"Alright, boy. Allow us to see you out." The Count slapped me on the shoulder and walked past me and into the arena, hammer drawn. Around me, the others began drawing their weapons, too.

"Hang tight. We gotta get you the fanfare you deserve," Davik said as he walked past, a big smile on his face.

"Hero of Pit worthy of warband," Kalnari roared and sprinted forward.

"Sir! Please wait for us," The three former peasants shouted, then followed the other three into the arena.

As the six fighters entered the arena, weapons drawn, the announcer's voice echoed all around the arena. "What's this?" He asked the audience. "Are my eyes deceiving me? It looks like most of the remaining fighters of the Pit have cast their support behind the Iron Sentinel!"

The roar of the audience filled my ears as I stepped to the mouth of the long tunnel. Waiting for my queue, I stayed just out of sight, watching my new friends work their magic.

With a whole lot of whooping and roaring, my companions worked up the crowd, giving me time to take in the audience. Thousands of audience members were piled on top of one another, leaning fully over the railings, trying to reach for the fighters. I'd never seen the Pit so full before. As much as this place was awful, as much as I hated it most of the time, the sight in front of me was truly incredible.

And it got my heart pumping.

I stepped out a little further and looked at Elise's box.

It was empty.

I guessed that Tristan's plan hadn't worked, at least not yet.

So be it. We'd be alright. I'd make it work.

Several of the audience members saw me waiting at the mouth of the tunnel and started pointing and screaming.

"He's here!"

"Look at his armor!"

"He looks amazing!"

"Have my babies!"

When they saw that I'd been spotted, my friends all assembled, held their weapons high, and made two lines, creating a little runway for me to run down.

"Lllllllladies and Gentlemen!" The announcer roared, his voice booming over the chaos. "Welcome to the Pit's final fight!"

I was pretty sure the audience's reaction could be felt in the city above. The entire place was shaking.

"The largest crowd in our history is here tonight, ready to witness the end of an era!"

"Get out there, Sentinel. And put on a good fight. I have good money on you." A guard walked up behind me and gave me a little shove, pushing me into the light of the arena.

It was now or never.

"And there he is! Our Wicked Templar turned Hero of the Pit! The one! The only! The Iron Sentinelllll!" He growled out that final word for a good ten seconds.

As I ran into the arena, I held my sword and shield high and hit them against the others' weapons, pumping my arms the whole way. When I hit the end of the little runway, I didn't know what else to do, so I screamed, "Are you people ready?!"

Somehow, the audience got even louder. I didn't know it was possible to be so loud.

Running a lap around the arena, I started pointing to audience members and doing whatever came to mind. Winks. Kisses. I caught a rose at some point. Someone threw their panties, and I managed to catch them on my sword. It was the most epic moment I'd ever lived.

"And his challenger approaches!"

"There she is!" Someone screamed, and countless audience members pointed across the arena, toward the other tunnel.

Looking where they pointed, I saw a small figure appear in the shadows.

It was Vral.

"Kill him, Slasher!"

"Cut him dead!'

"Fuck him up!"

My heart pounded in my ears as I took her in. She had that lean, predatory energy that rippled from her with every step she took. A wide grin was plastered on her face, and her teeth gleamed in the dim light. Her face was painted with white war paint in an intricate pattern I'd never seen before, her body was covered in tight leather armor, and her daggers were drawn, sparkling with every step.

She looked incredible.

When she saw me staring, her grin grew. Right before she stepped into the light, she stuck her tongue out at me and winked.

"Tonight, the Iron Sentinel will face his deadliest foe yet: The undisputed Queen of the Pit, the Goblin Goddess of War, the one, the only, Vral the Slasher!"

I thought they'd been loud for me, but damn was I wrong. It was like being in the center of a hurricane. And, while everyone was cheering, Vral's fans screamed themselves hoarse as she stepped into the arena and twirled her daggers. Then, she whirled in a circle, threw her daggers into the air, and caught them without looking.

What a show off!

"This is it! Fighters, approach one another. All others, vacate the arena. And remember: If the fight stays clean, it's no good down here in the Pit!"

"Fight well, Sentinel." Kalnari slapped my helmet and walked past me.

"Do your best, kid." Khadrel bowed his head and followed the massive orc.

"Hey." Davik got close. "Whatever happens, don't ever forget you're a hero to us." He held out his fist. "You've done more than most, and we'll never forget it."

I took him it. I hadn't noticed it before in the waiting room, but he had Elise's favor on his arm. "You caught her eye, huh?" I fist bumped him.

He grinned. "I may have been wrong about her, and I sure do hope I'm wrong about her pa." I thought I saw a blush cross his face. "Either way, I'd be a fool to turn down an offer like hers."

"I don't blame you. Just know that I'll keep protecting you after we get out of here. If the duke wants to fuck with you, he'll have to get through me. You're my people now."

