Chapter LII - No Victory Dance-3

Æmilius goes charging even before the signal is given. He growls and changes into his full lycan in mid-air as he lunges for Caspian. Caspian manages to drop to the ground to avoid his attack but in less than a beat, Caspian is already a full lycan, ready to strike back. It takes a lot of practice to phase that fast. What happens after that is a series of violent and deadly blur of movements that have me gripping the arms of my chair with my heart in my throat. I vaguely hear the roar of the crowd. It's hard to see who is winning as both of them are covered in blood. Not even twenty minutes in, their fighting gears are already in tatters. Both of them are looking menacing and ferocious, like the monsters of your nightmare come to life. Glittering, soulless black eyes regarding each other with malice. Sharp teeth and canines extended as they growl while snapping, clawing, and attacking each other. There's no mercy. Æmilius is strong and built like a tank, but what my mate lacks in size, he makes up with agility and clever lethal moves. He is cunning and elusive. He is very aggressive and vicious when he finds an opening for an attack. Blood and black earth are now spattering across the white snow in the Arena. Twice, I feel hands on my shoulders pinning me in place when I'm about to jump to my feet, wanting to plunge into the arena when my mate goes down. This time, Æmilius manages to slam him down hard on the ground again. His deadly sharp claws dig into Caspian's side and deep red blood gushes out from the wound. I fight to get up as my vision changes. My nails have sharpened and are digging into the stone armrest. In a blur of a movement, Caspian swipes Æmilius's feet from under him and straddle him from behind. The crowd roars as he snaps Æmilius's thick neck. A feeling of sadness and remorse at what he's about to do bleed through our bond. I see just a slight hesitation before he proceeds. I don't think anybody else watching even notices it. From the corner of my eye, I see Katya dives into the arena toward my mate. Queen Sophia springs to her feet but before she can leap in to defend her son, I propel myself up, using all the strength of my feet to jump into the arena myself. I'm on her within a second. I take her by surprise. She still wears that dumbfounded look on her face when I grab her head in both hands and twist until I feel, rather than hear the sickening snap of the bones. I look up when the crowd roars. It's very quick. I'm not even in my full lycan state yet. I place my knee on her back, but before I can pull her head off her body, a loud agonizing cry breaks through the savage cheer of the crowd from the ground just outside the fighting ring. King Alexandros is on his feet. He staggers a few steps and lands on his knees. His head bows low. He's asking mercy for his erasthai; begging me to spare her life. I hesitate. I look around to seek the eyes of my mate. He's bloody and wounded. His intense gaze is already fixed on my face. I'm asking him what to do. But he's not giving me any answers. No feelings from the bond. No betraying emotion from his cold calculating eyes. Suddenly I know. He wants me to decide. It's up to me. I shift my gaze back to the kneeling King. King of all Lycans and werewolves are kneeling before me, asking for my mercy. My lycan is calling for her kill. It's salivating to take Katya's life for wanting to destroy my mate. I want justice for all the innocent victims of her greed and spite. All those precious lives that were taken so savagely. Because of her. She didn't spare them any mercy. Their cry for mercy went unheeded. Yet the King of all Lycans and werewolves is on his knees before me, begging me to spare the life of his erasthai. I might destroy more than Katya's life. Destroying his erasthai might destroy him too. King Alexandros is my mate's father. I don't want to inflict any pain on my mate. I grit my teeth and reluctantly release Katya's head. She's slumped forward, lying on the ground. He releases his breath and his massive shoulders sag in relief. I take a few steps back and look at my mate. His expression is still blank. I look around the arena to seek my pack mates when my eyes fall on Queen Sophia. Bitterness and something close to hatred are marring her beautiful features as she stares at King Alexandros. I knew what's about to happen before it happens yet I hesitate. Sophia launches herself into the arena. Her feet land squarely on Katya's back while her arms wrap around Katya's head. In a blur of motion, Katya's body is being ripped apart. Her spine is ripped out. Queen Sophia's beautiful emerald dress is soaked with the blood of her rival. With a smirk on her lips, she lifts Katya's head like a trophy before she tosses on the ground. It rolls and stops right at King Alexandros's feet. The whole arena is now silent. Not a pin drop can be heard. She's been waiting for this moment for a very long time. Killing her rival without consequences. That's exactly what she did. In this Arena. Caspian stands up. His security immediately on the alert but it's our packmates who are flanking him. Standing by his side. He just stands there, torn and bloody yet tall and regal. His eyes are watching me. Studying me. Assessing. I slowly make my way toward him. When I'm within five feet away from him, he extends his hand and I take it. His big warm hand engulfs my icy fingers, bringing warmth to my freezing cold body. Together, we walk away from the bloody arena. The crowd roars but the only thing that matters are my mate by my side and my pack mates following closely behind us.