intimate level I can’t deny.
Yes, I’ll leave. Even though he makes my heart pound, I
can’t stay.
Can I?