Unhappily Ever After

Chapter 55 - For the Glory

Vik and Eira began circling each other, and the whoops of the onlookers were loud enough to scare a flock of sleepy sparrows from the trees. But it would be a while before anything exciting happened, by the look of it. Both of them wanted the victory too badly to do anything reckless. Every so often, one of them would dart forwards, testing reflexes and getting each other's measure.

A shoulder bumped mine, and I twisted to see a smiling face.

"Hi," Kat whispered. She had taken advantage of her mate's distraction to sneak over for a chat.

"Fancy seeing you here, Luna," I drawled back. "How are you?"

She tapped her stomach, which was just beginning to show. "Pregnant and miserable."

"You're not still throwing up?"

"Sadly, yes."

I winced. "Oh. Sorry. How's Ivan been?"

Kat sort of shrugged. She snuck a glance at her mate, who was utterly enthralled in the fight, probably trying to memorise Eira's fighting style for future reference. He'd have better luck memorising the phonebook - she changed it every five minutes. "He's alright. Doesn't listen to me much, but I get some say in the pack, at least."

"If you want springing, just say the word..." I reminded her.

Eira made the first proper contact at Vik's shoulder, and the two of them began snapping at each other. The bites were shallow and quick-release, but more than a dozen of them landed before they broke apart again. Both of them steered clear of the throat for the time being - this was still early stages.

"I'm good, really," she assured me. "And you? How are things at the castle?"

It was my turn to shrug. "The ransom money's been nice. Half the camp have bought new tents, and I can afford to feed everyone for as long as I need to. Ebby's all grown-up. We're happy enough, yeah."

Kat's face scrunched up. "Happy enough? You haven't stopped grinning since you got here! Does that have anything to do with your new mate?"

I knew Jess had been listening to our conversation, but she was doing a good job at pretending otherwise, so she didn't turn to face us until I poked her leg.

"You mean this one?" I asked, wrinkling up my nose. "Nah, she's a right pain in my ass."

Unfortunately, she was perfectly positioned to slap me upside the head. Then she went back to watching the fight. I rubbed my scalp ruefully. Eira and Vik were now back to pacing slow circles on the grass while their pelts grew wetter. The blood didn't show on my sister, but the Shadowless Alpha looked like he had rolled in red mud.

"But while I've got you here..." I went on, "would you mind telling her that I didn't torture you or anything?"

Jess tore her eyes away from the fight for a few heartbeats to hear the answer, and Kat smiled at her. "No, he was the perfect gentleman. Except for the initial kidnapping, of course..."

"I've apologised for that."

She folded her arms. "You have not!"

"I haven't?" I asked and frowned. I could not recall any occasion in particular - that was true. "In that case, I am very sorry for kidnapping you, Kat."

"And I accept your apology," she sighed.

We might have continued talking, but at that moment Eira and Vik reengaged in a flurry of teeth and claws. This time, they were not playing around. My sister was slammed into the ground by her scruff - once, twice, then she whimpered and twisted free. My breathing faltered until she had managed to scramble back to her feet.