Josiah wasn’t kidding that the next few weeks would fly by fast. Abraham trained day and night for his fight, each of the brothers taking turns with him to get him ready. It wasn’t as if they had fight tape on Loch. They weren’t sure if the Scottish monster ever fought in his life. None of them knew what to expect.
Kai did the oldest Hallow brother proud. She attempted to cook him breakfast every morning. She dragged him out of the gym for each meal but made sure every one was full of veggies and protein. When he balked at another night of chicken breasts, she whispered into his ear the promise of chocolate chip cookies once his fight camp was over. And at night, when all Abraham wanted to do was collapse on the couch and stare into space, she stood at the doorway of their bedroom naked to entice him to bed. He was never too tired to make love to her.
All their blood, sweat, and tears got them to this night. Weigh-ins. He held Kai tight to him as he glanced around at the near-empty veterans’ hall. It was a far cry from the orgy they’d had to fight through at the club they used to weigh-in before Rock and Cort took over and made it worse. It was sort of refreshing.
He looked at Micah and smirked. “So if this asshole doesn’t show up, they won’t call the fight. Will they?”
Micah raised an eyebrow at him. “Typically yes, they will. But you would have to take that up with Harry. Loch not showing up would make things a whole fucking lot easier.”
Abraham snarled. “I plan on taking out my rage for Neptune on the son of a bitch. I’d rather tear Neptune apart. I can’t do that. Loch is the next best thing.”
“Don’t count on it,” Samuel muttered as he nodded toward the door. “Loch’s here. So is Neptune with his goons.”
Kai pulled free and scuttled behind Abraham. Josiah’s hand clamped down on Abraham’s shoulder. “Don’t think about it. Wait for the cage tomorrow night.”
Abraham felt Kai’s tiny hands grip the material of his shirt. He let go a feral growl. “Let’s get this over with before I beat the shit out of both of them.”
Abraham, Josiah, Micah, and Samuel strode to the stage set up on the far end of hall with Kai following behind. Abraham tucked her close to him as his glare met Neptune’s. He could see Neptune’s lip tick up in a snarl at the sight of the couple.
“Abe, can we have you up here?” Harry asked as he motioned Abraham toward the stage.
Abraham looked down at the woman in his arms. He could feel her shake as she hugged him tight. He didn’t blame her. The one who’d almost killed her without mercy stood across the room from her. Her entire existence had been altered with that one spell. It would take her a long time to completely recover from that.
He felt a hand shove her away from him. Before he could snap at the source he heard Samuel speak. “Go. I got her. Fish pants over there ain’t going to get anywhere near her without going through me.”
Abraham smiled at him as he let go of her and nudged her toward his older brother. “Thanks.”
Samuel shrugged. “Trust me. I get it. Try watching after two.”
Abraham cupped Kai’s face in his hands. He pressed a kiss to her lips and her forehead. He steeled his spine as he stormed up the steps of the stage to the scale.
There was only a doctor and no announcer to record the weight. He motioned for Abraham to weigh first. Abraham shucked his T-shirt and jeans until he was standing only in his boxer-briefs. He stepped on the scale and stayed as still as possible.
“One hundred and thirty-four point nine pounds,” the doctor announce to all within earshot. Abraham hopped back for Loch to take his turn. He eyed the creature as Loch was weighed. He looked smaller than he had been by the lake. Abraham shook the thought from his mind. It was a while ago. Maybe he was imagining it.
Harry motioned the two fighters to him. “Boys, can we get a couple of fight photos for the event? Would you mind squaring off?”
Neither man answered him as Abraham sunk into fight stance and raised his fists. Loch studied him with a confused look on his face. With a sigh, he imitated Abraham.
“I will punish you for taking what was mine,” Loch warned.
“Good luck with that,” Abraham replied with a chuckle.
Both men growled at the other as the flashbulbs snapped. When Harry waved them both off, Abraham felt a hand clamped on each shoulder.
“What the fuck?” Abraham protested as he looked back. Josiah and Micah flanked him on either side.
“Save it for tomorrow night,” Josiah said, his focus not on Abraham but across the stage.
Abraham turned back to find Neptune at Loch’s side with his foot soldiers following behind. He hadn’t been there a second ago.
Neptune scowled at him. “Very well and. Until tomorrow.” He snapped his fingers and led the others offstage. None of the brothers moved until they disappeared from the hall.
Abraham gathered his clothes and followed Josiah and Micah off the stage. Samuel and Kai waited for them at the steps, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders.
“That fucker moved on you fast,” Samuel commented.
“I didn’t realize Loch worked for Neptune,” Micah added.
“He doesn’t,” Kai informed them. “They were allies at best. Typically, they were on the verge of war.”
“Didn’t Neptune give you to Loch to be his wife?” Josiah questioned.
“He did but it wasn’t for peace for either of them.”
