The Secrets Of Dragons: Book One

Chapter 31

"Are you fucking with me?" I asked, the air seeping out of my chest involuntarily. "You must be mistaken."

"I promise you, I'm not." His face was solid stone.

"What would he be doing here in the first place, Abraham?" I tried to make sense of it all, which it didn't.

Black would never be caught dead in Jade territory for any reason. The stakes were too high. If he had managed to secure a way to be present tonight, that would mean my instincts were correct. There was something going on here. Something neither Abraham nor I was aware of. The anxiety in my chest came back full force as I tried to figure it out.

"Look." He cornered me and rested his hands on my shoulders. "You're going to be fine. You're going to get your ass out there and prove to everyone that you are a force to be reckoned with. And I'll be there with you every step of the way."

"Abraham, I think this is bigger than us both." My thoughts came out too easily.

"Even if it is, we can figure it out. You just need to focus all your attention on the ring tonight. Make sure they can't touch you, and if they do, make them regret it."

I sighed internally. "You're right."

"I'm always right." He boasted and punched his arm.

"You're an ass, is what you are." I stated grimly. "Now can you get out so I can get dressed?"

"I already seen the goods, so what does it matter now?" He smirked.

"I will hurt you." I warned.

My glare must have read murder with how he stood and shook his head, making way to the door. "I will be right outside."

"Perfect." I rolled my eyes.

Abraham stepped back in, in what seemed like hours. I was finishing wrapping each of my fingers with tape. I turned to greet him with sass, but the retort was swallowed down when I realized he wasn't alone. Kindred stood next to him with a lopsided grin.

"Are you ready?" Abraham asked.

"It's time." Kindred spoke at the exact same time.

I adjusted my sports bra and pulled the straps on my shorts as tight as they would allow. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

"Then follow me." Kindred curtly turned on his heel again and exited the room swiftly.

What was with this guy?

Abraham kept his word and followed behind me briskly. It was a weird sensation, having someone flanking me before a fight. I was used to doing this on my own. I couldn't decide if I liked the idea of him supporting me or not.

"There's a lot of people that showed up tonight." Abe spoke over the crowd's growing noise.

"We have a lot of high-end gamblers that have showed up for tonight's fight. Few wanted to believe that Smoke was on the roster, but it was something they could not ignore. Even if they believed it to be a hoax." Kindred explained.

Unfamiliar music drifted over the loudspeakers, and in that moment, I couldn't hear anything but the internal sound of my breathing. Abraham and Kindred's conversation fell into the background as I focused on putting one foot in front of the other.

I did not hear the announcer call my name, but Abraham's firm touch kept me from drifting away. He pushed me forward and my body moved with the motion. I didn't make a show of walking up the stairs to enter the ring like all the other contenders usually did. I was here to fight, regardless of whether that made a name for myself or not.