He placed his fist against his chest and bowed. "Fight well, brother."

I nodded. "I will."

Marcus, Fia, and Elena walked up next.

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"You've got this, sir." Marcus bent himself in half, his body perpendicular to the floor.

"Fight for us, sir!" Fia's eyes were sparkling as she bowed, too.

"None of that, you three."

They all stood upright, and Marcus spoke. "We owe you our lives, sir. It's the least we can do."

I slapped his arm. "I'd do it again, too."

"Fight well." Marcus walked back to the waiting room.

"Do your best!" Elena followed.

"You'll win. I know it!" Fia's face was flushed crimson as she brushed by me.

Calling over my shoulder, I said, "You can count on it."

One by one, the group disappeared back into the tunnel, and the gate closed.

Turning back to the goblin, I took a deep breath and walked forward. Putting on a big grin, I held my sword and shield in the air and worked the crowd up as I walked toward my opponent. She did the same.

When we made it to one another in the center of the arena, we stopped just outside striking distance. For a moment, neither of us moved. Without planning it, we both took our time and studied one another. It wasn't often we got to see one another without a wall separating us. I liked seeing her, and I could tell she felt the same way.

"You look good in that fancy new armor," Vral said, her voice carrying despite the noise from the crowd. "No more rags for this warrior, huh?"

"Nope. I figured I should look the part."

"You look like a real man. I like it."

"Yeah?" I made a show of looking her over, too. "I can say the same about you. Those leathers work for you." They were skin tight and hugged every inch of her perfectly. I felt a little guilty thinking about her like that, but fuck. Vral was hot. Tristan would understand. Hell, Tristan would think she was hot, too.

Vral gestured at her curves and smirked. "Bitch, I know what I got." Her red eyes met mine. "Don't start thinking with the wrong head, now. If you do, this fight'll be over quick."

I laughed. "Not like you're not drooling, too. I see those eyes of yours lingering on me." I pointed at my eyes, then hers. "Eyes up here, lady."

Her eyes did, in fact, linger on my body for another long moment. She wasn't even trying to hide it. "Can't blame a girl. You're easy on the eyes. I said that the first time we met, and I still think it now. Plus, after I kill you today, I'll need something to remember you by."

Matching smiles spread across both of our faces, and we laughed, the sound pure and unrestrained. For a moment, it was like we weren't prisoners fighting in an underground fighting pit about to, most likely, kill one another in a death match. At least, one of us was determined to kill the other.

When the moment passed and the roar of the crowd washed over us again, I asked, "You ready for this?"

"More than you know." Her red eyes were locked on mine. "Been dreaming about it for a long time."

I grinned. "Oh, I'm in your dreams now, huh?"

Without a bit of hesitation, she said, "Fuck yeah, you are." Her green cheeks darkened. "Not only did you make me listen to that hot ass girlfriend of yours moan her head off the other day, but also..." her cheeks darkened further. "It's every girl's dream, right? To meet a man who can beat her down? To find a man who can make her submit? Someone strong enough to take her leash?"

"That might only be a you thing, Vral, but I respect it."

She took a step toward me. "I'm a goblin. It's only natural. You're strong. I'm feral. It's only right for me to dream about you. I have questions only you can answer."

Her words did something to me. A lot of something. If we survived this, Vral, Tristan, and I needed to have a long talk. "And how do I go about answering those questions?"

"By crossing blades with me." She held her daggers up and looked at them. "By beating me, right here, right now. Then, after... you could... offer me..." Her teeth bared, and she thrust a dagger at my neck. "If you fall today, you weren't worth a goddamn shit! You'll have gotten my hopes up for nothing!" She took a step toward me. "Then, I'll die unfulfilled. But if you win..." She stepped closer, "Then, I'll be free, no matter what you choose to do with me after. Kill me. Beat me. Chain me up. Use me. Chase me out. Throw me away. I don't care. I can take it. Do with me what you want. The only thing that matters is that I'll finally be free, right where it matters." She pointed at her chest with her dagger. "I'll finally be fulfilled."

I didn't like a single one of those options. "You deserve so much more than that."

She shook her head. "We only deserve what we can take in this life."

"Dream bigger, Vral."

"Dreaming of more is for the naive and the privileged." She laughed. "You and me? We neither. I learned a long time to not let my dreams let me down. Not ever again. Why hurt myself? I only believe what I can see. And right now, all I see is you."

I stepped closer. "Once this is done, you'll be free to dream whatever you want, and I'll open those eyes up completely. No more settling. You'll be free. Body and mind. That's a promise."

Her eyes were locked on mine. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Well..." She stepped closer. "What if I don't want to be free? What if I want someone to take my leash? What if that's what I need?"