Josiah shook his head. “I have a feeling there’s a story we need to know but not here. Let’s get moving. After what just happened coupled with the fact that Rock and Cort could show up at any time, we need to get out of town and someplace safe.”
Abraham shifted the clothes until they were under his arm and took Kai’s hand in his free one. With his brothers, they hurried to the parking lot to their vehicles. Josiah, Micah, and Samuel hopped into the Jeep as Abraham held the door open for Kai to his new truck. It had broken his heart a little to sell his motorbike. The thought of their child took the sting away a bit. It even had an extended cab to accommodate a growing family.
He crossed around the vehicle before he climbed into the driver’s side. The truck fired up with a roar. He nodded through the passenger window to Micah, indicating he was ready to go. He pulled out of the parking lot into traffic after the Jeep.
Once they were on the highway, he shot a glance over at his mate. What she’d said about Neptune and Loch ate at him. It pissed him off enough that the two bastards had bartered her. But the fact they weren’t even allies didn’t make sense.
“So if Neptune and Loch were enemies and why were you engaged to Loch?” he questioned.
He heard her sigh. “When Neptune gave me to Loch, he said it was as a peace offering. However, I was ordered to do the same thing to Loch after our wedding as I was supposed to do to you and your brothers. Loch was the closest viable threat to Neptune’s throne. However, as part of the deal, I was sent to Loch to prepare for the ceremony. In private he demanded the same thing.”
“To kill Neptune?”
“To use my magic to help him defeat Neptune and take the throne. To both I was a weapon, not a mermaid. They cared nothing about how I felt.”
Abraham gazed at her quick before turning his attention back on the road. “How did you feel?”
“Confused.”
They rode along in silence as Abraham mulled over what she’d said. He couldn’t stop the slow burn of jealousy from igniting in his heart. “So you stayed with Loch. Alone. Just the two of you. No one else.”
She tsked at him. “It’s not like that, Abe. We were sea creatures. We didn’t have sex.”
“Then how the fuck do you make more mermaids?”
“We have a secret cave where mercouples go to start their family. She lays the eggs and he fertilizes them. Like fish do.” She shrugged. “Or I guess in my case, had.”
He frowned as his heart slammed in his chest. “So before me, human speaking, you were a virgin?”
She response was quiet. “No.”
“Explain that one to me.”
“Are you going to tell me all the women you slept with?”
Abraham gaped at her. It took a minute or two for him to recover. “Four girls. All from Littlefoot’s tribe. The one I got caught with was his niece. Do you want names?”
He could see her scowl out of the corner of his eye. “No. I’m good.”
“You’re better than I am. I do want names. Who was it? Did you seduce some poor sailor or fisherman?”
“It was Neptune.”
Abraham slammed on the brakes before he realized it. They lurched forward from the force. He noticed the Jeep pull over ahead of them. His nerves were reverberating inside him. He was careful when he pressed the gas down again. “Neptune.”
He heard her suck in a breath. “For wanting the entire human race dead for carelessly destroying our world with their pollution, he had a sick obsession with them. He read about sex and wanted to try it. He chose one of his handmaidens and commanded me to come along to record what he discovered.”
“He brought you to watch?”
“Not exactly. I didn’t realize that he’d studied up on threesomes. He took us to an inn on the south shore of Italy. The innkeeper showed him to a little villa outside the inn. I chose a chair and took out a parchment and quill to take notes. He undressed her and himself. There was some touching and kissing. Then he turned to me and demanded that I undress and join them. I objected but he was still the king. I obeyed and laid on the bed next to her.”
“And?”
“It was horrible. Disgusting. He did with each of us what he had to do to reach his release. Then he fell asleep while I and the handmaiden lay there awake. So she inched her way around him, laid down beside me, and…”
Abraham was shocked speechless as he noticed the tinge of red that blossomed on her cheeks. He fought himself not to hit the brakes again. “No way.”
“She was beautiful with pastel colored hair. We, well, kept each other occupied for over an hour before we fell asleep in each other’s arms. She was the first person I felt love for in my life other than my family. We were awoken by Neptune who had a strange, almost angry look in his eyes. He grabbed me and had his way with me one more time. It was hard and painful. He told us to dress and took us back to the shore. When we returned home, she and I made promises to each other to sneak away and be together. Not long after that she was found dead.”
Abraham turned at the tree line and floored it to break through the woods. Once they were enveloped in darkness, he let up on the gas. “The bastard had her murdered.”
Kai’s answer was a soft whisper. “Yes.”
“Why?”
“He must have guessed we were intimate. He did not approve.”
“That’s just insane. I don’t…” Abraham’s words trailed off. He thought about the stage that night, about Neptune’s sudden appearance next to Loch. “Beautiful, why exactly did Neptune turn you human?”
He felt her hand wrap around his in the dark. “Because I chose you over him.”
