The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(39)

Taheesha giggled and let go off Kit’s arm.

Kit smiled indulgently. “Where do we sit, Elliot?”

Kit stared as the beta turned almost crimson before stammering, “I-I was directed just to escort Taheesha to the Alphas’ area.”

Kit swallowed, but nodded pleasantly and waved them forward. What the hell was going on? Where was he supposed to go?

Luca? Kit gave up the notion of not bothering him. Everyone was acting weird.

He paused as the field where the games had been set up came into view, and stood in awe. The area for the competitions had been marked out in the middle of the field, and straw bales had been set up as a perimeter to prevent the competitors and the audience having contact. There were hundreds of people watching. At the top of the field were two marked seating areas. One was clearly for the Alphas and omegas and he saw Gabriel and a few of the other heirs there. Iris sat with Danni chatting to her, and Elliot escorted Taheesha to join her sister. Kit started walking over to that area, assuming it was where he was supposed to be. There was a seating area to the side that seemed to include some of the beta-commanders and the she-wolves. Tomas and Molly were both seated there as well.

Kit heard the hush of the crowd as he drew near, the guards were poised at either side of the entrance to the separated area for the Alphas. It was made clear that no one sat there without invitation.

Kit took a step towards the entrance, only to be blocked by a gamma. It was one of the gammas who disliked him, Michael.

He barely disguised his sneer. “I’m sorry, but you are not on the list of guests allowed in here.” He pointed to where Molly and Tomas sat, indicating that was where he was supposed to go.

Kit nodded once, desperately wanting the heat of humiliation not to creep up his neck. He turned quickly and nearly ran to join an open-mouthed Molly. “What are you doing in here?” she asked. “Why didn’t you arrive with Luca?”

Kit shook his head, the lump in his throat preventing words, and he was glad that something had distracted everyone as all the gammas and the guards turned to look at the arena.

It was Luca. Kit’s mouth dried involuntarily. He was wearing black, loose pants, but his chest was bare. Cheers rose from the crowd, and Luca turned to acknowledge them. Tomas leaned closer and whispered to Kit about what was happening. Apparently, Luca had offered to have the ruling council pick a werewolf champion to challenge him in the games, and they had chosen Malik, the Alpha-heir who apparently was interested in Tara.

Kit watched as Luca’s opponent entered the arena. They were the same height, and dressed in the same loose black pants, but that was where the similarities ended. Malik was huge. Kit whimpered his distress and Molly took his hand.

“Are they shifting?” Kit asked hopefully. Kit had seen Luca’s wolf and he was confident no one could beat the huge animal.

“No,” whispered Tomas. “They will wrestle. No weapons allowed, and they aren’t allowed to shift. The winner is the first one to pin the other immobile for a timed ten seconds.”

Kit blinked as something glinted sharply. He raised his hand to shield his eyes. He peered at the sun and suddenly went cold all over. The sun was behind a cloud. He looked around suspiciously. What had he seen? No one else seemed to have noticed.

A cheer rose from the crowd as Luca and Malik faced each other and bowed. Kit’s heart rose in his mouth as Malik leaped, even as Luca bowed, but Luca moved faster than Kit could have believed possible. Luca had obviously been ready for him, and jumped out of the way. The crowd cheered as they circled one another.

The same bright light glinted again in Kit’s face and he ducked. He glanced at Tomas, who was watching the fight, completely riveted. What the hell? How was something bothering him when it clearly wasn’t affecting anyone else? Kit tried to focus on the arena but had to use his hand to shield his eyes.

Molly glanced at him and frowned. “Are you all right? Does your head hurt?”

Kit was at a loss. Something was shining right in his eyes, almost when the sun caught something metallic. The crowd cheered as Luca brought Malik down but he couldn’t restrain him for ten seconds and they both jumped back away from each other, panting. Another few seconds and Malik brought Luca down. Malik restrained him to the count of seven but Luca bucked him off.

Kit heaved for a breath. He could feel Luca’s exhaustion, and Malik didn’t seem to be stopping or slowing.

Tomas leaned closer. “Luca knows they are mismatched. He could use his new Alpha ability but he won’t because he considers it cheating. This is all about Luca being the bigger man.”

“By losing?” Kit asked in confusion.

Tomas nodded. “He is making a point. That this is a game only and Alphas don’t have to win at everything. The last time this sort of thing happened, the Alpha lost and his opponent was slaughtered by the gammas in full view of everyone.”

Kit turned quickly at a sudden roar. Malik had pinned Luca and Luca was straining to get off, but he was unable. The crowd started chanting the seconds down. Malik was holding Luca with one arm across his chest, their bodies pressed together. His other arm was behind him and Kit saw Malik start to bring it around.

Bright light nearly blinded Kit. The metal dagger in Malik’s hand glinted and Kit jumped up screaming at the top of his lungs at Sam. Sam stood at the entrance to the arena. He was the only one who could hear Kit’s shout above the chanting.