Lunacy (25 page)

And, as much as I hated to admit it, I was afraid for
Gavin. They were both going to get seriously hurt, and all I could
hope for was that they wouldn’t kill each other. I hated how
helpless it made me feel, and I hated myself for not wishing any
ill on Gavin. Before this night was over, I would find out who had
his ear.

There was no more time to think or try to be calm.
Howls came from very nearby, making me jump slightly from the
sudden noise. They sounded almost... Feminine? The four familiar
faces that appeared in the valley brought a smile to my face in
spite of my warring emotions. Aya, Sherry, Kerry, and Juri
sauntered in, each bowing respectfully to our group of six at the
throne before moving on.

I noticed that all of the lycanthropes were wearing
something casual and seemingly comfortable, as if to drastically
offset the impeccable care they’d taken of their bodies for this
night. More and more ulven flowed into the valley, and I recognized
no one, although a few people seemed familiar. It took nearly
forty-five minutes to get the seven or eight hundred wolves into
the valley. There were so many new faces, my head was practically
spinning. If I was expected to eventually remember all of their
names, I didn’t think I could deal.

Finally, when everyone had arrived and had taken
their proper places, Jynxx stood and began the speech he’d been
practicing for the last few days.

“By Máni’s grace, we are assembled here on this
beautifully clear night when He shines his light down upon us from
the Heavens. Having recently awakened, I’m new to all of this, but
by right of birth, I am the Kongen Ulven of our Clan.” His voice
projected clearly throughout the valley, ringing with an authority
and surety I never would have thought him capable of. “I shall do
my best to lead us justly and without favoritism.” Jynxx’s visage
visibly hardened as he went on. “Due to conflicts of interest, we
have a battle for the rank of beta tonight between Gavin Cooper and
Teigan Kroeger.” He gestured to each of them as he spoke their
name.

I fought the urge to sigh, wishing there was
something I could do to keep the guys from fighting. Conner glanced
over at me, flashing a comforting smile as if he could read my
thoughts. Jynxx sank back down onto the throne, lounging as if he’d
been sitting in it for years, and looking like the burden of being
King was wearing on him already.

Jynxx gave me a smile before returning his gaze to
the attentive crowd. “Along with new leadership and a contest for
rank, there is also another matter that needs to be addressed. I
have chosen a mate.” Odd wording, but I could roll with that.
Pockets of whispering broke out in spots near to us, the little
bits I caught clearly not approving. Jynxx raised a hand for
silence and the crowd complied. “Aside from sharing her body with
the essence of Skadhi, she is wholly human.”

Outraged and confused murmurs broke out, able to be
heard over the rest of the chatter. I took that as my cue and
slowly got to my feet, my movements unhurried. I waited for a
moment, a chill running down my spine as all eyes in the valley
fell onto me. I could feel them judging me, appraising my worth
with their eyes, and I didn’t care. Sauntering around the throne, I
passed each of the five wolves with a brushing caress of my
fingertips. My eyes bored into the crowd as I completed my circle
and sat possessively on Jynxx’s lap.

“Any bitch who has quarrel with this, come forward
now and attempt to stake your claim...” Acting on instinct, I raked
my nails down Jynxx’s bare chest, causing his breath to hitch and
filling the air with the scent of his blood, instantly gaining
everyone’s attention. “...to that which is rightfully mine.”
Feeling the air abuzz with power, I painted my lips with the blood
of my lover. His hot hands gripped my waist as he leaned up to kiss
me deeply. I inwardly prided myself for not blushing at being this
intimate for such a large audience.

No one in the whole of the valley breathed, the other
four ulven surrounding the throne totally thrown off by my violent
display of ownership. When we finally came up for air, Jynxx looked
pleasantly surprised and I was pretty sure I resembled a cat that
had been in the cream.

The night air was alive with lycanthropic heat and
energy, and I was relieved that my little bloodletting display
hadn’t driven them all into a frenzy. I hadn’t even been thinking
about it, but I could have just accidentally driven nearly one
thousand ulven to wolf out on me. I had to be more careful. All of
this metaphysical power coursing through me was making me careless
and distracting me from potential danger.

