Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Although his expression appeared unfazed, Theo’s mind was overrun with the emotions that had violated his senses tonight.
He wanted her to commit to this. He wanted to see her force past the fear that restrained her, a fear he understood all too well. He wanted her to reach for that raw power again, to embrace it.
She brandished her sword with familiarity.
This was a surprise. Yet another secret she harbored.
Breyer’s face was twisted in a snarl as she circled the arena.
Helaina mimicked her movements, holding the sword firm with both hands. The wind picked up in the darkness, blowing out a few of the nearby torches. A couple of the fire bringers relit them with a wave of their hands. Then his little hellion flicked off her bracelet.
He casually walked over, picked it up, and returned to his place lining the ring. Manos gave him a side-eye but said nothing.
Helaina glanced in his direction with concern as he slipped the piece into his pocket. She brought her foot forward like she might sprint for him to demand it back.
“Running away already?” Breyer taunted.
Helaina pivoted back to face the fight.
Manos leaned to his side, pushing strands of golden hair behind his ears.
“I hope you know what you’re doing. The girl hasn’t been here a week, and you have her sparring with Breyer? It’s downright ruthless.”
Theo kept his eyes on the arena. “If you treat someone like they’re fragile, that’s what they become, easily broken like glass. If you treat someone like they’re steel . . .”
Manos hummed out a sound of uncertainty. “I’m not sure she’ll see it that way, Captain.”
“She will.”
Their conversation was cut short by the clash of metal. Helaina had brought her sword up at a diagonal to block Breyer’s first strike of her axe. The fae warrior whirled counterclockwise, attempting to bring the second axe down in a well-maneuvered spin.
Helaina grunted as she front-kicked Breyer square in the back before she could finish the move.
Theo’s chest swelled with admiration.
Breyer scrambled to her feet, furious and surprised. She had expected an easy victory. Helaina again took a defensive position. Breyer ran forward, faking to the right, then leaping high into the night sky, bringing down both axes toward Helaina’s head.
The wind in the darkness howled and groaned as more torches went out.
Theo grinned.
There it is.
A gust of shadow hurled upward, forming some sort of ceiling above Helaina. Breyer’s attack was met by solid force, sending her body flailing forward, then ricocheting back, collapsing to the ground.
Breyer roared in frustration as she staggered to her feet. “So, you are cursed!”
“I am,” Helaina replied, like she possessed a sense of pride in the admission.
Theo’s heart bounded. She hadn’t confronted her ancestral god. She hadn’t passed her trial. This power existed within her mortal body, like it had for those in the very beginning. Helaina had been born ready to wield.
He watched her sprint, a faint wince in her eyes, lifting her sword high to crash it down on Breyer’s skull.
Breyer blocked her attack swiftly, and punched the haft of her axe straight into Helaina’s stomach.
She doubled over with a wheeze, nearly dropping her blade. Theo gave a barely perceptible wince of his own. She recovered and was right back in the thrall of the fight, her silver eyes alight with fire.
“Holy shit,” Manos remarked.
The rest of the soldiers mirrored his shock. Breyer could hold her own with most of the men here. Theo heard grumblings from many about wanting to change their bets. Theo found Fee in the crowd, noting her concerned expression.
But Theo could see Helaina was growing tired. Her demigod opponent wasn’t. Her injured leg wobbled every time their weapons united. Despite her impressive ability to wield, her human body was failing her.
The clashing of steel rang in the air as both females continued their assault.
Breyer ducked and rolled to the side, allowing the blade of her axe to slice across the skin of Helaina’s bicep.
Helaina wailed in pain as Breyer forced the sword from her grip.
The scream turned savage as her shadowy force rallied, pushing Breyer away before she could do more damage.
Breyer tried to deflect the ominous power, but the shadows were strong.
With a strangled gasp, the fae warrior was catapulted to the ground in the middle of the arena.
Breyer stood, gathering her focus. “You want to show off your power? Fine. My turn.”
Theo held his breath as the skin changer began to shift.