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  Sky slumped forward into Tor’s arms and nuzzled his neck. There he could smell his werewolf, and he inhaled. Tor ran his hands over Sky’s back, soothing and calming him as their heartbeats synced, slowed, and steadied.

  Tor reached, grabbed a towel, and pulled it over Sky, then stood, holding Sky in his arms. Water sluiced off his body back into the tub. He rubbed the towel over Sky to dry him, then placed him on the counter. Sky slumped against the mirror and watched as Tor used the towel to dry off.

  “It’s late. Lights will go off soon.” Tor dropped the towel onto the floor to sop up the water. “Let’s get to bed.”

  Sky nodded, but he was too relaxed and boneless to move.

  “Fucked you good, huh?” Tor laughed.

  “Uh-huh,” Sky mumbled.

  Tor scooped him up, threw open the door, and carried him to bed. He tucked Sky in and then brought a bottle of water from the kitchen.

  “Here, drink this.” Sky took it, drank half, and gave it back to Tor, who finished the rest. That was just like Tor, offering first to Sky before he took any for himself.

  How had Sky gotten so lucky to have Tor?

  Tor dropped the bottle and climbed in, pulling Sky against him. Sky lay spread over Tor’s body like a blanket.

  “Get some sleep, boy.” Tor’s deep voice rumbled in his chest against Sky’s ear.

  Sky nuzzled Tor’s neck and gave it a slow lick, then settled down for the night.

  The lights flashed.

  Sky closed his eyes. One more week before the first fight. Tor had told him there would be sixteen matches, two in his weight class each week, with each round’s winners advancing until only two weres faced off for the championship.

  If they didn’t make it through this first fight, there wouldn’t be any others. His agreement with Marrack was to get Tor back in the ring. Whether they won or lost, Marrack should free Sky. It was only a matter of time, after the first fight or after the sixteenth, right?

  But if Tor lost, Sky would go to the winner, and surely he’d not free Sky. His stomach clenched at what he’d just realized. He’d lose both his shot at freedom and Tor.

  Marrack’s promise was only good after the championship had been won, not one single fight before. Only then would he be able to free Sky.

  Sky had thought himself smart making the deal with Marrack, but Marrack had known if they lost, Sky would never be free. He’d been nothing more than a silly slave boy who dreamed of freedom, who wanted it so bad he’d made a deal with the devil.

  Sky’s heart stuttered with the truth of what he felt—no matter what happened in the cage, he didn’t want to ever leave Tor.

  He clutched Tor tighter and got a small grunt out of his mate, but Tor slept on.

  It was long into the night before Sky fell asleep.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Sky woke to Tor’s mouth on his cock. He shivered and ran his hands through Tor’s long blond tresses. “You’re so beautiful, Tor.”

  Tor grunted as if he didn’t believe it and kept sucking Sky. It didn’t matter. Sky knew Tor was a fine man, in every sense of the word. Inside and out, Tor was a good man.

  So, how could he think about doing what he’d agreed to do?

  Sky had to talk to Marrack and tell him the deal was off. Forget freedom. All Sky wanted was right there, with Tor.

  When Tor’s finger rubbed against his hole, Sky moaned and pushed into it, eager to be breached. Eager for Tor to press that trigger deep inside him. “Please.”

  “Soon,” Tor whispered. This wasn’t unusual for a morning, to awake with Tor giving him a blowjob. And Sky knew Tor truly enjoyed bringing Sky pleasure, when he watched Tor’s face as the ecstasy took over him, and he came. That alone could bring Sky off.

  In those moments, Sky could pretend Tor loved him.

  Tor pushed, and Sky opened for him, his hole collapsing, giving way to the man who now owned Sky. Each day with Tor had pulled Sky deeper under, drowning him in feelings he’d never thought he’d experience. Love.

  A finger raked over his spot, and Sky cried out and came, his tunnel rippling with each shot of cum Tor drank. When he’d had his final shudder, Tor pulled off him, slipped his finger out in a final caress, and then leaned down to kiss him.

  Sky tasted Tor and cum and sweet caring that nearly broke his heart.