One woman did step forward, her red hair cut short
and gelled straight, shot through with black streaks here and
there. Her eyes were two different colors, one an oceanic blue and
the other emerald green. A natural redhead, her snowy skin was
flawless and weirdly free of freckles. She was taller than me and
built like she lived in a gym. She reminded me of Aya and her pack
in a lot of ways. The woman came to a stop before the throne, the
crowd seeming anxious and excited all of a sudden.

“Do you come to try and take that which is mine?” I
asked formally.

The woman shook her head, stepping closer with a
smile. “I’ve no quarrel with you, Skadhi.” She grinned. “In fact, I
wanted to shake your hand. You’ve got balls, girlie. And someone
like myself totally respects that.”

I got to my feet as the woman extended her hand,
letting out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. I gripped her
hand tightly with a grin of my own. “Glad to see someone
approves.”

“Well, I didn’t know what to think when they said
that Jynxx had hooked up with a human girl, but you seem to be
alright. Looks like you’ve got Jynxxie trained, too. And that’s no
small feat.” The woman flashed a smile at my boyfriend that sent a
pang of unease through me. Her look was almost possessive, and full
of longing that I so did not appreciate.

“Thanks, Perfection.” Jynxx replied
sarcastically.

Realization struck me, then. “Perfection.” I rolled
her name around on my tongue, not particularly fond of the taste
and trying to keep the disdain from my voice.

“I see that my reputation precedes me,” Perfection
grinned, clearly proud of the fact that she was loathed and feared
by many.

“Indeed,” I added, doing my best to be cordial.

“Women..” Kenshin muttered.

Jynxx drew me into his arms and I smiled, comforted
by the familiarity and warmth. I didn’t want to let go of Jynxx,
knowing that the fight between Gavin and Teigan would begin soon
after. Not wanting to look clingy and weak, I reluctantly stepped
out of his arms. Jynxx held my gaze for a moment until I finally
nodded; his hand found mine and our fingers locked tightly
together, knuckles turning white.

“Let the contest begin,” Jynxx said grimly.

Chapter 23

Conner led the two combatants to the circle, a large
section of hard-packed earth which was stained darker than all
surrounding it due to the countless gallons of blood that had
soaked into the soil. The area was approximately fifty feet long
and the same length wide. Both the gamma and the beta looked
regretful, but it was too late to back down now.

Conner brought them to the middle of the ring,
standing between them like a referee. “Here’re the rules, for those
who’ve only recently been awakened. No shifting is allowed and
anyone who does forfeits the match. No weapons, either. You win by
taking your opponent’s life… Good luck to you both, and may the
best wolf win.” He shook both of their hands and stepped out of the
ring.

It was on. Neither of them spoke nor made a sound as
they came at each other. Their wordless battle was eerie. The only
sounds were those of flesh hitting flesh, bones cracking, bodies
falling to the earth, the wet splashes of blood, and occasional
grunts of pain. Their movements were almost too fast for my eyes to
follow, and I found myself driving nails into Jynxx’s hand from
clenching it so tightly. With a murmured apology, I forced myself
to relax my fingers and watch what was going on.

Gavin was doubled over, gasping desperately for
breath and clutching at his chest. Teigan took the opportunity to
swing one of his long legs and catch the red haired wolf on the
jaw, knocking Gavin aside. The beta landed in a heap face down in
the dirt, coughing violently as a sharp inhalation sucked some of
the earth into his windpipe. Teigan wiped a line of blood from the
side of his own mouth, walking over to the shaking heap that was
the beta. The gamma brushed a strand of his now damp and clinging
hair back from his face, the whole of his upper body covered in a
sheen of sweat that glistened in the firelight and lunar
illumination.

He took a moment to collect himself, his amber
colored eyes never leaving the downed wolf. Finally, he ventured
near to the fallen beta, nudging him with his foot. Gavin didn’t
move aside from the rise of his back as he inhaled deeply, seeming
to have finally caught his breath. I noticed that Gavin’s back was
a mass of mottled colors, bruises in their first stages of
development. Teigan tapped the other with his boot, still not
getting any sort of response.

Conner took a few steps forward, ready to ask Gavin
if he was prepared to surrender and forfeit the match. None of us
really wanted Gavin to die. Gavin’s arm shot out suddenly, grabbing
Teigan’s ankle and pulling the taller wolf down to the ground.
Teigan’s head made a dent in the soil, the impact driving a sound
of pain from his lips. Gavin was atop the taller young man in an
instant, his fists brutally connecting with Teigan’s face over and
over again. The gamma managed to finally get his arms up to lessen
the blows, turning his head to the side and spitting out blood that
welled from his split lower lip.

