"All hail the Dark King!" one of the guards shouted.
The men responded with, “Hail the Dark King!”
Taylor jumped at the thunderous sound. Rows of carved seats, resembling an amphitheater, fanned out around a caged arena with mud floors. Two men stood nose to nose in the arena dressed in loose black loincloths and leggings. Their chests were bare and their long hair had been tied back away from their faces. Growling, hissing, and snarls emanated from them as they tried to stare each other down.
Taylor tugged on Hades' arm. "This may be a stupid question, but what is going on? I thought the Pit was another place where you dined."
Hades stared at her hand until she slowly released him. Taylor flushed.
Did you need permission to touch a King?
She hadn't meant to offend him. She took a step back, not that the distance would do her much good if he became Monster Kitty again.
Amusement lit Hades’ eyes, but did not fill his voice when he spoke. "Food will be served, but the Pit is where disagreements are settled."
Taylor's eyes widened. "You mean they're going to fight?" She hoped she was wrong. She'd always hated fighting, whether it was in MMA or boxing. To her the idea of a couple of guys beating the crap out of each other was frankly stupid. Most men in her opinion didn't have the brain cells to spare.
Hades looked at her like she was a child, who’d just been caught running with sharp scissors. "Come." He held out his hand for her to take and led her up several rows to a spot in the middle. Not exactly box seats, but they did give them a good view of everything in the arena.
Yippee
!
Lucky
me
.
Once they'd settled into their seats, the stadium filled up around them. It was as if everyone had been waiting for Hades to arrive.
He's the King, dummy. Of course they were waiting.
She sighed and tugged at her dress.
Taylor didn't think she was fit to be in the company of a royal, not even an unconventional royal. Her whole life had been built around survival. There'd been no time for afternoon teas, etiquette classes, or high society parties. Strippers didn't tend to be invited to the latter. And she couldn't afford the prior, not when her budget meant the difference between rent and buying noodles.
She would never admit it to her sister, but Taylor sometimes wished she'd gone to college like Tabby. Trouble was after their parents died, there'd only been money for one of them to go to school and given Tabby's grades, the choice was obvious.
She leaned over to Hades and whispered, "I think I should go back to my room. I don't really fit in here."
Something dark crossed his face. "Nonsense. You belong here as much as anyone else."
Taylor opened her mouth to protest, but took one look at Hades' expression and changed her mind. She crossed her arms over her chest and did her best to ignore all the curious glances she was receiving from the men around her. A dark-haired beauty stepped into the room. She was the first woman Taylor had seen, though she knew there had to be others, unless breeding on this planet was
very
different from Earth.
The woman's gaze slid from hers to the King and back again, then she slowly made her way through the crowd. Taylor noticed the men gave the woman a wide berth. She wondered if it had anything to do with the wicked sword strapped to the woman's side. The woman stopped before the King.
"You're Highness." She gave him a slight bow, then took a seat on his right side.
Hades inclined his head in return, then fixed his gaze on the arena below.
"Hi! I'm Taylor." Taylor held out her hand.
The woman stared at Taylor's extended hand. She glanced at Hades, who gave her an almost imperceptible shrug.
"Opal," she said. "I am the King's Righthand." The woman reached out and took Taylor's hand in a punishing grip that made her knuckles crack.
Taylor winced and forced a smile. "Nice to meet you."
The woman didn't respond, instead, she stared at the two men in the arena. "Pitticus is finally going to do it?"
"Looks like," Hades said.
"I didn't think he'd ever make a move," Opal said.
"I, neither." Hades sat back and draped his arms on the ledge behind them.
"This should be good," Opal said.
"Or at least interesting," Hades murmured.
"Fifty credits says Cornelius takes him," Opal said.
Hades arched his brow and smiled. "You underestimate the Blood Clan or perhaps you're overestimating the Claw Clan. Either way, I'll take your bet and your credits when you lose."
Opal's expression spoke of victory, but Hades' face harbored no doubts. If they were going by size alone, the men were fairly evenly matched from what Taylor could see. Each stood a little over six and a half feet like most of the Phantom Warriors. She wasn't sure what Blood Clan and Claw Clan meant, but if it was anything like Scotland, Taylor figured it had to do with family bloodlines.
