The Mating Games

Chapter Ten:

ELOISE:

My legs stretch out and I groan into my pillow at the smell of coffee breezing through the air.

“Wakey, Wakey, Eloise.”

I groan again and hear a laugh.

“Lady Eloise?”

I spring up at Kiko’s name for me. She knows I shouldn’t be called in such a formal manner by her. Kiko giggles again and approaches me with a mug.

“I knew that would get you up. Come on then. Time to get up and have your breakfast.”

I take a small sip of coffee and smile.

“Thanks, Kiko.”

She brings a whole tray of food closer and hidden underneath the bacon and eggs is a little newsletter. Kiko also glares at the piece of paper as I lift it. Written in cursive, golden letters is “Your Daily Troll” and underneath it is perfectly printed words in black ink.

(Troll begins)

Fine beasts and babes of Zenox, the annual Mating Games are well underway and the ripened fruit has just gained more juice.

It turns out our beloved and manly King of Wolves owns a cat. I suppose something would need to warm his bed at night and the Equinox is the perfect time to let age-old tales be put to bed (Excuse the pun).

Onto more exciting matters. The next event, held in the forest was one of great delight. We never imagined everyone to be so purely divine as the sun dipped behind the trees. Of course, such radiance could only be held for so long. Utter chaos erupted at the event and it all started with a menacing growl by our playboy prince aimed toward what appeared to be the mousy and plain-jane Lady Eloise. Can you ever imagine the prince looking twice at her? Also, whatever did Sir Edward mean by his rambling on stage? We aren’t entirely sure, but one thing we certainly do know is that Lady Eloise couldn’t have been entertaining company for him to resort to liquor that heavily. Poor, helpless fairy. Will she ever be worthy of anything in these games? Perhaps the Prince just felt sorry for her and that is why he swooped her up so dashingly on stage. It is, of course, the law for our royals to protect the weak and innocent. Either way, we sure enjoyed how his muscle flexed in his attempts to harm Sir Edward. There is nothing quite like male beasts getting into a dog fight.

Of course, our favorite muse and the greatest gem to the eye would be Lady Sabrina, who once again made every lady look dim in comparison. Speculation is that both the witch and wolf prince have their eye on her for the big day…

(End of Troll)

I scrunch up the paper before even finishing it and roll my eyes in frustration. Of course, the trolls will victimize me, sexualize the Prince and glamorize Lady Sabrina. I huff and take another sip of coffee, only now realizing that Kiko is watching me with a sympathetic smile.

“I know the trolls can be rough.”

I sigh at Kiko.

“I don’t want to speak about the trolls. I don’t want to speak about anything, Kiko. I didn’t even want to be here”

“Is it so bad here, Eloise? Some would say you are lucky for the opportunity.”

I snort out in laughter. Is she being serious?

“Kiko, I hardly think being here…”

“It’s because you have developed feelings for someone in the games, haven’t you?”

I look at my new friend with wide eyes and I have no idea what to say. How do I tell her that the Prince she worships has been driving me crazy in so many ways? The people of Apreez love their royals and my sad excuses will never be understood. Besides, I refuse to become one of the millions of women that have cried over him.

“Your lack of answer says it all. Is it the Prince?”

I go to open my mouth and my cheeks flush.

“ELOISE!”

“Kiko, I…”

“The Prince is a playboy, Eloise. Haven’t you seen the trolls about how he has been sneaking around with Lady Sabrina? Don’t get yourself caught up in that stuff, especially because he is a wolf. Wolves have mates and at the end of the day, once he meets her, his mate and our future Queen, unfortunately not even the likes of your beauty and grace will meet up to her.”

My eyes start to water as I remember the kiss we shared and his face as he started packing up straight after. He looked like he had seen a ghost. He looks gob-smacked and ill, almost as if the kiss had repulsed him. Was I that bad or was it just the idea that I was not his mate? It isn’t a secret that the prince has had many women before me, so why was he so shocked at my kiss? My heart starts to thunder in a sadness that I cannot place. It’s as if the very last bit of warmth is starting to fade out of my soul. His rejection angered me last night, but now I just feel profoundly sad. I frown at the feeling, which is unexplained and foreign. No man has ever made me feel this way. I blink my eyes and look up to Kiko, who notices my tears and rushes to me.

“Oh, my Lady…”

“Kiko, please, I don’t want to speak about it.”

She nods sadly and grabs the blanket to begin folding. I take another sip of coffee.

“Okay.”

