Stronger by Ang Chris

Chapter 34

I won her

I knelt to the ground laughing silently. My arms were bloody I think I had lost a tooth. I know I had a cracked rib and I was so excited.

I stood and hobbled out of the arena. Cea and Eva came forward to their men.

I made my way to her my b*dy aching and throbbing. I opened the door to her sweet wide wet eyes. She sobbed and ran forward to me her b*dy turning red with my blood.

She moved me to the couch and she sat beside me. We spoke no words but it felt like heaven.

She washed my face and arms. She cleaned my wounds and bandaged them. Her fingers traced over my skin and I unabashedly watched her for peace. I savored her kindness for me who had to hurt her family. I had hurt her and she was worried for me and healing me.

She finished wrapping up my chest and sniffled. “I have to go see my family,”

“Go,” I nodded to her.

Stay.

I watched her leave me for the second time that day but this time it felt different. I knew now what I would give for her I had been beaten and all I thought the whole time was of her.

It’s terrifying when there is someone you need with your whole being and every time you try you freeze because your are afraid.

“How can I still be afraid now? I’ve promised to try and she is still the one thing I am fearful of. *

I ran to the keep bad into the clinic. My brother lay passed out on tables as my mother and Cea cleaned Charlie and my dads wounds.

“Goddess be,” I turned away from them bile creeping up my b*dy.

He had done this…

“I can’t be upset they had all accepted this. He did this for me.

I breathed in and put my eyes stinging with the fact I had healed him before my flesh and blood. I felt gross and sickly with myself.

I turned and walked up to my father bowing my head and ready to beg for forgiveness.

“Do not feel guilty,” he commanded me.

1/4

Chapter 34

But my end up. “Papa he hurt you and I..”

too

“Bu in your family whette, you have to choose him that’s how it thats sollong. It is a choice my darling. You

every day to have him.” He

still thimit: he’s an ass,” Charles rolled his eyes.

go to Then, I grabbed

her in a hug and whispered an apology she had to

the dish in cold water and

you used your dows? I looked at the red on his hands.

“An-”

are you acting so weird?” I gave him a

wanted to prove..myself,” He looked nervously around the

prove you

know it.”

his breath and I wanted to ask what

Over

looked over at me

have to take you to get ready for the feast,” she sighed and now I saw the disappointment in her eyes..

or sadness. I could not tell what she was

opened the door and I thanked the goddess silently. We wane tip to my room and satt down

good about this,” she finally

“Mama,” I started.

he willl din amuthing for you, hut he is fractured. It is hard to start a relationship when one of the people imit wholu,” she stood behind me brushing my hair.

willing to do what it takes and I can sense his came the youth this situation is not one any mother would feel good about,” She

am I supposed to leave you now that I know he’s public al hurting you?” she

22

(Chanter 34

raised me, anthyou made me stronger

years fade and I was a

at me. “I still wanna kill him,” she

began braiding my hair in an intricate four–stranded braid

the cuffs. And finallyt tizenklets. These were to symbolize my tourney to Luna and how soon I would be bound in gold

selected fighters and whoever worsoodidbeart the mark of Luna’s warrior.

Iliaditosterveeveryone.I would fill their cups and their

in thankssandlocelebration Grayson would serve me. I

in my whiteddress and bare feet and the people were laughing and dancing and singing theppadisescof Grayson who stood withhenylbrothers Theo joked with him and

cailertvinthessaw me. Time to welcome our

I felt like a china doll with all of them towering wenn

have chosen our fightersstoryou, Icon called to

Brian,

for the prize of champion and brand of

from nuwhich felt slightly off putting. I did not find it pleasing to push a piece of hit metal into the skin of these

punched Lean once and he went dizzy, Arran put up a better fight but Matt was larger and could take his blows. Bru only needed a trip and push before he wentton. Eventually,

metal. My syntindwasapresentimoon with a paw print next to it. I felt like puking as walked

whispered. “I can take

and pushed the metal into his skin. Meanvill ofhurning flesh and the sizzle made me llinch slightly.. let it go