Page 93 of The Carnage We Keep

During the first round, I was untouchable. I was light on my feet, quick with the hits, always dancing just outside Adrik’s reach.

Now, just one round and barely five minutes later, it feels like I just ran a fucking marathon. I barely block the next hit. Then I don’t block the one after that, taking it right on the chin and spinning as blood explodes from my mouth.

Cenzo is roaring at me to keep my hands up. But when I whirl, it’s not him my eyes land on.

It’s Bella, standing behind him, looking right at me, grinning from ear to ear.

Oh, shit.

What the fuck did you do, you little gremlin.

Fireworks explode across my vision as Adrik catches me with a motherfucker of a haymaker. I spin and one knee hits the ground as round two ends.

Something is seriously wrong with me. I’m not just worn out. It’s like my arms aren’t working anymore. My skin feels too hot, and my heart is beating too slowly for how much I'm exerting myself. Black spots swim in my vision as I collapse against the wall, sucking in air.

“Bro!” Cenzo frowns as he gets in my face. “What are you doing out there?”

“I’ve got it,” I snap.

But it’s not really a snap, more like a slurred mumble.

Cenzo frowns as he peers at me. “Dame… You okay? Seriously.”

“Totally fine,” I grunt as I lurch off-kilter to my feet.

The third round starts. Very quickly, all I know is pain.

It’s as if I have no concept of how to block a punch. I manage to dodge a couple, barely, but I only get in one hit on Adrik before the round ends.

My brother is talking to me as I slump against the wall of the ring, but I don’t hear a word he’s saying. My vision is wavering. Blood is dripping freely from my mouth, nose, and an open cut above my right eyebrow, coating my face in a sticky mess I can’t even be bothered to freak out about right now.

My eyes swivel groggily to Bella.

She’s still looking right at me, grinning coldly and looking way too beautiful.

She smirks at me as she lifts the beer bottle in her hand and takes a sip, never breaking eye contact.

When I see the beer in her hand and realize it’s the same brand as the one I was guzzling back before the fight…the one I set down on the fence post behind me, right in front of Bella…

Oh fuck.

I think I might be in even more trouble than I thought.

Turns out I’m right.

The fourth round starts and I’m just a punching bag, barely standing upright as Adrik hits me repeatedly. One of my eyes swells shut. Blood streams from my nose and mouth, and I can barely groan when a huge hit to the jaw spins my head halfway around.

Somehow I’m still alive when the bell rings again, but I’m not quite sure how I get from the middle of the ring back to my corner.

Cenzo is trying to get me to tap out. I ignore him as I turn and swivel my good eye to Bella.

She smiles coldly at me.

Fuck you, God’s middle finger to humanity.

I grin a bloodied smile at her as I lurch over to the section of the wall she’s standing behind, a terrified-looking Galina next to her.

Bella’s grin widens. “You know, Dame,” she sighs in a bored tone, “it’s usually customary to fight back when someone punches you in the face. I mean, I’m no boxer, but⁠—”