The Arena novel Chapter 37

When we return home, Bastian can’t stop talking about the redhead at the finance company. I’d be more aggravated if she hadn’t figured out that the accountant is stealing from us. Bastian had to talk me out of killing him. However, I appreciated her thought about following the money and trying to get it back for us.

“When are you meeting with her again?” I ask him. I want to know when I can kill this asshole who thinks he can steal from me for years and get away with it.

“I’m waiting to hear back from her, but I can always call her and see what’s up.”

“Let’s wait until after we bring this next arena down. It’s going to take all of our attention. Let her do what she does and check in with her when we’re done.”

I call Ishir. I’m still not sure which of them is seeing Tana. It almost feels like she has a relationship with both of them. Or maybe they are sharing her. The thought makes me snarl, and I have to push it away so I can focus.

“Cedric. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Ishir answers the phone.

“I want to know when you are planning to attack the arena. I want in. We can help.”

“I agree. I know Avani is looking to bring in one or two of the other dragons, but we could use all the help we can get. He mentioned that you have an arsenal with you?”

So, they do talk frequently. I get a mental image of my mate sandwiched in between the two of them in the throes of passion. I grip my desk, breaking off a chunk in my hand.

“Yeah. We have guns, ammunition, grenades, and rocket launchers.”

“How adept is your pack at using those weapons?” It’s a good question. One that I’ve been contemplating as well.

“Average, but I have a couple of individuals that are good marksmen.”

“Tana, Avani, and I put together a sketch of the arena based on their overhead view and our on-the-ground view of the construction.”

“Wait. Tana was there with Avani?”

“Uh, yeah, you didn’t know?”

I sigh. “No, she didn’t show herself.”

“Can you blame her, Cedric? You rejected her.”

“I didn’t reject her, Ishir. I left, but I came back.”

“Do you know anything at all about dragons, Cedric?”

“Not as much as you, apparently,” I say, and I’m sure my voice sounds as aggravated as I feel. Why does it feel like everyone knows my mate better than I do?

I hear him sigh on the other end of the line. “Look, something you need to know about dragons. They feel things much more deeply than we do. Whatever your mate bond makes you feel for Tana, multiply that by a hundred, no, a thousand. They feel things in their very being, their soul. When you were together, that feeling was love. Their love is like nothing you will ever experience anywhere else in the world. But you hurt her, and that love turned to pain, then to anger. Do you get where I’m going with this?”

“I think so …”

“If she loved you more than you could ever imagine being loved, then you hurt her more than anything you’ve ever felt or seen before in your life. When that turned to anger, well, let’s just say, nothing, and no one hates you as much as Tana does.”

“She let me help her. That has to mean something.”

“She was desperate, maybe?” he says. Now, who’s being snarky?

When I call Ishir back, we discuss our ability to assist. “When are you planning to attack?”

“We want to try to bring it down before they have a chance to start the fighting. So we’re attacking this weekend.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon?” I ask.

“Cedric, you’ve been in those arenas. Is it ever too soon? You’ve seen them taking supes into the underground. They are starving them at best, torturing them at worst.”

“Are you sure we can get them out? I don’t want to worry that they will die because we haven’t thought this through,” I say to Ishir.

“Lycan, don’t worry, the dragons can get them out.” Avani. Of course, he’s there, too.

“Avani. Did you get those helpers you wanted?”

“Only one of them, the other isn’t available. But we’ll have Kaylani, the water dragon, on our side. This weekend, Lycan. Of course, if you’re not prepared or unable to assist …”

Goddess, I hate that dragon. “We’ll be there, and we’ll take out the harpoon launchers, so you don’t get killed.”

“You mean so Tana doesn’t get killed. I think we both know it wouldn’t hurt your feelings if I died.”

I don’t respond, and he snorts. “See you soon, Lycan.”

I get my team ready, and on Friday night, we head to the arena, ready to take it down.