Hidden Passions (Hidden, #7)(70)

Tony looked at the impossibly handsome fae. Did everyone think he was a big *?

"There are those who consider surrender less onerous than death," Roald pointed out.

Tony thought the fae might be making a little funny but couldn't tell. "Fine," he said. "If either of us tap out or cry uncle, the walls should come down as well."

"Very good," Roald said. "I expect the tiger will agree. He'll like the idea of you doing that. I feel obliged to warn you, none of these stipulations prevent either of you from killing the other. As I understand it, causing an opponent's death in a dominance challenge isn't against the law."

It wasn't, which was one of the reasons shifters didn't lightly engage in them. Roald began to turn away.

"Did you know this would happen?" Tony asked. "Was that why you warned me?"

"The future isn't written until it is," Roald said over his shoulder.

Tony grimaced. He should have expected a fortune cookie answer.

Chris joined him as Roald left. Obviously upset, the cat shoveled his gold-streaked hair off his furrowed brow. "You don't have to do this."

"Pretty sure I do," Tony said.

"That magical barrier will keep me from interfering once the challenge starts."

"That's the point of it, I expect."

Chris looked extremely unhappy. "I don't want to lose you."

People were watching, but Tony clasped his face. "Please stop assuming I can't win."

Chris blew out his breath and nodded. Reluctantly, Tony dropped his hands.

"I've sparred with Jonah," Chris said almost steadily. "He drops his guard after he lands a punch. His speed is good, but sometimes his temper makes him do stupid things."


Tony hoped to avoid a boxing match. That wasn't where his strength lay. On the other hand, he didn't want Chris to worry if it turned into one.

"Good to know," he said.

Chris brow remained creased. "I love you, Tony. No one's ever done anything like this for me, but--God--I wish you weren't."

Tony grinned. "I'll be all right, mon chat."

Chris cursed in response to the loathed nickname. Roald returned to them.

"Your terms have been accepted," he said. "I need to remove your gauntlet so it won't accidentally affect the outcome."

Tony held out his arm for Roald to take it off. He hadn't been wearing the thing long, but his wrist already felt naked without it. Ah well. Even if he'd known how to make the cuff change shape, he'd probably suck at sword fighting.

"I can't wish you luck," Roald said. "Coming from a pureblood, those words have power."

"Understood." Tony glanced toward the ring Roald had set up. The fae had drawn a large square outline in magic, the shimmery force clinging to grass level. Jonah stood outside the line, with Liam beside him. Two more cats were a step away from them. They might or might not approve of the challenge, but they wouldn't abandon a clan member--not when he fought an outsider. Liam tried to look tough, but to Tony's eyes he seemed conflicted. When Chris nodded at the two indeterminately aligned tigers, they nodded back. That was heartening, Tony guessed.

He sensed Rick and Nate coming up behind him. Nate was the pack member Tony trained with the most, the one who'd taught him his best tricks. Nate had a good poker face, but Tony thought he was genuinely less worried than the others. His level gaze met Tony's.

Rick could only try to look as confident.

"You ready?" his brother asked.

"I'm ready," Tony said.

~

Roald gave Jonah and Tony their final instructions outside the fighting ring.

"You understand how this works?" he asked. "You step in, the walls go up. No one else can enter from any direction. If one of you goes unconscious or is pinned for ten seconds, the spell perceives the other as the victor, and the barrier falls. The same holds true if either of you concede. Jonah, if you shift to your tiger form, the enchantment treats it as a forfeit."

"What about claws and teeth?" Jonah asked.

"They're permitted," Roald said, "since Tony can use them too. Please remove your shoes and shirt."

Jonah complied. They were both barefoot and shirtless then. There'd be no gloves for this battle, no protective headgear or timeouts. They'd fight until one of them couldn't anymore. Tony tied his sweatpants more securely at his waist. Nate had made sure Tony stretched out and warmed his muscles. Jonah rolled his neck to work out its kinks, or perhaps to draw attention to how thick it was. He punched one fist into the palm of his other hand, dancing a little on the balls of his feet.

Maybe he thought he was Sugar Ray.

"Let's get this show on the road," he said. His voice was thicker, like he was letting his tiger use his vocal chords.

Tony left the posturing to him. He stepped over the glowing line of magic without comment.

The moment Jonah joined him the walls snapped up, enclosing them in an impermeable dome of force. Tony's ears popped from a change in pressure as the sounds outside the barrier disappeared. The bubble was slightly blurry, turning the people who watched them into vague blurs of color. Inside, the air was crystalline.

Tony noticed the temperature was cooler.

Jonah grinned as Tony registered the changes. "It's just you and me, cocksucker."