AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sneik’s voice was thick with suppressed rage. “He stole my Prize! After I won her fair and square!”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
‘Fair and square’ was never in Sneik’s vocabulary.
The Supervisor leaned forward slightly, his glittering eyes devoid of emotion. “And why, as Champion, did you not just retrieve her? A fight between two inmates is hardly something to bring to my attention.”
Sneik’s nostrils flared.
Anyone else would’ve reacted with anger, but in the Supervisor’s presence, it was more like a restrained snarl. “Ashale ambushed me, taking me by surprise! After my victory in the pits, I was still recovering.”
The entire room seemed to focus on me, waiting for a response.
I had no intentions of revealing the true reason I was so desperate to claim Nova; that she might be my fated mate wasn’t anyone’s business but ours.
The truth would just complicate matters.
“I can confirm Sneik’s account,” I said, my voice calm.
Sneik blinked, clearly not expecting me to side with his version of events.
I almost enjoyed the moment of confusion in his gaze.
Almost.
The Supervisor sighed, his fingers drumming rhythmically on the table. “Very well. The rules are explicit. A rematch is in order to reinstate the Champion’s honor.”
I nodded, accepting the terms.
It was expected, and there was no way out of it.
Sneik mirrored my nod, a triumphant smirk curving his thick lips.
“Now, if you don’t mind…” the Supervisor said, waving a flabby hand.
As we left the sterile confines of the office, the sounds of the prison, distant shouts and the echo of footsteps on metal, filled the corridor.
The air felt cooler, a relief from the stifling atmosphere of the Supervisor’s room.
Sneik leaned in close, his breath foul against my ear.
The smell reminded me of rotten food left out in the sun for too long. “Prepare yourself, Ashale. Last time, you got lucky. This time, I won’t be holding back.”
I looked at him, resisting the urge to chuckle.
If last night was him holding back, I had nothing to fear.
However, I held my tongue.
There was no point antagonizing him further.
Our footsteps echoed in unison as we moved in opposite directions, the taste of anticipation and anxiety blending into one.
I had another fight on my hands, but if it kept Nova safe and out of this mess, it was a price I was willing to pay.
5
NOVA
