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.

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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

day to have him.” He gave me

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

I grabbed the cloth from

hug and whispered

dish in cold water and cleaned his fingers

your dows? I looked at the

“An-”

you acting so weird?” I gave him

prove..myself,” He looked nervously around

my head.. “Yaume amidin. Beating Grayson will not prove you are ready to be

know it.”

whispered under his breath and I wanted to ask

Over

with everything he had, She looked over

ready for the feast,” she sighed and

sadness. I could not tell what she was going to say to mi when we were alone but I

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

good about this,” she

“Mama,” I started.

she toned me/“I know 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.

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

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

22

(Chanter 34

you raised me, anthyou made me stronger than any kind of sadness. Even if he hurts me emiff there are challenges I will always b standingsint the

while and I felt the years fade and I was

at me. “I

began braiding my hair in an intricate four–stranded braid Sculled

below my n*eckline. Then the cuffs. And finallyt tizenklets. These were to symbolize my tourney to Luna and how soon I would be bound in

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

and their

would serve me. I

and dancing and singing theppadisescof Grayson who stood withhenylbrothers Theo joked with him and

Time to welcome our

throne beside Grayson I felt like a china doll with all of them

have chosen our fightersstoryou,

Matt, Brian, and

prize of champion and brand

brand from nuwhich felt slightly off putting. I did not find it pleasing

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

print next to it. I felt like puking as walked over to him pity in my eyes.

whispered. “I can

sizzle made me llinch slightly.. let it go as soon as I could a sickening feeling crawling all venni.