The next few minutes are spent in silence. Kiko moves swiftly through the room and manages to make the space look pristine whilst I am in the bathroom. She has a knack for cleaning. When I walk through the door and take a closer look, I notice that Kiko has laid down some training clothes for me on the bed. They are black and are hardly big enough to cover the pillow slip. Hot pants, a bra-type top, and some trainers. I lift my eyebrow at her and she sighs in defeat.

“Today is the third official event for the Mating Games.”

My eyes go wide and I stare between her and the clothes. Training clothes?

“What? They going to see how loved up we can become on the running track or something?”

“Actually, King Augustus chose something a little more…”

Kiko’s eyes twinkle a little as she trails off her words to think of a word to place the event.

“Well, a little more exciting I would say.”

“Do spill then.”

Kiko throws down the pile of laundry and comes to sit on the bed with excitement in her eyes.

“King Augustus has opened up the Arena in Apreez to all those who would like to prove their strength and dedication to their desired others on the fighting floor.”

“You mean physical fighting?”

My eyes widen and Kiko laughs and nods. She is a wolf, so I am not surprised that she finds this exciting.

“Don’t look so shocked. There is nothing more exciting than a little rumble and tumble. Think of all the hot guys that will be walking around all buff and ready to prove their love and devotion.”

“And all the ladies walking around scratching and pulling hair.”

Kiko looks at me when I say this and rolls her eyes.

“Yeah, the girls get a bit bitchy, but Eloise, this is a PERFECT place for you to meet new guys and mingle to fix that heart of yours. All the guys will be on top form as they strut their stuff. Besides, you only compete in the Arena if you have competition over your desire. So like if two guys or girls like the same person.”

“What would anyone achieve by winning a fight though?”

Kiko winks at me and offers me her most wicked smile.

“Boasting rights. I am not sure about the fae, but anyone with a beast finds it THE ultimate show of affection to win a battle over their desired. To prove your strength, intelligence, wit, and skill on the battlefield in the face of your desired is basically like staking a claim without words. Usually, wolves will only go to the battlefield for their mates, so I doubt there will be any wolves out there today other than for fun. The King has also organized for the winners in the Arena to get epic dates this evening.”

Kiko has a new sparkle of energy inside her expression.

“You love this stuff, don’t you?”

She shrugs.

“Not really. I grew up with this notion that one day, someone will fight whatever obstacle for me, kind of like that battlefield. I hope to one day meet my mate. There really is nothing like watching your Goddess-given person train, fight and battle it out in front of you. At least that is what my parents say.”

“I hope that happens for you, my friend.”

I genuinely mean it. My hand squeezes Kiko’s and we both smile before she jumps up and grabs the laundry again, throwing me a final wink and then leaving through the door. I can’t even imagine how much pressure it must sometimes feel like for wolves to find their mates. I am so glad I am a fae. For us, it is a lot more simple. We get to choose who we want to love. My mind flashes images of Prince Ares smiling, his dark eyes penetrating through me and his hair waving in the breeze. He looks so handsome. I frown and shake my head.

“There is no way my future has the prince in it. I am not his mate.”

I roll my eyes as the whisper leaves my mouth. Grabbing the flimsy training clothes, I head to the bathroom to quickly squeeze them on. The items are small and they look even more ridiculous on me. The top only covers what it needs to and the shorts look like hot-pants underwear.

“Ridiculous!”

I curse at the mirror as I pull my curls into a messy bun, allowing some of the loose curls to fall on either side of my face. I leave the bathroom, but the feeling of dread starts to resonate deeper and deeper within me. I look down at my legs and the way the items of clothing are sitting on me. When I peep out the door, I see Sabrina and some of the other girls giggling down the hallway in their black items and my eyes do a once over them. They look like they are made of perfect muscle and fit elegance. A horn echoes outside and the group of girls move off. More people emerge from their doors in the hallway and all of them look pumped and ready for action. Muscles are on show, girls are flaunting their assets and nobody looks the way I feel right now. I look down at my stomach, which looks unflat and unflattering in this outfit, and sigh. I don’t think I can do this. I close my door again just slightly and take small breaths.

“Do you think she will be coming down for the events?”

I recognize that voice walking past my door. Nate.

“Doubt it. Poor girl will probably be at nothing after yesterday with Ares.”

The second voice is Linda. They both fade away into the masses leaving me to face a mountain of emotions. Do they know about what happened yesterday? Linda sounded like she felt sorry for me. Is the Prince running around and telling everyone about how much of a fool he is making me feel? My cheeks flush from the irritation and I open my door again. I will NOT sit around and let some hunked-up guy make me feel inferior. They think I won't come to the events, well they are wrong. I will hold my chin up high and show them just how strong this “little fairy” is.

