Chapter 51 Aedan
AEDAN
I was ready to die.
I’d made my peace with it, during the walk back to my apartment after seeing Rick, and during the day training Sylvie.
I was surprised by how easily I accepted it.
In some ways, I guess I’d accepted I might die the very first time I went to fight at The Pit.
And God knows the world wouldn’t be losing much.
I was a pretty good fighter and a pretty average dock worker.
The universe would do just fine without me.
What ate at me was the effect it would have on Sylvie. Would she ever forgive herself? I had to make it as quick as possible—in the first round, if possible. I couldn’t show pain. If she saw she was hurting me, she’d stop. I had to act like I was fine until I went down and then—
And then what? Would she really keep beating on me, until I was dead? On her own, no. But when she stopped, I knew Rick would be there to scream at her, to tell her she had no choice. He’d threaten Alec. I had to pray that that would be enough for her to finish the job.
Rick had swapped the air horn they used at The Pit for an old brass bell. It sounded to start the fight, the peals echoing off the metal walls, but I didn’t want to stop kissing Sylvie. Her lips felt so good against mine. I knew it was the last time I’d ever feel them.
I broke the kiss, took a long, shuddering breath and stepped back, opening my eyes. I lifted my hands and we tapped our fists together for luck. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes and felt the heat of all the anger and pain building up behind my own.
And the fight began.