High House Ursa: The Complete Bear Shifter Box Set by Storm Riley

Author:Storm, Riley [Storm, Riley]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: High House Press
Published: 2019-04-25T16:00:00+00:00

22

He was nervous.

The crowd today was much more evenly split between Klaue supporters and those cheering on his opponent, but he didn’t give a damn about that. His foe today, Kasperi, was a fierce fighter, but while Klaue gave him all the respect in the world, it wasn’t the challenge before him that made him nervous either.

It was what was behind him that had his heart racing, his palms slick and his throat dry. For the hundredth time, he resisted the urge to turn and look back at his corner. Not that they were in a boxing ring—the Throne Room was much too large for that—but a dedicated knot of his supporters grouped against the far wall. They were the staunchest, including several of the soldiers under his command, and one other notable figure.

Jessica.

This time, she wasn’t up in the crowds forced to watch the fight. She was down at ground level, with a front row view of what was going on. Klaue had thought he wanted her there, but now that the time had come, he couldn’t help but wonder if he would have actually been better off with her up in the crowd, or simply not present at all.

The Queen finished her speech to the crowd and sat. It was too late now, however; she was here, and he would have to fight under her watchful eye. Klaue desperately wanted to make her proud, to show her that he was as good as many said. Winning was good, but only if he earned her approval on top of it. Otherwise, it would be a pointless fight, win or lose.

“Klaue, are you ready?”

He forced his attention away from the person he was rapidly coming to conclude was his mate, and back to the task at hand. Kasperi was no pushover, and he was one of the best weapons fighters in the House. Klaue would have an uphill battle against him today.

Weaponry was his worst discipline. It didn’t mean he was bad with the sword. Five years on the Queen’s Own meant he was no slouch with the weapon, but Kasperi was an undisputed fanatic with it.

“Yes,” he answered his Queen’s challenge, lifting his right arm in the air, holding the sword aloft over his head.

The crowd roared its approval.

“Kasperi, are you ready?”

There was no hesitation. A similar sword-raise ensued, followed by another bellow from the crowd. Klaue licked his lips. The roar had been a lot louder for Kasperi. Maybe he didn’t have as many supporters as he’d thought.

That doesn’t matter. All that matters is winning. Keep doing that, and they will come around.

Klaue nodded, to himself but also at Kasperi as the Queen waved at them to begin and sat back in her throne, glancing briefly at the empty seat next to her where the King would sit.

For a moment, he felt pity for the woman, who looked completely alone, but then he yanked his attention back to the fight as Kasperi came at him, his sword whipping around in a blur.

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