*~*

The walk to the arena was somewhat peaceful, but this didn’t last long. My feet are now planted on one of the wooden platforms, people are cheering and screaming around me as two she-wolves who look identical fight out in the center. The slightly shorter one lands a punch that has the crowd hooting in excitement but then everyone gasps at the blook coming from the other’s nose. I look up to the scorekeeper and they have two names up. These fighters are sisters! My eyes widen and I look down just in time to see the taller sister claw and shift into her wolf.

“Why would two sisters want to fight each other?”

I ask the man who is cheering next to me.

“They are identical twins and just turned 18. Turns out they share a mate.”

The guy points up to the mucho-looking guy who is standing and watching the fight intensely. My mouth hangs open and the guy laughs.

“Surely there must have been another way?”

“Yeah, apparently Sven was happy to have two mates but the sisters didn’t want that.”

I gasp as the taller she-wolf bites into her sister’s side. A loud welp echoes in the arena and the energy thickens.

“Will she kill her own sister?”

The guy shrugs.

“Sometimes people die here. Depends on what the agreement was beforehand. I think in this case, the loser will have to break their bond to Sven."

My eyes widen and I look back to the fight. The taller she-wolf is hovering over the shorter one and everyone starts pounding on the railing in unison. The rhythm becomes pulsating and I can see the fear radiating off of the shorter she-wolf. Teeth start to clash and just as I start to lose my breath, the shorter she-wolf submits and the fight ends. Roars explode around me and I look around with wide eyes. The mucho wolf runs down to the bottom and twirls the she-wolf in his arms before they walk off, leaving the defeated in a bloody and ashamed mess in the middle of the arena. I decide to walk around a little more.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SUCH AN EXCITING EVENT IN THE ANNUAL MATING GAMES?”

A loud voice booms and everyone cheers.

“OUR NEXT OPPONENT HAS THE TROLLS WHISPERING. THE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS PRINCE ZION OF THE WITCHES WISHES TO FIGHT FOR HIS DESIRED DATE.”

Everyone goes quiet and the energy becomes still as Prince Zion whispers in the host's ear. He looks ready to fight in his purple and grey battle wear. I carry on walking, managing to find the first open spot I can. I nestle between a bunch of other spectators.

“AH, INTERESTING CHOICE FOR THE ALMIGHTY PRINCE ZION. IS THE CROWD READY TO HEAR WHO HE IS FIGHTING FOR?”

Everyone booms and I look around at the rabid crowds around me in shock. I have never been a violent person. Yes, there is something about the whole thing that makes my blood pump faster and my breathing increase, but the idea of people getting hurt just seems so weird.

“LADY ELOISE OF SHRAYA!”

The crowd booms in energy and I stare at the open space where Prince Zion and the host are standing and my knees start to become weak. I see people moving around me, some even looking right at me and I know I am being guided somewhere, but I have no idea what is going on and my mind is too confused to fathom anything.

“LADY ELOISE, WHERE ARE- AH, THERE SHE IS!”

The people boom with energy as I realize I am now standing on some risen platform where I saw mucho wolf earlier.

“PRINCE ZION IS FIGHTING TO AND THIS I QUOTE, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, WARM HER BED AT THE EQUINOX AND ENJOY HER COMPANY THIS EVENING ON A DATE!”

Again there are cheers, but mixed into that is a low and dangerous grumble. The rumble becomes louder and I hear some gasps and shouting. People start to quieten.

“IS ANYONE BRAVE ENOUGH TO FIGHT THE PRINCE OF THE WITCHES FOR LADY ELOISE?”

There is a second of silence as the crowd looks around in anticipation. Prince Zion is looking at me with a broad smile on his face as if I am some trophy and flexing his muscles. He looks handsome in his battle gear and every ounce of the armor is dripping in royal embellishments. I guess the witches don’t play around. The rumble becomes louder and the air around me starts to buzz as I lean forward against the platform railing. Every set of eyes moves from me and the witch prince to the door below me and the growl that escapes has my very breath sucked right from my body. It is as though every fiber of my body becomes awake and I cannot help but look forward to the place where I know he will be. There is a part of me that feels energized by his growl. A part of me feels sated by him wanting to fight for me, yet the conversation with Kiko keeps running through my mind. Wolves don’t do this. Wolves don’t just fight, not unless it's for their mates. So why? Why, when we aren’t even fated?