A long, long talk. "We'll make that happen, right after we get out of here." I grinned. "Right after I win."

Her grin faltered. "Prove it. Don't leave a shred of doubt in my mind." Her red eyes were glowing. "I need to know."

"Know what?"

"If it's you."

"Get ready, girl. I'm not about to hold back."

"Don't you fucking dare! I'll kill you in a heartbeat if you hold out on me."

I stepped back and pointed my sword at her face. "Let's go. I've been hearing a lot of shit talking coming out of you for a long time, but I need to see what you've got. Prove you're not all talk, woman."

Her grin returned, then grew until it became a real smile again. "Oh, I will."

"Let's go."

She reached both blades out and tapped my sword. "Let's do this."

"THE FIGHT BEGINS!"

Pulling my sword back, I placed it on the top of my shield and took a ready stance.

With a giggle, Vral vanished.

Shit!

What skill was that? She didn't use that last time.

An instant later, her voice was behind me. "Better move faster, or else this'll be a short match, boy toy." Something metallic flashed in the corner of my eye.

[Iron Skin]

Her dagger bounced off my eye a fraction of a second after my skill took hold. "No mercy, huh?!"

"Not a shred of it in me." She giggled again. "Keep up."

With all my strength, I swept outward with my shield, but she was already gone.

"Prove it to me, boy toy!" Again, her words were behind me. "Prove it!"

This time, I ducked just as both of her blades whizzed over my head, right where my neck had been.

"Nice skill, but I get it now." She'd only be able to use it, what? Five? Seven times? Not everyone was like me. [Second Wind] was my trump card. I'd be fine.

"Do you now?" She vanished again. I heard the gravel crunch behind me. "Too slow, Alex." Something struck the back of my knee, sending me toppling forward. Falling forward three steps, I pivoted and slashed behind me, trying to stop her next attack.

"Pssh, you're crushing my dreams right now." She vanished before my sword hit.

She'd try to hit me from behind again. I knew it.

As I'd predicted, her voice was behind me again. "Really? Don't you want to see that hot little elf blood of yours again? Next time, I want to hear her—"

[Provoke]

"Shit!" Vral grunted.

Turning, I saw her stumble. My skill had thrown her off balance. Without waiting, I pressed right when she caught her balance again and attacked, catching her daggers on the lip of my shield. With a heave, I shoved her backward. I followed with a low sweep of my sword, nicking her thigh as she backpedaled. That opened a small hole in her leather pants, and I thought I saw red.

"Oh, she's a sore spot, huh?" She smirked as she gathered herself.

"This isn't about her right now. It's about you and me!" I took a step forward, locking my stance down, getting ready for the next assault.

That made her smile. "I've never been someone's priority before."

I slashed at her leg. "Get used to it."

Vral leapt forward and twisted, aiming for my wrist with both of her daggers, trying to capture my arm. "I like it!"

I reversed direction and cut with the false edge of my sword, aiming for her hands.

Vral giggled again. "Not good enough!" She vanished.

"This again?" I'd seen her do what she was doing enough times that I knew to expect it. That, plus the helmet's enchantment [Hawk Eyes], helped me see her moving around me, if only barely. That's when it hit me.

"Holy shit," I whispered as she appeared in front of me, then disappeared again.

She wasn't using a skill.

No.

She was just that fast.

"You figured it out, huh?" She appeared in front of me, slashed at my knee, forcing me backward, then poofed out of sight.

Amazing. I thought she'd been using a skill this whole time, but I was completely wrong. In fact, I'd never once seen her use a skill. She had only ever been raw talent and hard work. "You're incredible."

"I am, aren't I?" She appeared, grinned widely, and vanished again.

[Provoke]

"Damn it!" Behind me, I heard her stumble. "Fucking skills."

That gave me enough time to throw my shield out, catching her in the shoulder.

"Oof!" She somersaulted to avoid most of the damage, but I'd still gotten her pretty good. When she landed on her feet, she muttered, "Not bad," already circling again. "You've gotten a lot faster, and your sword work is way better."

Laughing, I shot back, "Yeah? Well, you haven't gotten any slower."

"You think you're the only one who's been training hard for this?"

I had thought that, actually. She'd always been this insurmountable obstacle in my mind, one so far above me that she never needed to worry about what I did. It never once occurred to me that she'd want to train for this fight. That she'd think she needed to. "I'm honored, Vral."

"You should be." She twirled her daggers. "So, you ready to get serious now?"

I laughed. Wasn't that what we were doing already? "Yeah. But don't cry when I kick your ass."

She cackled. "Cry? I'm praying you do. So prove it. Prove you're worthy."

I took a ready stance. "Get ready, girl. I'm about to take that leash of yours and break it into tiny little pieces."

Vral eyes glowed, and she began grinning wildly. "I can't wait."

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