The warmth of Hades' hand near her back distracted Taylor, though he hadn't actually touched her. She rolled her shoulders and sat forward, but not before catching Hades' mischievous grin. His was playing with her like a cat pawing a terrified mouse. Considering what normally happened to the mouse afterwards, that didn't bode well for her.
Taylor scooted toward the empty seat beside her, but it wasn't nearly far enough. That fact was driven home, when a dark-haired warrior that she recognized instantly approached.
"Hello again," Perseus said.
"Hi." She beamed.
“I believe you’re in my seat,” he said.
“Sorry.” She moved over just enough to allow him to sit down.
Hades frowned at them, then slowly stood. He raised his hands to quiet the crowd. The cacophonous volume dropped to silence. "Let the games begin," he shouted.
The men roared, some quite literally. Perseus louder than most, as his eyes bled red and fur sprouted on his face.
Despite her need for space, Taylor found herself scooting closer to Hades. She was pretty sure that he wouldn't let anything happen to her, since he'd sworn to Linx that he’d protect her. He also seemed to have better control over his Other half. And in a room full of shifters, that counted for a lot.
What was that old saying about the devil you know?
***
Hades didn't think Taylor's brownish-green eyes could get any wider. As it was, they'd almost swallowed her pretty face. So confused, so frightened. She trembled as she took in the crowd around her. Sensing her discomfort, Perseus squeezed her hand and engaged her in conversation. She seemed to relax a little after that and even laughed a couple of times.
Hades didn't blame Taylor for being scared. He blamed himself. He'd done nothing to alleviate her fears. If anything, he'd fanned them so she'd want to keep her distance. He just hadn't anticipated his response to her turning to another warrior for reassurance and protection. The swift gut check was most unwelcome.
If he were being honest with himself, Hades would admit that he still wanted her. Wanted to fuck her so bad that he could almost taste it, but he'd resigned himself to the fact that it wasn't going to happen. That didn't mean he'd allow another warrior to experience what he chose to deny himself.
He glared at Perseus, who was now back in his humanoid form. The warrior seemed oblivious to the threat. He continued flirting with Taylor, trying to distract her from what was happening around them.
Had Hades not read Taylor's thoughts before she asked to return to her room, he might have taken pity on her and allowed the request. If only to get her away from Perseus. But he had read them, and her thoughts had infuriated him. Even now the beast clawed at Hades' insides. How could she think that she wasn't good enough to sit by his side? Him of all people.
Looking at her, it seemed unfathomable given her full lips, stubborn chin, and lush body. Her long, silky hair alone was a cat’s wet dream. How could she be so insecure? What in Zaron had happened to her on Earth to make her think such a thing? He made a mental note to send Linx a message. Hades needed answers...
wanted
answers, which was odd in and of itself.
Had she been anyone else, Hades might've worried about deception, but since Taylor had no idea that he could read her thoughts, he'd quickly ruled manipulation out. She truly believed herself to be unworthy. It was a feeling he could
relate
to. Was that why she'd turned to Perseus?
Perseus leaned over and whispered something in Taylor's ear. She giggled and playfully swatted his arm.
Hades forced his attention back to the Pit, while he fought to get his considerable temper under control. He kept Taylor in his peripheral vision, making sure that Perseus didn't get out of line. At least that's the lie he told himself as jealousy threatened to consume him.
***
The men in the Pit glared at each other one last time, then stepped apart. One stood on one side of the oval cage, while the other stood across from him. The fight started the second they shifted into their Other forms.
The man Opal had called Pitticus sprouted fangs and his skin took on a scaly, silver reptilian sheen. His eyes glowed red and his pupils elongated to narrow slits as he launched himself at Cornelius, landing on his fur-covered back.
Cornelius had turned into a massive bear like the man who'd helped Linx fight the mobsters on Earth. What was his name again? Riot? Taylor didn't ask, since a large part of what had occurred on Earth that day had been 'illegal' by Phantom standards. She thought the less she knew the better.
