Seduction (Curse of the Gods #3)(55)
I dragged them toward the stairs, knowing the others would follow. When we were near the bottom step, an announcement rang through the room.
“Calling to the arena: Coen Abcurse, gifted with Pain.” There was a slight pause, and then the announcer continued. “He will face Leonard Fitzwilliam, gifted with Ember.”
I tilted my head to the side and met Coen’s gaze. “Ember?” I asked.
“His hands can create fire. Not like you do. He has to touch something to use his power.”
I nodded. That wasn’t so bad. That was no match for a God of Pain. Only … Coen wasn’t allowed to use his powers. My heart was pounding with heavy, rapid beats as I gulped in air—but I didn’t have time to panic before my hands were released and strong arms wrapped around me.
“I’m going to be fine, dweller-baby,” he murmured into my ear. Some of my panic dissipated at the sound of his familiar, grumbling voice. He’d been so business-like and serious, and it had bothered me.
I wiggled my arms free and wrapped them as tightly as I could around his neck. “Don’t die, or get burned, or kill the sol.” My strangled words had him chuckling.
“Anything else?” He pulled back so he could stare into my eyes. I shook my head rapidly.
“Nope, that’s all.”
Still looking amused, he lowered me down, and then turned to go up the stairs. I must have made a distressed sound, because he let out a low growl, spun back around, reached down and hauled me up with ease. His lips pressed firmly to mine, and all of the air fled my lungs in a rush. Everything inside of me curled closer to him, my body overcome by the instinct to climb his massive frame and press myself as tightly to his body as I could. Tingling shocks ran along my arms, before continuing down to … other parts of my body. His touch was literally electrifying.
“Pain!” The snap of his name seemed to break through the kiss, and he shook himself as he handed me across to Rome.
“Watch her, don’t let her out of your sight,” was his last order before he reached out to Siret.
Without a word, Siret gripped his arm, and full body armour materialised over Coen’s clothing.
“How will they stop you from using your powers?” I asked, my voice breathless.
His solemn gaze met mine. “By threatening the only thing in the worlds that we give a shit about.”
He walked away then, the body suit making him look huge and intimidating. I didn’t tear my eyes away until he disappeared out into the arena above. To distract myself, I looked around at the charred back of the room. The dwellers had cleared out at some point, after putting the fire out. I couldn’t sit still, knowing that Coen was out there, and I couldn’t even see what was happening.
“I need to see him,” I blurted. “Can we go somewhere to observe?”
The guys exchanged a look, but no one argued. Siret led the way, taking us from the stairs and down a small, dark hallway. There was another set of stairs at the end, and I was positioned between Siret and Yael as we marched up. Arriving on a small platform, I moved closer to the railing, only to realise we were looking down on the huge arena.
“This used to be a viewing platform for lesser gods; those who weren’t permitted in the box,” Aros explained.
I nodded a few times, my eyes still locked on the two figures standing down on the sand. There were no obstacles this time, just a huge expanse of free area. The stands, from what I could see, were full. No one would want to miss out on this spectacle.
The announcer’s voice sounded close. “Prepare yourselves, competitors. We are putting eight clicks on the timer. The last contestant standing will be named the winner of the round. Sols, this is your chance to impress the gods: do not waste it.”
A timepiece went into the sky. It was huge, very clearly displaying the arms as they clicked around. Eight clicks … I doubted Coen would need a quarter of that time.
The sol looked wary—who could blame him, really—as he sized up the male across from him. He stood just below Coen’s shoulders, and I could have sworn that he wore lifted shoes.
“You’d think they would have at least searched for someone who might stand a chance?” Yael shook his head, before crossing his arms over his chest. I would have replied, but I was too busy freaking out.
It had begun.
An arm draped over my shoulders and pulled me closer. “Relax, Soldier,” Siret said. “It’ll all be over in a fraction of a click.”
Coen, clearly sick of watching Leonard circle him, let out a visible exhale before he started to move. He wasn’t god-fast, clearly obeying the rules, but he was still fast as his long legs ate up the distance between him and the sol.
Leonard turned and ran away. His scrawny legs were pumping as he launched himself up the side of the arena, clinging on like a small bug of some kind. I absolutely did not blame him. Coen charging at him like that would have been all kinds of scary. Hanging from the wall wouldn’t end their fight, though. I knew that from experience. Coen went ahead and scaled it with the same ease as running across a completely flat surface. Neither of those things were easy for me, but he made it look so simple. When he drew even with the terrified sol, it appeared that they were having some sort of conversation, and I could see Leonard nodding his head with a frozen look on his face.
Suddenly, Leonard let go of the side, and without doing a thing to break his fall, plunged right into the sand below. The crowd let out gasps, and I heard some jeers. Leonard wasn’t making any sounds at all. Leonard wasn’t even moving. A set of doors at the base of the arena burst open, and a bunch of dwellers rushed out to scoop him up and drag him away. Coen just launched himself off the side of the wall, landing gracefully. He strode with a casual arrogance back toward the exit from the arena.