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Mal nodded Ronan shot both hands skyward and circled once, like he’d already won Bloody fool

‘Then let the battle begin!’ The announcer chopped his hand through the air

Mal launched across the arena A half second later, his shoulder was buried in Ronan’s sto Ronan into the silver chains The sizzle of skin announced contact

Ronan shoved Mal away and tore free of the burning metal He threw a punch, but Mal ducked, speedy with veins full of coo tilted the floor Mal recovered in ti hit that split Ronan’s lip Blood trickled down his chin before the wound zipped closed

‘First blood,’ the announcer sang out to the cheering crowd

A honey-sweet fragrance filled Mal’s senses The voices shrieked, a the metallic screech up another hundred decibels He flinched and froze at the sudden din

‘You bleedin’ tool’ Ronan threw a fist that connected with the side of Mal’s head

The punch knocked hiround and opened a line of pain across his te of sound that wrapped his head like a ool blanket and muffled the voices

He started to roll to his feet as Ronan’s foot shot toward his ribs ‘You’ll stay down, if you knohat’s good for--’

Mal grabbed Ronan’s foot and kept rolling, flipping the fringe to the ground and bashing him face-first onto the concrete floor Ronan lay still

More blood scent flowed into the air Sweet Familiar Very much like the smell of … of what? Mal’s head felt fuzzy and useless Like his brain had been soaked in whiskey Or worse

A needle of clarity pricked through the muzziness The blood Katsumi had forced him to drink had been tainted With what, he didn’t know, but if not for Chrysabelle’s blood, he’d probably be Ronan’s punching bag right now