  He had to fix this before Tor found out. But when could he talk to Marrack? Today at the training center, he’d pull Marrack aside and tell him his decision. Marrack should be pleased, and Tor need never know of their deal.

  Tor flopped back onto the bed and pulled Sky over him. He stroked lazily down Sky’s back to his ass, cupped it with his palm, squeezed, then let go.

  “Tor, do you ever think about being free?” Sky asked. As soon as the words were out, he regretted them.

  Tor grunted. “Not much anymore. I used to when I was younger. All slaves dream about being free. Then I met Jin and…” He shrugged.

  “You were happy.”

  “Yes.”

  “And after?” Sky shouldn’t ask, but he couldn’t help himself.

  “After? I wanted to die.” Tor rubbed his brow, then let his arm fall over his face.

  “Oh.” Sky knew he shouldn’t have asked, but he’d wanted Tor to say…what, he didn’t know. He’d wanted to hear Tor say he loved Sky like he’d loved Jin.

  Tor rolled to the side, placing Sky on his back, and leaned over. “I wanted to die for a long time. Even when Marrack brought you to me. But then, I don’t know.” Tor smiled. “You grew on me.” He flicked Sky’s nose with his finger.

  “I think about being free,” Sky blurted out.

  “Do you? Well, you’re young. It’ll pass. Besides, what would you do? You’re trained as a sex slave, nothing else. How would you earn money? Where would you live?” The big man laughed. “All things considered, I’d rather be here.”

  “But if we were free, we could go and do anything we wanted.” Sky ran his hand over Tor’s immense chest to curl a finger in his chest hair.

  “I’m a fighter, Sky. I have no education. No training other than to fight. And being a werewolf—that’s a problem right there. Most humans are frightened of weres. I’d be an outcast, even free. What would I do? How long do you think I’d last?”

  “You’re smart. So am I. We could do it together.” Sky didn’t know why he kept this up. The deal was for him to go free, not Tor. Marrack would never give up his prize possession.

  “Forget it. I’m fine right here, with you.” He pulled Sky in close and kissed him.

  Sky melted, as he always did, into the kiss. Tor ran his hand down, tugged on the chains linked to Sky’s nipples, and Sky arched into him.

  “Tor!”

  Tor laughed. “You’re so responsive. Fuck. I want you again, but we have to go train.” He let Sky go. “Get up.” He nudged Sky.

  With a sigh, Sky rose and went to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, pissed, and ran Tor’s brush through his hair. The black eye had faded, and he was pretty again just in time for the first cage match.

  He left, and Tor took possession of the bathroom.

  After they dressed, Tor went to the intercom and pressed it. “I need an escort to the training facility.”

  They waited by the door until a knock sounded. Tor opened it to the guards, who stood in the hall as they left their quarters. Then they started the long trek to the training facility. Only three days until the fight, and Sky’s belly flipped at the thought of being in the cage with Tor, fighting against a challenger.

  Failure wasn’t an option. Failing meant losing Tor, and Sky couldn’t do that, not now and not ever. Tor might not love him, but he loved Tor.

  »»•««

  Sky sat on the chair, watching Tor and another sparring partner. Marrack had arranged for a different partner each day, to keep Tor on his toes and fresh, Marrack had explained.

  Sky missed Ashland’s ready smile and his humor. These new partners were different, not friendly. Sky
didn’t want to have to blow any of them, but he didn’t have to worry. There had been no friendly wagers with them. Tor kept it strictly professional.

  Marrack sat a few chairs over, watching the weres fight.

  Sky went against all his training, got up, and went to sit beside Marrack.

  “Master, I must speak to you.” He didn’t dare touch the man. Speaking without being spoken to could get him beaten.

  “About?” Marrack’s gaze never strayed from the cage.

  “Our deal,” Sky whispered.

  “What about it?”

  “I don’t want to do it.”

  Marrack didn’t answer. His gaze darted to Sky, then back to the cage. Sky’s belly fluttered, and he was sure he’d done something very wrong. But why wouldn’t Marrack be pleased? He’d get to keep both slaves, and Tor would be happy.

  “So, your freedom is no longer what you value?”

  “No. I got him to fight, upheld my part, but I want to stay with Tor.” Sky, head bowed, folded his hands in his lap, one thumb picking at the other.