"Not the smartest opening move," Opal commented.
Hades didn't look at her. "We'll see. If Pitticus manages to get some of his venom into Cornelius, then the fight will end quickly."
Taylor straightened. "Did you say venom?"
He nodded.
"Like a snake?" Taylor couldn't wrap her brain around what was happening. Wasn't it bad enough that the two guys were attacking each other? Did there have to be poison involved?
Hades looked at her. "Yes, but it won't kill him. Pitticus knows how to control his venom flow. Every adult Blood Clan Phantom does."
The Dark King’s nonchalance scared her more than what was happening in the Pit. Taylor's thigh slammed into Perseus' leg as she tried once again to distance herself from Hades. She didn't care how attractive he was—there was no way she'd sleep with a guy who had venom dripping out of his teeth.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you." Perseus smiled encouragingly.
Taylor stared at his mouth. His teeth didn't look sharp, but neither had Pitticus' before he attacked. Was it rude to ask Perseus what he was? Before Taylor could phrase the delicate question, a low menacing growl rumbled beside her, causing the hair on her arms to rise.
Perseus' smile dropped, as a strong hand reached out and clasped Taylor's arm, pulling her back to where she'd been originally seated. Her gaze followed the muscular arm all the way to Hades' glowering face. His incisors had lengthened and his aqua eyes were ringed in red.
Taylor gulped, even though the Dark King’s anger and aggression weren't directed at her. These men were looking for any excuse to fight. And like a fool, she'd just given them one.
The tension between the King and Perseus felt like a physical weight pressing upon her. It was so heavy that it nearly squished her in her seat. In an attempt to diffuse the situation, Taylor turned her attention back to the fight.
Blood covered both fighters. Cornelius' ear seemed to be pointing in the wrong direction and he was swaying on his feet. Pitticus circled him like a Tiger shark, sensing an easy meal. His fangs were bared as he searched for another opening to attack.
The stare down between Hades and Perseus continued until the Dark King growled again. The deep rumble promised pain. Perseus finally broke eye contact and both men went back to watching the fight.
The bear bellowed, then rushed whatever Pitticus had become. The blow threw Pitticus onto the dirt floor, but he rolled out of the way before Cornelius mauled him. Taylor screamed. Opal and Hades turned as one to look at her. Heat flooded her face. Taylor didn't think her queasy stomach could take much more violence. She'd never been good around blood. After her sister, Tabby's torture, her aversion had been even worse.
"Can't you end this?" she asked, the question turning into a plea. "Make them stop and declare one a winner."
Hades gaped at her. "Why would I do that?"
"Because they're going to kill each other," she said. There was so much blood. Cornelius's fur was slick from the various wounds on his body.
Hades glanced at the men. "It's possible that one will die."
"How can you be so casual about death?" she spat. “What is wrong with you?”
He looked at her. "I forget that you're human."
Hades made it sound like an insult. Perhaps it was. Perhaps to these 'civilized' beings Earthlings were nothing more than talking chimps.
"I've been told that you have strange rituals when it comes to dealing with loss. You fight what is natural. Death is a part of our society that’s accepted as normal. You'd do best to remember that before you try to disrupt a sanctioned fight." Hades turned his attention back to the men in the Pit.
Disrupt a fight? She wasn't trying to disrupt anything. Taylor just wanted Hades to declare a winner so that she could return to her room. She crossed her legs and hugged herself.
The bear's claws swiped across the side of Pitticus, ripping deep furrows into his flesh. The warrior grunted, then ran his hand over the raw wound and brought the blood to his mouth. He sucked on his fingers, slurping the crimson, then snarled. The next blows were too fast for Taylor to follow. She could no longer tell who was winning. In her eyes, they were both losers.
Suddenly, Cornelius swayed and fell over. The crowd hushed and everyone waited. Pitticus nodded to someone standing outside the Pit. The warrior tossed in a sword that was nearly as tall as Taylor. Pitticus caught the hilt with one bloody hand, then slowly approached Cornelius.