Chapter 1
Bosse heaved for everybreath he could grasp.
He watched for the slightest twitch of the wild-eyed tiger shifter, also in human form, any telltale aggressive move. From the gritty dirt beneath Bosse’s bare feet to the rusty sheen of death rotting on the stone walls, putrid air clogged his lungs.
Blood ran down his face and stung his eyes. He stood tall, though it cost him with his back wrecked by sharp claws.
If he could eat decent food and rest when needed, he’d heal as fast as any other wolf shifter. Maybe faster. Titan had once been unmatched in healing, but his wolf suffered right along with him in this hellhole.
Titan spoke in his mind.Tiger waits for us to attack.
Bosse grunted in agreement.
The one who attacked first exposed a vulnerability, as the tiger had just learned. While moving side-to-side slowly to appear anxious to fight, Bosse noted a muscle pulsing in his thick-bodied opponent’s neck. Tangled, dung-colored hair hung in wet strands over his face. Bosse looked no better, and their naked bodies smelled of sweat and grime.
Shifters generally cared more about personal hygiene, but prisoners were not offered baths. Bosse had spent the last two years of his life between this hundred-foot-across circular arena and a twelve-by-twelve cage just tall enough for him to stand upright. He’d looked forward to the arena today—to the combat. Nothing else would grind the edge off his constant rage demanding an outlet. The bloodier, the better.
If he or his wolf bled too much, the guards would throw buckets of cold water on him to wash away the sickening smell of fresh blood.
A welcomed relief from the grime, even if getting a saltwater ice bath required a load of fortitude.
Growls and garbled words fell along with slobber and blood from the tiger shifter’s ripped mouth. He had eighty pounds on Bosse, which was saying something. Being his first day as a castle captive, the tiger shifter entered the arena in prime shape.
He now limped.
Bosse gritted his teeth every time he drew a breath and jarred his back, but he snarled and flashed fangs he called up to hide the pain. A lump crusted with dried blood rose from the crown of his head, which had bounced off the stone wall circling the arena. He had a new broken rib, and warm liquid ran down his back from where the cat had slashed deep grooves.
No big deal. Bosse used claws in his human form, too.
“What are you waiting for?” Krol shouted at them from high above, where he perched on an obscene gold throne with red velvet padding, acting like a petulant brat being ignored. That crazy lion shifter pretended he was a king and that no modern world existed beyond this castle in a remote part of Slovakia.
Krol slammed his fist hard on the throne arm. “Stop wasting my time.”
The tiger shifter lifted his head and roared in response.
Worked for Bosse. He generally ignored Krol.
Inching back the opposite way for the fourth time, Bosse paused when his opponent’s arms dropped to his sides.
Titan kept him informed of their physical stability in any match.We are not healing at all.
They never healed completely, but Bosse needed more strength to return to his upper body. His animal would pass on a bath to eat one decent meal and regenerate, but the ruler of this castle cared nothing about keeping expendable entertainment alive.
Bosse and Titan had lasted far longer than expected.
That only pissed off Krol, who expected his new and healthy shifter prisoners to show off for him by killing Bosse.
Tiger takes too long. We should attack while he is weak,Titan strategized.
Answering silently, Bosse said,The tiger may be playing possum to draw us out.
Titan conceded with one word.Possible.
Constant deep-throated snarling and chuffed breaths on the far side of the arena suppressed the dead silence.
“Shift now! Do something!” Krol yelled, then proving to be the easily distracted idiot he was, he snapped his fingers for wine.
Bosse would not shift until his opponent revealed his animal. It could be one of several different tigers. All dangerous, but some were larger than others.
