𝔅𝔬𝔫𝔡: ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔚𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔰

Chapter Twenty- five: Loyalty

Amber

I was back in this gym again getting my ass handed to me by my now official sparring buddy. For fucks sake why can’t I focus today? I tapped her shoulder and she released my arm. I rolled out of the ring and sat down to hydrate myself. “Hey.” I looked up, meeting her eyes. “What’s up with you today? Did that trip to Arroviel do ya in?” 

I shook my head. “It’s nothing,” I replied. Or is it? I still can’t believe Vale and I… “Oh, this isn't the same person who announced her hatred for the woman hours before having her in bed.” Tora sarcastically chuffed. “I do.”

“Well that’s ironic when you got the news from Sam that she almost died,” she spat. “That was instinctively,” I argued. “Right, and when she was fingers deep-.”

“TORA,” I growled. She smirked, baring her fangs and stopped talking. I stepped out of my head to a waving hand in my face. “You alright there kid,” a middle aged man said to me. He had a toothpick between his lips and I recognized him as my spar buddies' own coach, or dad… “I am sir,” I answered, placing my bottle down. “Your coach called you. He’s in the back alley.” I nodded and walked out the back to meet him. As usual he was smoking. The stink remnants of weed.

“You called?” As he puffed out a breath, his eyes found mine. “You're not focused,” he said, putting it out. “And your fight is tonight,” he continued. “I know that,” I said, cracking my knuckles. “What’s on your mind Monroe?” He crossed his arms. 

“You're the last person I want to talk to about what’s on my mind,” I muttered under my breath. He stayed silent for a moment. I guess he heard me. Good, I don’t give a fuck. “Look… just… just remember some of your opponents don’t care how good you are, or what species you are. They want to win and will do anything legal in that cage to take you out of the game permanently.”

“You have no idea what I’m fully capable of Corveri’,” I said. “Strategy over brutality Amber. Slade would break every bone she can when you leave an opportunity,” he stated. His jaw flexed, mentioning the woman's name. “Oh, so she’s already in the ranks then?” He nodded. 

“Three years in the gig with 20 wins under her belt. From down the grapevine, her methods of submission are… breaking.” Oh, I’m so scared. “I assure you sir, my head will be on straight for tonight. I won’t embarrass you. I think I might embarrass her,” I chirped, entering the building again.

Before I got out of earshot, he uttered, “just like her.” I sighed, and went back to the ring where she was waiting for me. Refreshed as always. “Come on, I hope you figured your thoughts out.” I chuckled, climbing back in. “Yeah, yeah, yeah…” Here we are again. I was in the locker rooms making sure that my gloves were on tight. In the same gear provided by my sponsor freshly renewed. Knowing the name of my adversary and her tactics. I spotted her from across the room. Ivy Slade. Dark brown hair, pale green eyes, at least a couple inches over me. Her build was quite athletic and when we first ran into each other, she was a bit… arrogant.

I checked my phone and I got a confirmation pic that Markus and the others were there. Then a text from Viva. Apologizing for not making it. Something about an emergency she had to aid Alexis with.

“Amber.” I looked up and coach was there waiting for me. I sighed and dropped my phone in my locker. Let’s get this night over with.

Narrator

As Amber prepared for the first sound of the bell outside the cage were her close support system. Markus, Riona and Lira, sat in the nearest seats to see all the action. Lira was the loudest out of them all. “YOU’VE GOT THIS AMBER,” she shouted energetically. You wouldn’t even notice she was pregnant other than the same bump in her stomach. Riona sat closer to her protectively just in case something happened.