  Marrack snorted. “He’s that good a fuck, huh?”

  Sky straightened his back and looked up. “He’s that good a man.”

  Marrack burst out laughing. Sky looked up only to catch Tor’s questioning gaze. In that moment, his sparring partner took him by surprise and sent Tor to the ground with a hard punch to the side of his head.

  “Shit!” Marrack slapped his leg, then turned to Sky. “You distracted him! What the hell were you thinking?”

  Sky shrank back against the chair. “Nothing, master. I didn’t mean to…”

  Marrack stood, towering over Sky. “Maybe you want Tor to lose, huh?”

  “No! I want to win. If he loses, I lose him!”

  A large hand fell on Marrack’s shoulder. “What’s going on?” Tor’s voice rumbled.

  Marrack whipped around. “Nothing to concern yourself with. I won’t have Sky distracting you in the cage.”

  “You were arguing.” Tor glanced from Sky to Marrack.

  “It’s between us, Tor. Master and slave. Get back in the cage and get to work,” Marrack ordered.

  For a moment, Tor wavered. Then he nodded and moved away. Sky exhaled.

  “Okay, you’ve held up your end of the bargain, Sky. He’s going to fight, that’s all that matters.” Marrack strode to the side of the cage to watch.

  Sky sat still. What did he mean, that was all that mattered? Didn’t winning matter? Didn’t Tor going on to the championship matter? Why would Marrack care if Sky didn’t want to be free and to stay with Tor?

  This was a puzzle, and Sky knew it was important, but he couldn’t figure it out.

  He curled up in the chair and watched his mate until it was time for him to enter the cage with Tor and guide him through a match.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Instead of going back to our quarters, we should go up to the arena. I want you to see it before we fight.” Tor stood with Sky as they walked from the practice hall. “Guard, take us up to the arena.”

  Sky shivered, and his silver chains sang, giving away his excitement. How Tor had known Sky was nervous about the big day, he didn’t know. Tor probably just knew him that well, and it made Sky feel happy.

  The guard nodded, called to another who came up and took the rear position, and then he led the way to the elevators.

  Once inside, the guard pushed the button with the A level marked on it, and Sky watched as the lift rose, each floor they passed lighting up, until they had reached the top.

  The doors opened to another hall just like all the halls Sky’d already seen, and his disappointment made Tor laugh.

  “Come on. This way.” The guard stepped out, and they followed.

  “Here are the rooms we’ll wait in until our fight is called.” Tor motioned to a set of doors. “Nothing more than a locker room. Over there is the weigh-in room.”

  They kept walking toward a large set of double doors. The guard pulled one side open. A long ramp headed upward. Tor led the way through.

  Sky entered and gasped as he stopped just inside. “It’s huge!”

  Tor snorted. “Yeah. The fights are very popular. Everyone watches—either here or on television. And everyone bets.”

  Sky nodded as Tor took him by the arm and led him deeper inside the space.

  Sky gawked. Overhead the rafters soared into blackness.

  “Of course, it’ll be all lit up for the fights.” Tor waved his hand at the large lights hanging from the vaulted ceiling. “Those are the big screens. You’ll be on those for everyone to see.”

  Sky gulped. “Everyone will be watching me?” His voice squeaked as he ran his hands over his head.

  “Well, you and me. Mostly me.” Tor laughed. “But we’re a team, so they’ll be watching us. Or whoever they bet on.” He shrugged. “A lot of money is in play during the fights. It’s the only form of legal gambling allowed. The league saw to that.”

  He led Sky down a long ramp between the rising bleachers. Sky looked back over his shoulder. The seats, rows and rows of benches, rose to a dizzying height.

  “Do they fill up? All the seats?” he asked.

  “Sure. It’s a sellout every night during the season.” Tor’s pride showed in his voice. “The league gets all the entrance fees too. And the fees to show it on television. And a cut of the wagers.”

  “That must be a lot of money.” Sky couldn’t even imagine it. And he was a part of it all now.

  Tor cuffed him on the back of his head. “Boy, you have no idea. Come on. I want to take you inside the cage.”

