“Yeah, yeah, I know us mere humans wouldn't have much luck in an arena with supernaturals,” he agreed, “but Cole and Vali are no longer human, are they?”
“That's a good point,” Wesley said. “Have you guys noticed any increased strength or speed or whatnot?”
The two of them both grimaced, but Vali responded. “Yes.”
We all waited for elaboration, but when none came, we moved on. Clearly it was something to do with them “working things out.”
“Okay. So we're in agreement that it sounds like my 'execution' is actually to fight someone, and most probably a shifter or something, yes?” I clarified, and the guys all nodded. “So, the question is, if I win—”
“When,” Cole growled.
I gave him a small smile. “When I win, how the fuck do we convince them I'm not Bridget?”
For a moment, no one replied.
“We can cross that bridge when we come to it, love,” River assured me, and I dropped my head to rest on my knees.
From above us, the muffled sounds of feet and voices trickled down, which made sense. Granny Winter had said something about calling a meeting, so they were probably all here to discuss our fate. Whatever it ended up being, I just prayed the guys would make it out safely.
Before long, the door to the stairs slammed open once more, and the slow, lighter footsteps of the old woman came down, followed by several heavier pairs.
“Well, Bridget, I should have known you'd bring your own little harem to town with you. Not that they'll be in any position to save you, considering my boys tell me most of them are still human.” She leered at me with a victorious grin pulling at her wrinkled face. “What have you done with the others? Or did you get sick of them too?”
“Listen, you crazy fucking bitch,” I snapped, standing up to grasp the bars, “I am not Bridget. What part of that do you not understand?”
“Oh please,” she cackled. “I've fallen for your bullshit too many times, Bride. I will not fall for it again now. No, I told you twenty-three fucking years ago that if I ever saw your face again, I would get my revenge.”
“Wait, what?” I was even more confused. “Bridget was incarcerated at Blood Moon twenty-three years ago.” Or was that just after she had escaped?
The old woman gave me a withering glare, and it was clear she wasn't going to answer me. “The arena is being set up as we speak. You'll get your fair opportunity to win your freedom, but I wouldn't bother trying if I were you. You've been gone from Victor for far too long to still have his strength, and I don't see either Nicholai or Lachlan with you. Unless you've managed to bond with any of these children, you're on your own.” She smiled smugly. “And we both know if you could bond more than three men, you'd have done it a long time ago.”
“What the actual fuck are you talking about? Who the hell are Nicholai and Lachlan? What do you mean bonding? I don't know how many times I can tell you, I'm not Bridget!”
My brain felt like it was imploding. This woman held so much information about my mother and about her, or my, powers. Why couldn't I make her believe I wasn't my mother?
“Ma'am,” River started, “this isn't Bridget—”
“Do not speak to me, child,” she hissed, turning her furious glare on River. “I may look old, but I am no fool. This is Bridget, and she will pay for what she did to my boy.” She waved a gnarled hand at the men who had followed her down the stairs.
“Take them all out to the arena, but make sure you bind the big ones.” She pointed to Cole and Vali. “Tommy said they were changed, but he wasn't sure what species. Better safe than sorry.”
The door to the cage the boys were in was thrown open, and a small scuffle broke out between my guys and the locals.
“Stop!” I screamed, and they all immediately froze. Even Austin. “Just go with them; I don't need you guys suffering because of me. Again. Just… do what they want, and maybe they'll let you go.” I arched an eyebrow at Granny Winter in question, and she just shrugged, the bitch.
The boys did as I said, though—even Cole and Vali who had their wrists bound with heavy shackles while giving me pleading looks. Of course, I knew it was killing them to go against their natures, to let themselves be contained in such a way, but I would rather them be pissed at me than get hurt again.
“Aw, how sweet,” Granny crowed. “You always did keep your men on a short leash, Bride. I just hope Nicholai and Lachlan finally saw you for the evil whore you are and left before they got hurt.”
“Whatever,” I sighed. “You're totally delusional. Let's just get this over with.”
The arena turned out to be just a wide open clearing deep into the woods behind Granny Winter's house. Snow had begun falling while we'd been locked in her cages, and the ground was dusted with white, showing up countless sets of footprints ahead of us. As we approached the “arena,” the owners of those footprints were waiting, scattered around the perimeter, watching.
“So, what are you all?” I asked, aiming to learn something that might aid in our eventual escape. “Shifters, right?” Granny Winter totally ignored my question, but the guy holding tight to my arm rolled his eyes like I was being a moron.
I glanced around at all the people gathered, and the first thing I noticed was the lack of anyone past the age of maybe thirty-five. Other than Granny Winter, there were only a handful of people showing any signs of aging, and out of close to a hundred gathered spectators, it was a noticeable discrepancy.
A beautiful girl, around my age or a little older, stalked towards us from across the arena. Her dark hair was pulled back from her face in a severe ponytail, and the scowl on her face made her high cheekbones stand out sharply. She was dressed head to toe in leather. Tight leather pants were tucked into absurdly impractical high-heeled boots, and a cropped biker jacket was open over what looked to be some sort of corset.
“Don't I know you?” I frowned as she came closer, and a smug grin pulled at her lips.
“You should,” she sneered. “You probably still carry scars from me on your side.”
My mind flashed back to our escape from Blood Moon and the fight I'd had with the bitch that shot me then clawed me up. The wounds had taken an unusually long time to heal, but they had, and no marks remained.
“Nope, no scars here.” I smirked, and she narrowed her eyes at me.
“Well, no matter. Today I get to rip your head clean off your shoulders. Won't that be fun?” Her eyes lit up, and she looked genuinely excited by the idea. Psychotic bitch. She glanced past me to the guys. “And when I'm done killing you, maybe I'll have some fun with the friends you brought with you…”
She prowled over to them, looking them over like they were meat at the butchers, but I saw her face blanch and her step falter when she came within reach of Cole and Vali. Curiously, I wondered if she could sense they were bigger beasts than whatever she was. Passing by the two of them, she paused in front of River.
“This one,” she announced. “Granny, when I win, I want this one.”