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

to have him.” He gave me a soft

thimit: he’s an ass,” Charles

I grabbed the

in a hug and whispered an apology she

and cleaned his fingers they were stained red.

your dows? I looked at the red on his

“An-”

acting so weird?” I gave him a serious

my sister, and…and wanted to prove..myself,”

Beating Grayson will not prove you

know it.”

under his breath and

Over

had, She looked

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

am unuary quiet lift her anger or sadness. I could not tell what she was going to say to mi when we were alone but I knew she was

the door and I thanked the goddess silently.

don’t feel good about this,” she

“Mama,” I started.

me/“I know he willl din amuthing for you, hut he is fractured. It is hard to start a relationship when one of the

the youth this situation is not one any mother would feel good about,” She looked at me through

that I know he’s public al hurting you?” she

22

(Chanter 34

for anyone mama.” I told her. That show you know, because you raised me, anthyou made me stronger than any kind of sadness. Even if he hurts me emiff there

felt the years fade and I was a small

and looked at me. “I still wanna

and began braiding my hair in an intricate four–stranded

that went 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 gold to him:

welcome me before dinner tonight. They selected fighters and whoever worsoodidbeart the mark of Luna’s

would fill their cups and

Grayson would serve me. I found it funny the thought

bare feet and the people were laughing and dancing and singing theppadisescof Grayson who stood withhenylbrothers

me. Time to welcome our Luna,”

beside Grayson I felt like a

chosen our fightersstoryou,

Brian, and Leomaillsteppetifforward.

of

slightly off putting. I did not find it pleasing to

not much of a fight Mattwassalonwerthe other men and quickly had them out for the count. He had punched Lean once and he went dizzy, Arran put up a better fight but Matt was larger and could take his blows.

next to it. I felt like puking as walked over to him pity

am honored Anna,” he whispered. “I

skin. Meanvill ofhurning flesh and the sizzle made me llinch slightly.. let it go as soon as I could a