CHAPTER 11
"Ye gettin' tired yet?" Theo's opponent snarled with a distinct brogue that gave away his Scottish descent. "I saw ye beat me friend and I'm here for yer blood."
He didn't respond but dodged the man's heavy handed blows as best he could so his mask wouldn't come off. Even if the fighters and the organizers of the events knew his identity, he didn't need the members of thetonpresent to know what he did instead of sip watery lemonade and flirt.
The fight was a major even with a larger than usual guest list of patrons to gather more money, as well as spark more interested patrons in the club and while Theo would have refused, he had had a particularly vexing week of trying to comprehend his need to corrupt Cecilia and merely visiting his mistress wouldn't have been enough to work off the energy thrumming in his blood.
The man used his temporary distraction to land a blow in his gut and another to his jaw and the crowd went wild. He heard the distinct sound of bets being placed and cheers from blood thirstymen even though his head swam with the dizzying effect of the blow he had just taken.
Damn,he thought.
The man's hits showed he wanted blood but Theo would be damned if he gave in so easily to the bastard. He blocked a few more blows even though he was slower than he usually was.
"Ye ready to give up yet, me laird?" the man sneered. "This is no place for ye."
"Do you intend to fight with your mouth?" Theo asked gritting his teeth against the pain.
"Ye are no coward," the man said with a smile. “'Tis good. I will enjoy yer defeat."
Theo landed a blow to the man's jaw and midriff but the man seemed unfazed and moved to retaliate. He was a more skilled fighter than most he had experienced and fought in such an erratic pattern it was hard to see any weaknesses or openings.
He had hoped to use the man's need to claim revenge for his friend but the man had his mind settled even when he was angry. A most dangerous foe indeed. Theo had fought men of less skill in these rings and it seemed he had grown complacent with his wins so far.
Still, he bit down the urge to fight as freely as he usually did. The whole purpose of the fights was to entertain, even if there would ultimately be a winner. A fact the man didn't seem all too aware of.
He was vaguely aware of William being in the crowd and that kept his thoughts drifting to the audience trying to see if he could spot him. The stubborn man had insisted on being present for all of his fights and while he wanted to refuse, the man had been insistent.
"If anything should befall you, do you believe any of those men would return you kindly to your home?"he had asked."They would rob your dying body, if they don't end you themselves."
His concern was touching but not necessary.
It wasn't as though he didn't know that he was in danger in these parts of London but since he had begun the fights, he had yet to sustain an injury that had him requiring assistance to return home. While they respected him for his skill, he knew they were still wary of him being a nobleman, and worse still a rich one.
Another blow to his side and then his head had him seeing white with a loud ringing in his ears and he bit back a curse. It seemed William's warning had done naught but exposed him to a turn of bad fate. Never had he been so badly hurt by blows.
His mask felt oppressive as sweat made the fabric stick to his skin. He struggled to take in breaths and keep on his feet.
Damn it.
He did not like to lose but this fight looked like one he would win only after he truly moved past his inhibitions and seeing the man's triumphant sneer tempted him to move past.
"Ye fight like anEnglishman," the man sneered. “'Tis a wonder how ye beat Tamhas. Are ye this weak when ye take yer women too or does yer money keep them too satisfied to complain?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Theo teased. "Perhaps you might like to become one of them."
"Ye pompous bastard," he snarled. "I will end ye where ye stand."
Theo laughed but the man sent a low kick towards his groin which he managed to dodge. That was a dirty move even if they were fighting with no rules and he decided then he had had enough of playing at this fight.
He felt his vision turn red as the man's dishonorable behavior pushed him beyond his self-enforced limits and didn't bother to gauge his blows but the man seemed a good match for him. Soon, the man dropped to his knees, unable to withstand the onslaught of blows directed at him and tried weakly to protect his head.
He was a bigger man with more power behind his blows but Theo didn't just have strength but speed and he used that to his advantage.
Soon he felt himself being pulled off the man and when his vision cleared, he saw the man's face as he was sprawled on the ground. It was a bloody mess with a likely broken nose. They had to drag him out of the ring and he lifted his head with a grin.
His head swam as he was declared the winner and his vision doubled but he let out a roar which caused cries roar through the room. He was heady with his win but his side throbbed terribly.
Hands moved to support him as he swayed and he allowed himself the support till he was safely behind the changing room.