He walks out, nothing but black shorts on and his head facing away from me. With every step, I can see his back muscles rippling and moving beneath his skin. I never noticed before, but under the sun his skin shines a subtle shade of tan and there is a full moon marking stretched across from the middle of his neck to either point of his broad shoulders. The whole crowd has become still, most even with dipped heads as his aura demands respect and his growling orders silence. I frown as I notice I am the only person who has not been knocked into submission. I notice Prince Zion is also not submitting, but there is a level of strain on his jaw, and beads of sweat are forming on his brow. The two exchange some words and even though I try my best to hear what is said, my fae hearing only gets me shorts bursts.

“Defeat…”

“Dog…”

“Lady…”

My breathing hitches as Prince Ares clenches his fists together. My insides somersault how strong and daring he looks right now. Prince Zion lets out a little chuckle.

“Mine…”

For a moment I see Prince Ares’s jaw tick and his low growl causes me to shiver in anticipation. His? I frown again but the blow of the horn has me plummeting back to reality.

“LET THE GAME BEGIN!”

That was all it took. Four words to start a battle of powers. A battle of possessions. Possession over me. A current jolts me awake and when I look down, I see the two Princes circling one another. Everything about both men screams royalty in that they are both quick on their feet, intelligent in how they move around, calculating in every step, and strong beyond words. The only difference is how they look. Prince Zion looks like what you would imagine a witch prince to look like on the battlefield. The purple reflects in the air around him, his legs almost moving in a type of dance as he effortlessly glides from one edge to another. To the foreign eye, you would think he is performing an exotic ritual, but anyone in Zenox would know the amount of static in the air can only ever be evidence of some serious and skilled magic. Prince Ares on the other hand…

Another current runs over my skin as my eyes take him in.

He has walked in with nothing but his own body as a line of defense. Everything about his flesh, his stance, and his movements shout raw and honest power. There is no fancy footwork to his movements. There is no special delivery to his blows. Unlike the twirling fingers of Prince Zion, Prince Ares delivers hard and robust blows. He is like a predator who moves with speed and swiftness as he dodges magical spells. His every muscle is on display, for everyone here today to see that he doesn’t need tricks and incantations. No, he is his own soldier. Just the body and him.

“AAAH!”

Prince Zion shouts as Prince Ares gets a hold of his throat with his hands.

“SUBMIT!”

Prince Zion smiles like a mad man and Prince Ares’s hands start to glow red in fire.

“NEVER!”

Prince Ares lets go and hiss at the burns on his fingers. I take a step forward in fear and my heart rate picks up. I have somehow managed to drown out the crowd's cheers, roars, and shocked gasps around me. A blue zap crackles through the air and hits Prince Ares in his gut, causing him to fall to his knees. The crowd gasps along with me. My insides start to burn. Is it fear?

“YOU SUBMIT TO ME, WOLF PRINCE.”

Prince Zion has Prince Ares on a blue leash and I can hear Prince Ares’s breaths becoming pain-filled. I close my eyes and hold my gut, hating the feeling of electric agony running through me. My breaths start to become shallow as I wince at the sight of a powerful prince being brought to his knees. I squeeze my eyes shut, not wanting to see that man being vulnerable. I may not be in a good place with him, but seeing him like this is too much. The crowd goes still and just as I want to peep open my eyes, there is a scream and the floor starts to burst as stomping begins in pulsing rhythms. When I look up I see a giant, almost-black, but shining chocolate wolf standing in the center. Prince Zion is trying to move backward, but his leg is in the beast's mouth. I swallow the lump in my throat and my arms move away from my gut to hold onto the railing again. For some reason, I feel transfixed on the beast. A low growl echoes and Prince Zion lets out a small cry as his leg is twisted. The wolf ducks away from every magical flare aimed his way. Another growl. Another shake of the witch Princes’s leg.

“FINE, FINE!”

The crowd becomes still again. Another growl. My breathing stills.

“I…”

The wolf tightens his grip on the now bleeding witch Prince. The crowd leans forward and I find my grip becoming impossibly tight on the metal. It is the only thing keeping me up right now.

“I SUBMIT!”

The crowd roars and people dance and cheer as the dark wolf lets go of its prey and then does a victory circle along the whole inner circle of the arena. His strong legs propel him forward and his head never lifts. Not until…

“PRINCE ARES AND LADY ELOISE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!”

