Chapter 168

My stomach twists uncomfortably and I put my glass of wine down on the wall in front of us, not sure if I can have any more, not sure that I’ll be able to keep it down. I’m suddenly so worried about Luca.

Not that I think he can’t handle himself - I just have…no idea what the Atalaxians are going to throw at him right now.

“Calm, calm,” Rafe murmurs to me, putting a steady hand at the center of my back. “Nothing good or bad is going to happen just because you’re freaking out.”

And I laugh a little, snapped out of it by my steady brother, and heave a big sigh.

“Do you want some tequila?” he asks, his voice still low as he quirks an eyebrow at me. “You might want some, Ari – you are wound up –“

I grin, glancing over my shoulder again, thinking that that’s not half a bad idea, but suddenly my eyes light on something that surprises me.

Ben, sitting in one of the plush black chairs set out for spectators who don’t want to stand at the edge of the box, his head in his hands. Instantly I move to him, leaving my glass of wine behind. Rafe turns back to the boxing ring as the announcer comes out, beginning to speak and greet the enthusiastic crowd.

But I ignore it all, moving to Ben’s side and bending down to place on hand on his shoulder, another on his curved back. “Benny,” I whisper, worried. “Are you – are you okay?”

He shudders a little, and then looks up at me, his face sweaty and his eyes a little unfocused. He doesn’t say anything.

“Ben!” I gasp, bending down closer, studying him. He looks – god, honestly, he looks like he saw a ghost. “What’s wrong?”

Ben shakes himself suddenly – physically shakes himself, like a dog covered in rain. And then he blinks hard and focuses his eyes on my face. “What?”

“Ben, you’re white as a sheet, and all sweaty! What’s wrong!?”

“Nothing,” he murmurs, shaking his head and looking around, I think embarrassed. “I…must have eaten something.”

“You ate what we did!” I protest, and then I straighten a little, assessing the way I feel. Do we all have food poisoning? But…no, I feel completely fine – all of the twists in my stomach are Luca-related. And Ben, now – what could be wrong with him?

Ben focuses his eyes on me again, frowning a little. Not mad at me but…I think not wanting to have this conversation? I don’t know. “Too much to drink then,” he says, shrugging, dismissive, again shaking his head like he’s trying to clear it.

I clench my teeth a little, not wanting to call him a liar, but…I mean, he was perfectly sober a few moments ago. Maybe a little tipsy? But certainly not enough to be drunk. I stare closely at his eyes, checking his pupils. Was he poisoned? There are very specific signs you can look for –

“Ari,” Ben says, forcing himself to laugh a little and putting his hands on my shoulders now, pushing me away, just slightly. “I’m fine – I promise, I’m fine. Okay? I just…a little dizzy spell. I’m fine now.”

“Benny,” I murmur, still worried.

He stares hard at my face, all façade falling, and says two simple words. “Please, Ari.”

And I stand up straight, realizing that…that Ben knows what’s wrong. He just doesn’t want anyone else to, not now. Not yet. And I am totally blowing his cover.

“Okay,” I say, nodding, taking a step back, watching him a little anxiously. I tuck my hands behind my back, glancing around, but everyone else is by the edge of the box, clearly paying attention to the announcer.

“You’re missing it, Ari,” Ben says, gesturing me back towards the wall, his voice guilty.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I whisper.

“I am,” he says, pushing himself to his feet. And as he does I see that…well, that his color is coming back. And he does seem…better. “Just…um. Where’s the bathroom? I’ll freshen up.”

“You’d better just be freshening up, Ben,” I growl, stepping close to glare at him. “Do not pull a Jackson right now and run away or something.”

He laughs, smiling at me. “I promise, Ari,” he says, putting his hands on my shoulders. “A little water on my face, and some ice from the bartender. I’ll be fine. You know I wouldn’t miss this.” He lifts his chin towards the edge of the box, to where the announcer is revving up the crowd.

“Okay,” I murmur, and then I point to where the bathroom is at the back of the suite.

