Page 47 of Property of Yak

He winces. “I am, but there are things even I cannot interfere with. This was our way before we were Kings. It’s a tradition that we have kept. Without a vote from the council members, I cannot stop it. I won’t get their approval on this, though.”

“So, what happens if he loses?” I ask, my stomach souring.

“You are up for dibs again, and the winner can claim their spoils,” Yooper says with a sympathetic look on his face.

I look back to the ring as Yak takes out the next challenger with ease. He looks strong. He’s got this.

“So, he needs to win this in order to make me his old lady?” I ask.

He nods. “Yes.”

“How long could that take?”

He frowns. “Until we run out of challengers.”

I swallow hard, my eyes focusing back on the fight.

Yooper lets me sit with my thoughts as we watch in silence.

The crowd around us is rabid, though. They want blood, which they get when the newest challenger manages to land a punch on Yak’s face, splitting his eyebrow open. I gasp when I see it, but I keep quiet.

I want to yell out to him. To tell him what, I don’t know. Be safe? Win? Stop it all?

This isn’t my territory, though. It’s his. I know he would want me to keep my mouth shut and stay by Yooper.

Another three fights later, and I can see it finally affecting him. He’s moving slower. He has more injuries. He isn’t dodging the punches quite as well.

That’s when he steps forward. Aragon. The man who doesn’t like to be told no.

He walks into the center of the mats, looking over at me with a wicked smile. Yak steps in front of him, blocking me from his view. I can’t hear what is said, but I can see by the way Yak tenses that it’s not good.

I cross my arms, attempting to comfort myself as the man who has been playing referee starts the fight.

This isn’t like the other fights, though. Every other fight, they hopped around one another, learning from each other. Aragon doesn’t need to wait, though. He’s been watching through seven fights. He knows how Yak fights, and he knows where his injuries are.

As soon as the referee steps back, Aragon makes his move. He manages to land a hit on Yak’s side. Yak moves away, but I can see the way he grabs the spot. He’s hurt.

I wince as Aragon makes another move, landing two punches as Yak covers his head.

Yak has a plan, though. At least, I think he does. He manages to land a punch before Aragon jumps back.

I don’t know anything about fighting, so I hope it’s strategy as Yak keeps allowing Aragon to get close to him. Close enough to strike and cause harm.

Yak is getting his own jabs in, though. He is fighting tooth and nail for this win. It has me appreciating him more than he realizes. I don’t know how or why, but this man seems to think it is his job to save me.

Aragon lands a particularly rough-looking punch, sending Yak to the ground. I push up on my tiptoes attempting to see him. I can’t, which has tears prickling my eyes.

Please be okay. I need you to be okay.

When he stands back up, I see him wipe blood from his mouth. He spits off to the side before he rushes Aragon.

Everything happens quickly after that. The sound of skin hitting skin is drowned out by the cheers from the crowd. I don’t even know who is hitting who anymore. They are so close together, and I am sitting far enough back that I can’t tell what is going on.

I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for it all to be over with, praying like heck that Yak comes out the winner.

When the men fall to the ground together, my hand reaches out and grabs Yooper’s arm as I try to make myself taller. He doesn’t complain.

Then I hear the referee call out numbers.