The horn blows and people cheer, but I can’t focus on anything or anyone right now. My eyes remain fixed on the wolf, who has slowed his steps just below where I am standing. There is no sign of damage, but the throbbing in my gut and the feeling in my soul lets me know that the battle was a lot tougher than they ever thought.

The wolf prince finally lifts his head. His eyes glow like two pools of melted, chili chocolate, and his expression tells of the pride he feels at this very moment. There is warmth there. A familiarity. A sense of love. I frown at that thought. Love? Electricity starts to shoot through, little by little until my knees become weak.

“You need to go down to the lobby and accept him as the victor.”

I turn to see Linda looking at me with a smile on her face. I try to smile, but the whole event and moment are just too confusing. People continue to roar around me, only adding to my confusion. Linda guides me down the spiral staircase and guards open the gate, allowing me entrance to the Arena. My eyes squeeze together at the flooding of light and the intensity of the noise from down here. Their droning cheers never stop, not until I am down at the bottom again and standing in front of the most giant wolf I have ever known to exist. His large frame walks around me, his gaze burning holes through my skin as he takes in all of my almost-naked forms. Goddess, I wish I had worn more clothes. Still, the heated stare of the beast only causes my cheeks to flush and my undies to dampen. Prince Ares is intense, but his wolf is even more so.

He stops in front of me, his eyes piercing into me again.

Something in me tells my hand to lift from my side and lodge itself in the brown, fur coat of the wolf. I place it on his forehead, between his eyes, and we both close our eyes as tingles spread all through my fingertips. The moment lasts a lifetime and is possibly the most organic moment I have had with the Prince. Him in his truest form and me in mine. Both are vulnerable to one another yet both fight for a reason to stay.

When my hand drops, the crowd cheers again, and just like that, the moment is over and the host is onto announcing the next round of events. I stand to the side as Nate, Johnno and Linda run around me to help the prince, who is now shifting back to his human self. Nate throws pants at him before I can admire any further.

“LADY SABRINA…”

The host erupts and I roll my eyes as a perfect-looking Sabrina walks to the center, shooting me daggers in the interim. My eyes find those same, heated, chocolate orbs and the floor starts to move around me again. His whole body is glowing in sweat and there are a few cuts and scrapes along his abdomen.

“TO FIGHT FOR PRINCE ARES…”

The host's words knock both the brooding prince and me out of our thoughts. His whole body stiffens, every muscle rippling with curious irritation at what the host said. My eyes go to the host and I see Sabrina smiling at me smugly. She is challenging me. She has done this on purpose after watching Prince Ares win against Prince Zion.

“IS ANYONE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?”

The host and Sabrina watch me standing as the crowd roars around us. My eyes flutter back to Prince Ares, who is watching me intensely. He has a deep frown on his brow that speaks of his concern, but I don’t miss the glint in his eye. The sparkle of curiosity shines and swims in between the brown depths of his gaze. He is calculating my next move. He is judging my reaction. He is waiting to see whether I too will fight in the arena for him. My heart rate picks up.

“ANYBODY AT ALL?”

The host's words boom again and when I look to the side, I notice Sabrina’s fingertips illuminating fire. Her gaze has never left mine and I know her little display of magic is only a scaring tactic. She is a witch and I am a fae. She has the whole book of spells on her side, but then I have every piece of nature on mine. I smirk at the idea of making the ground crumble underneath her feet and my gaze goes back to the prince. He is still watching me. Is fighting for him worth it? Am I willing to go down this road? I fear once I do, I may never return to my former self. I will always think of him. It will always be him. I frown. The crowd continues to roar, their hands clapping and droning out loudly. The whole space is charged with energy. The same energy speaks to the warrior inside me. I can feel her stirring and begging to be released so that she can show everybody, including Sabrina just how powerful she is.

“Eloise, you don’t have to do this. Sabrina is a powerful witch and…”

My eyes snap to Prince Ares as the words leave his mouth. He is standing closer now. A tense look on his face.

“Are you implying I am not powerful?”

He opens and closes his mouth.

“You don’t have to insult me at every turn, Prince Ares. Perhaps you will enjoy kissing Lady Sabrina tonight. Perhaps she will be afforded the luxury of you not running away when she does. If you will excuse me.”

These are the last words I say before turning on my heel to leave the Arena. My chest starts to burn and the air around me becomes acidic and thick.

“WHAT A TURN OF EVENTS. LADY SABRINA AND PRINCE ARES, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!”

These are the last things I hear before walking far enough from that place to not face what has just happened.