Edmund
The laughter hadn't even settled when the announcer's voice rang out again.
"Let's get on with the highlight of this season!"
The noise in the hall rose immediately. People leaned forward, their attention snapping to the center of the space where a wide ring had been cleared.
"Two alphas," the announcer continued, his tone full of excitement, "against one omega in a battle."
My stomach tightened.
"Whoever successfully pins the other down," he went on, "gets to mount them."
I didn't move. There was no way. Oh there was no way I was going to let any dirty alpha mount me. I'd rather die than be a part of it in any form. I'd rather die.
"And if the omega wins…" the announcer paused, letting the silence stretch, "he will be mounted by any alpha His Majesty chooses."
The crowd reacted louder this time.
My jaw clenched.
Before I could even think of a response, hands shoved me forward.
"Move."
I stumbled a step, chains clinking against the ground, before I caught myself. The guards didn't slow down. They pushed me straight into the ring.
I steadied my footing, forcing myself to stand upright.
Two men stepped in from the opposite side.
They were Alphas.
Both taller than me. Broader and built in ways that you could tell they were not new to battle or fighting.
Under normal conditions, an omega does not engage in battle but nothing about Asher or his rules were ever normal.
One cracked his neck.
The other smirked and had a glint in his eyes. As though I were raw meat.
I glanced up.
My eyes found Asher immediately.
He sat on his throne, one leg crossed over the other, watching like this was nothing more than entertainment.
Something in my chest tightened.
"Ready?" one of the alphas asked, his voice mocking.
I didn't answer.
Then the signal was given.
And they moved quite fast. I was barely given the chance to prepare.
The first hit came fast.
Too fast.
A fist slammed into my side, knocking the air out of my lungs. I stumbled back, barely catching my balance before the second one came at me from the front.
I ducked just in time.
His arm passed over my head, and I shoved forward, hitting him in the chest with my shoulder. He staggered a step, but not enough.
The other one grabbed me from behind.
I twisted, trying to break free, but his grip tightened.
"Hold him," the first one said.
I reacted on instinct.
I threw my head back.
It connected with something solid.
The man behind me cursed, his grip loosening just enough for me to slip out.
I didn't wait.
I moved quickly. Every second was important.
A quick step forward, then a turn. My fist connected with the first alpha's jaw. He barely moved, but it was enough to make him step back.
I took the chance to breathe.
Just one second.
That was all I got.
The second alpha came at me again.
His fist slammed into my shoulder, sending pain shooting down my arm. I gritted my teeth and pushed through it, swinging back.
We collided and I slipped.
My foot caught on the edge of the ring, and I went down hard.
The impact knocked the air out of me again.
Before I could get up, they were on me.
One grabbed my arm.
The other pushed me down by my shoulder.
"Stay down," one of them said.
I refused.
I twisted my body, forcing my weight to one side. My arm burned as I pulled it free, and I shoved one of them off just enough to roll away.
I got up.
Barely. If I had remained even a second longer, these filthy creatures would be having their way with me. I shuddered at the thought. Somewhere inside my robe, I hid a potion strong enough to knock me out almost immediately. Suicide was better than living through the reality of what they would do me.
But first, I had to give my all at surviving.
My legs felt heavy, but I forced them to move.
The crowd was loud now.
Watching.
Waiting. I could smell their excitement from here in the ring.
I glanced up again.
Asher hadn't moved.
Not even a little.
Something painful settled in my chest. He couldn't be that cruel.
"Focus," I told myself.
My breathing was uneven now.
My body ached so fucking bad.
They came again but this time, they came together. Fuck.
I braced myself.
Dodged the first but barely managed to dodge the second.
I fought. Countered with everything I had left. I moved like a wounded animal. Fighting with my last will to live.
Survive. You must survive. Time was not on my side.
If I don't take them down now, I'll be out.
Ignoring the pain hitting me from all angles, I gave my all in the punches I threw and made sure my feet never left the ground.
I glanced up one more time.
Asher was still watching. With that same emotionless expression on his face.
Fuck him.
One of them charged again.
I stepped aside at the last second.
He lost his balance.
I pushed him hard. Jumped and smashed his head with my elbow.
He went down immediately.
The second one turned toward me, but I was already moving.
I grabbed his arm.
Twisted it painfully.
Used his own weight against him. He fell with a thud.
I didn't hesitate. I dropped with him.
Pinned him down and held him there.
He struggled for a while and tried to push me off but I held on tighter.
A few seconds passed.you can do this Edmund. Almost there.
Then—
The signal came. The fight was over.
And silence fell.
For a brief moment, the entire hall went quiet.
Then the reactions started pouring in.
There were Murmurs.
Displeased looks.
A few claps, but not many seemed impressed.
They didn't like the outcome.
But that's the thing. I didn't fucking care.
"Get up," a voice called.
I stood slowly, my body protesting every movement.
"Approach His Majesty."
I paused for a second.
Then I walked up to him. Watching his gaze, hoping for even the slightest glimpse of pride, or even disgust. But with every step I took, his gaze remained unchanging.
A part of me wished I had swallowed the potion. There was nothing I hated more than indifference and Asher didn't spare a second to make me feel it.
I got to where he sat, looking all powerful and dominating.
"Sit." He spat the word out like I was a bug under his shoe.
I glanced at the chair beside him.
A slave chair.
I hesitated.
"Sit," he repeated.
I had no choice. Anything was better than being given to another alpha to use as they pleased. Even Asher's anger was by far benovolent.
The moment I did, he motioned to the guards.
They returned quickly, with a chain.
My chest tightened.
Before I could react, Asher took it himself.
He reached for my wrist.
And locked the chain around it.
The sound echoed through the air as the metal clicked into place.
The hall gasped.
"It seems," the announcer's voice rang out again, "that the traitor of Milanti has returned to his original position. But this time, as a slave."
Everyone knew the implication of this new development. Even I, wasn't that oblivious.
I waited for the angry uproar. A scream. A loud sigh even. But nothing came and I knew why. No one had the balls to speak against Asher. No matter how distasteful his choices might be.
The bigger question now is, what does he intend to do with me?