“LUCAAAAA GRANT!!!!!” The announcer’s words echo through the entire stadium, which bursts into a desperate cheer and I gasp, staring towards the edge of the Royal Box, where I promised I’d be.

“Go, Ari!” Ben says, pushing me forward.

I spare him one last glance and then streak towards the wall, pushing my way through my family, settling again between Jesse and Rafe, right in the center of the box.

And right in time to see Luca come out of the dark tunnel on the eastern side of the stadium, the lights flashing all around him as a confetti cannon filled with silver and gold rectangles explodes above him, filling the air with fluttering flares of light.

I shout and cheer along with everyone else as Luca raises his gloved fists to the crowd, moving forward in his black robe, which he wears with the hood up over his head. The fabric flows down his body, open at the front, and then streams behind him as he strides steadily forward. And even though a small part of my mind is still worried about Ben, still wanting to check to make sure he’s really okay –

I have to admit, most of me is swept away by the sight of my mate moving powerfully towards the ring, shouting out at the crowds, pounding his glove against his chest one moment, then turning in circles and pumping his fists up into the air. The stadium full of people screams his name, riled to a fever pitch.

I can’t help it – I shout my support as I clap and grin down at my mate –

My mate!

Mine!

Luca Grant, my mate, so handsome, so powerful, so charismatic. He just looks so confident and good striding down the line of people towards the ring that suddenly all of my worries disappear.

Because who – who on earth could take on that man?

My man.

Jesse nudges me with his elbow, and I flash my eyes away from Luca for a second to see my cousin grinning at me, clearly picking up on my proud energy. And I laugh a little, leaning far over the edge of the box, shouting Luca’s name and continuing to cheer for him with all of my heart.

We’re all cheering – everyone in the box – everyone in the stadium except the Atalaxians – as Luca stops at the end of the corridor that leads to the boxing ring, stops to duck down and give a woman standing there at the edge a quick kiss on the cheek. When we all realize that it’s his mother, the crowd roars louder, loving his support of her. He likewise takes a moment to wrap his Gran in a big hug before moving to his corner of the ring, where his uncle and the rest of his coaching team are waiting with crossed arms.

Bruce Grant pats Luca warmly on the back, his face serious, as Luca climbs up the side of the ring. And then when Luca ducks beneath the ropes, and steps in, and begins to dodge around on the canvas, punching out some practice blows and showing off his footwork, the entire crowd screams louder. I see Luca laugh, loving it, and then he stops his faux boxing to pause in the center of the ring, cupping this boing glove at his at his ear and gesturing for everyone to make a great deal of noise.

The crowd complies, to say the least, and the stadium roars with love for our champion – a sound so loud and echoing I have to think that they can hear it in the city all around us. I laugh to hear it, absolutely loving the idea of the entire nation all cheering for my mate.

My heart soars with joy and pride as I clap and cheer, unable to tear my eyes from him. My cheeks ache with smiling so much when I see Luca laugh – laugh, and drop his hands, and simple turn in a circle, soaking in all the love and the support of his people. Because Luca’s a showboat, but he loves this the most – loves the fight, and the crowd, and the pride that comes along with it.

Slowly, as he turns, I see his expression change because he’s searching now. He narrows his eyes, his smile falling just a bit as he concentrates, scanning the crowd for something. He goes still when his gaze lands on our box.

When his eyes land on me.

And then he bursts into a wide, dimpled grin that carries with it all the love he has for me. I feel it pulse down our bond like a physical blow, hitting me so hard all at once that I stumble back a step, and then I’m laughing, and leaning forward, shaking my head at him a little, sending everything I have down the bond to him –

All of my love, and my support, and my joy, and my pride, and my pleasure. And just a little bit of a hint at how good I think he looks in his little boxing shorts under all that light.

This all passes between us in a blink, and no one is aware of it but us, but when Luca’s grin deepens and he raises a single gloved fist and points it directly at me?

The crowd sees it now, and absolutely explodes.