Teigan used all the leverage he could and tossed the
shorter wolf off of him, kicking up to his feet and booting Gavin
in the abdomen, knocking him from his knees and onto his side.
Teigan was taken off guard as Gavin sprang to his feet once more,
spearing him and driving him hard into the ground. It knocked the
wind from his lungs audibly and I winced as I heard a resounding
crack. The sickening crunch was followed by a bone-chilling scream
that was torn from Teigan’s lips. I covered my mouth to repress my
own shriek as I saw that Teigan’s arm was bent the wrong way at the
elbow.

He threw Gavin off again and grabbed his forearm,
gritting his teeth and grunting loudly as he popped the joint back
into place. He flexed his fingers experimentally and closed his
eyes for a second as the ligaments knit back together. When his
eyes opened, it was clear that Teig wasn’t a happy puppy. Conner
held my other hand, as enthralled as I was by the lurid
display.

Fifteen minutes later, we all knew that it was over.
Teigan was a crumpled, broken, and bleeding heap on the ground and
Gavin was standing over him, broad chest heaving and glistening
with sweat and blood. Teigan couldn’t get up, and everyone knew it.
They were all waiting for Gavin to deliver the final blow, and I
just couldn’t let that happen. As Gavin raised his own boot, about
to bring it down onto the gamma’s skull, I know that I couldn’t
just stand here and watch him die.

“NO!” I was on my feet and running faster than I
thought possible, leaping into the air and landing atop Teigan,
protectively covering his body with my own. I waited for what would
surely be a fatal kick to land on me, but nothing happened. Aside
from the labored breathing of the wolf beneath me and the ragged
gasps of the beta still standing, all sounds were drowned out by my
thundering pulse.

A slick hand wrapped around my upper arm, pulling me
to my feet. It was Gavin’s. His eyes were amber as they reflected
the firelight, barely able to contain the beast trying to escape
the confines of his human form. “Would you truly give your life for
his, Kacea?” His words were quiet, calmer than I expected, and only
for me.

He was covered in sweat, blood, and dirt, and he
smelled absolutely delicious… I leaned in slightly closer to him,
covering it by looking up into his eyes. “I would,” I said slowly,
glad I managed to keep the tremor from my voice that I felt
fluttering so clearly in my stomach.

“Then for you, I shall let him live. And rather than
annihilating Jynxxie on the next full moon, he who makes you so
happy… I’ll bide my time, and strike when I feel it’s the most
opportune moment. For what better torture is there than fear of the
inevitable?” Gavin’s words caressed my ear with a sibilant slither,
their meaning making me feel cold down to my toes. Keeping my arm
in his grasp, Teigan’s blood from his fingers running down my arm,
Gavin turned to the downed gamma and his voice rang with the same
volume as Jynxx’s earlier.

“Teigan Kroeger, do you surrender and accept the
dominance of Gavin Cooper?”

Teig coughed loudly, cringing and curling into a
tighter ball. His voice was a harsh whisper, the dark purple
bruises on his face bringing tears to my eyes. “Yes...” he wheezed,
and promptly passed out.

I wanted to go to him, but Gavin held me fast. He
dragged his thumb down my cheek and I fought not to cringe at the
feel of the filth left in its wake. “You’re pretty most of the
time, but covered in blood, especially someone else’s… You’re
absolutely gorgeous, Kacea.” His voice was low, intimate, and it
made my skin crawl. I was about to claw at his fingers to release
myself when he finally let me go.

“Creep!” I murmured to myself. He walked off and
melted into the crowd, obviously pleased with himself.

I called for Elomina and knelt by Teigan, surprised
at how quickly she came to his side. She carefully inspected him,
assessing the damage. Finally, she rolled him onto his back,
applying salves and murmuring chants that would make the bones heal
and the bruises go away. I brushed Teig’s damp and matted hair back
from his face, taking a cool cloth offered by Elomina and dabbing
lightly at the blood on his lip before setting it on his forehead.
His body bucked and writhed as the trollkvinne worked on him,
somehow managing to stay unconscious through the whole ordeal. My
fingers were laced with Teigan’s and I looked to Elomina as the
woman murmured softly, “I’m finished. He should be fine once he
gets some rest.”