  Sky followed Tor as he made his way up to the floor, then climbed the stairs to the cage door. It swung open with well-oiled ease, and Tor stepped inside.

  “It’s just like the cages downstairs.” Sky walked around. “Where’s our corner?”

  Tor pointed to one of the six sides. “That’s it. Defender’s corner.” He swung his arm around and pointed to one opposite. “That’s the challenger’s. Over here, that’s where the judges sit.” He pointed to a long table off to one side.

  Sky turned a slow circle, looking up at the rows of seats climbing almost to the top of the rafters. “How many…”

  “One thousand seats, but there’s standing room also.” He grinned and winked. “I have to warn you. The noise is deafening.”

  “The noise?”

  “Yeah. The cheering, chanting—from the crowd.”

  “They chant?”

  Tor laughed. “Yeah.” He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, “Tor! Tor! Tor!” His deep voice boomed, echoing off the rafters. “Only a thousand voices at once.”

  A thousand voices?

  Sky’s knees let go, and he sat cross-legged on the ground. He blinked up at Tor. “I’m not sure I can do this, Tor.”

  Tor gazed down at him, and for a moment, Sky thought Tor would shout at him, but the big were just exhaled, came over, and crouched in front of him.

  “Boy, I know this is…a lot to deal with. But when it’s time, I need you there with me. I need you to guide my wolf, to keep me from killing, to be sure I make the right moves. We’re a team, and I meant that.” He reached out, pulled off the headscarf of the burka, and stroked Sky’s cheek. “I have no intention of losing, not this fight, and not you.”

  Sky put his hand over Tor’s larger one and closed his eyes.

  “I love you, Tor.” He’d wanted to say it for a long time, and now it just slipped out.

  Tor stared at him. Then he leaned in and kissed Sky, so soft and gentle Sky’s heart nearly broke. When Tor pulled away, he cocked his head at Sky.

  “What were you and Marrack arguing about, boy? No lies. Tell me the truth.” Now his gaze turned hard, and Sky knew Tor wouldn’t let it go.

  Sky clamped his lips together, as if that would keep Tor from pulling it from him.

  “Sky.” Tor’s warning rumbled in his chest. Just that one word turned Sky’s insides to jelly and his body boneless.
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br />   He shook his head. If he told Tor about the bargain, Tor would hate him for tricking him into fighting again. And if Tor hated him, he might as well take his freedom and leave.

  Tor waited, his blue gaze never leaving Sky’s, never breaking, until Sky had to answer. He owed Tor that much.

  “Marrack offered me my freedom if I could get you fighting again.” There, he’d said it, told of his betrayal. He clenched his hands, and his nails scraped across the cement floor of the cage.

  Tor froze. Slowly, his brows drew together as his irises darkened. Sky had never seen such a look of…rage, but he didn’t shy away. He’d take whatever Tor dished out. It had to hurt less than what his heart felt now.

  “It’s all been a lie.” Tor stood, turned, and walked to the cage door.

  Sky threw himself forward, reaching for Tor. “No! Not a lie. I love you! But in the beginning, before I ever met you, it was true. I agreed. I wanted my freedom.”

  “And now?” Tor asked, hurt pooling in his eyes.

  “I love you. I told Marrack the deal was off. I wanted to stay with you.”

  Still Tor didn’t move. Sky let his hand drop.

  “I didn’t want you either, in the beginning. I wanted to die.” Tor shook his head. “But damn you, boy, you made me want you, made me want to live again. To fight again.” He ran his hand over his face, then let it drop.

  “I did?” Sky’s eyes filled with tears. Tor had cared and now?

  “One month ago, I wanted to die. Now, all I want is you by my side in the cage and in my bed.”

  “You do?” Sky dared to smile just a little. Tor still hadn’t said he loved Sky, but it didn’t matter, did it? As long as he had Tor, he’d take what he could from the man.

  “I did. This changes everything.” Tor shook his head.

  “No! Please, it can’t change everything,” Sky crawled toward Tor on his hands and knees. “I love you, Tor.”

  “How can I trust you?” Tor’s eyes narrowed, but Sky could still see the hurt in them

  “Ask Marrack! He’ll tell you.” Sky clutched at anything in hopes of changing Tor’s mind.