Chapter 0343

I snap my eyes back to my uncle and a rush of gratitude runs through me that he's not lying or sugar coating this to make me feel better. "Luca could get seriously hurt if he fights," Roger says, holding my gaze.

"Well, don't let him fight!" I gasp, spinning back to the edge of the box, leaning over it and staring horrified at Luca, who pushes himself up from the ropes and moves to the center of the ring, where the Atalaxian boxer is moving as well.

Rafe grabs my arm, holding me back. "It's too late, Ari," Rafe growls. "He's clearly taking the fight. He knows what's at stake. He's seeing what we're seeing and he knows what it means better than we do, surely. But clearly, he's taking it."

I watch in horror as Luca steps close to the Atlaxian champion, staring with grit up into his face, Luca's arms hanging loose at his sides. There's confidence in every line of him - so much of it that it makes me second-guess how freaked out I am.

Luca - he's stubborn, but he's not stupid, right?

If this match gave him no chance to win - surely he'd back down.

Right?

"Maybe we're over-reacting," Jesse murmurs, glancing between me, and Rafe, and the rest of our family and friends. "Luca's beat bigger guys before - he kicks your ass all the time at school, Rafe."

"Jackson too," Ben adds, stepping closer and glancing at me, I think wanting to offer support and encouragement. My eyes go up a little bit at this - Luca beats Jackson?

"Yeah, he beats us in boxing, because Luca's a trained championship boxer," Rafe says, casting a hand out towards the ring. "Just like that guy right there. The size difference means more when they both have the same education and experience."

Ben just shakes his head, crossing his arms. "Luca is...a bulldog," he murmurs, staring down into the ring. "I hear what everyone's saying - but Luca's fast, and he's determined. Small guys win fights all the time. I'm not counting him out just yet."

I find my gaze following Ben's, focusing on my mate down below as he stares up at the Atalaxian champion, both of them listening to the ref's instructions and nodding their agreement to a fair fight.

I jump a little as the Ref claps his hands, hard, once, and then Luca and the Atalaxian champion spring away from each other, tapping their gloves against each other just once before moving to their respective sides of the ring.

And then the bell goes off, and my spine stiffens, and my eyes go wide as I place my hands on the wall of our box. Because the debate is over now.

The fight has started.

And for better or worse, Luca's in it.

The announcer's voice comes over the loudspeaker, speaking so swiftly that he almost sounds like an auctioneer. As Luca and the Atalaxian circle each other, the announcer quickly gives a short biography of both. Luca's I know - but the Atalaxian's history as a decorated soldier on the front line of the war?noveldrama

That does nothing to settle my nerves.

Suddenly, the two boxers engage, and I gasp at the speed with which they move. The Atalaxian's right arm shoots out, quick as an adder, heading right for Luca's head -

But Ben was right, and my face bursts into a smile when I see that Luca is faster than he is. Luca ducks low, letting the arm float over his head, and then uses the power of his crouch to launch himself back up, twisting his body and swinging a mighty left hook directly into the Atalaxian's face.

The Atalaxian goes stumbling and the crowd suddenly roars for Luca, me with them. Luca - my bold mate- laughs, of all things, watching his opponent gain his feet. Hope and faith swells in me then, as well as guilt for doubting him -

Because Luca, abandon a fight just because the other guy is bigger than him?

Well, he's never done it before. Why would he start now?

When the Atalaxian finds his feet again, Luca's face falls into more serious lines and he puts his fist back up, getting back into is serious boxer's stance. The two continue to dance around each other, trading what feel like more cursory, experimental blows, each of them looking for an opening.

I glance up at Jesse, and then at Rafe, always returning my eyes to the ring, not wanting to miss any of it. "What are you seeing?" I murmur, wanting their opinion.

"Luca's a better boxer," Rafe murmurs back, and my eyes flick to the right when I see Daphne move closer, squeezing in front of Rafe so that he looks over her head. He puts a casual hand on her waist as she moves closer to me, pressing her arm briefly against mine to let me know that she's here.