Abraham slipped his hand from hers and recaptured hers and held it tight. His heart twisted in a combination of rage and guilt. It was his love that almost killed her. And in one way or another he was going to make Neptune pay for all of it.
»»•««
The veteran’s hall was buzzing with the energy of the crowd. Abraham hopped from the ball of one foot to the other as he waited by the curtain for his turn. He didn’t have nerves before his wrestling matches but his stomach was churning now. He knew it was mostly anxiety, but there was still some anger bubbling in him.
His six brothers stood in the shadows, waiting to walk him to the cage. Littlefoot had taken Momma to his house to have dinner with his family. The mates had ringside seats for the fights, each equipped with a UVA flashlight in case any bloodsuckers decided to show up. All the mates, except one. Abraham shot a glance over his shoulder and smiled when he saw Kai in the middle of his brothers’ huddle.
She returned his grin as she scuttled across the hall. She hugged him tight. “How are you?”
“Nervous. You?”
“Same. I’m nervous for you.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Kai. I want you to know that before I go in there.”
She punched him lightly in the ribs. “Don’t go acting like you’re not coming out. I promised Josiah you would be fine so I’m holding you to that.”
He laughed. “All right, all right. I get it. I won’t let you down.”
“Good.” She hopped up and caught her arms around his neck. She tugged him down and parted his lips with hers. “And I love you too. I love you with everything I am.”
He kissed her again. They parted when they heard a voice call for him.
Harry waved to them from the split in the curtain. “Abe, you’re up. You go in second.” He motioned to one of the stagehands. “Go get Loch. Tell him it’s time.”
The stagehand replied with a salute and hurried down the hall. Abraham nudge Kai toward his brothers as they gathered behind them. “Stick with them. There’s a seat waiting for you with the others. When we get out there, go sit with them.”
She nodded. “Okay. Stay safe.”
“I will.”
They all turned at the approaching shuffle of feet. Loch stared Abraham down as he passed by and disappeared through the curtain. Neptune leveled Abraham with a glare as he followed.
“Guys, is he bigger than last night or is it just me?” Samuel questioned.
“He’s at least five inches taller than me,” Micah answered. “Last night I was looking him in the eye.”
“He has magic too,” Kai informed them quietly. “He can alter his appearance.”
“That can’t be legal,” Ezekiel objected.
“We can’t exactly go to Harry and tell him that we think Loch grew,” Josiah told them. “We’d have to confess everything to someone who has no idea that werewolves and mermaids exist. Sorry, Abe. You’re going to have to adjust to whatever he decides to do if he’s cheating or not.”
A rap song beckoned Abraham to the cage. It was sure as hell better than that peppy Mexican ditty. “No worries,” Abraham replied. “I’m going to beat the ever loving shit out of him. Doesn’t matter how big he is.” Without another word he stormed toward the cage, his eyes focused on Loch inside.
He turned toward Josiah as he reached the steel steps and gave him a hug. He paused long enough to watch Micah escort Kai to her seat and return. He hugged the other five of his brothers and turned to the official. Once he was patted down and popped his mouthguard out of his mouth to confirm he had it, he turned for Josiah to wipe petroleum jelly on his face. He nodded to his oldest brother and ascended the steps to the cage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for your main event,” the announce near shouted into the microphone. “In the blue corner, from Scotland, we have Loch…” The announce frowned as he searched the card.
“Just keep going,” Abraham muttered.
The announcer tossed his head, a confused look on his face. “And in the blue corner, from northern Minnesota, Abraham Hallow.”
The crowd roared at Abraham’s name. He took a second to soak it in. Before this all started, he loved to hear them cheer for him. Now all he wanted was to be in Kai’s arms again.
The referee called them to the center of the mat to review the rules. Loch sneered at Abraham as he chuckled. Abraham growled in response. When the referee offered for them to tap gloves, they only stood and stared at each other. He waved them off to their corners.
Abraham bounced back and forth as he focused on Loch. He rushed the mat when he heard the word he was waiting for. “Fight.”
Abraham struck out at Loch, peppering jabs at him to find his range. He flexed his fingers on his other hand. Once he established his target, he’d throw a cross right at Loch’s chin.
Loch fired off a punch that sent Abraham flying back against the chain link. He scrambled to his feet before Loch could stomp across the mat and pound on him. He cursed under his breath as he set up another attack.
He waited for Loch to come after him, hopping from one foot to the other in hopes of baiting him. Loch threw a haymaker with a growl. Abraham ducked to avoid it. The cross, however, caught Abraham on the chin and sent him to the mat again. Abraham rolled away and scuttled to standing.
“Keep moving,” Josiah shouted over the crowd. Abraham weaved away from Loch, leading the lumbering monster around the mat. He crumpled to the canvas when the buzzer sounded, alerting the end of round one. He staggered to the stool that Josiah brought in with him and collapsed onto it. Micah appeared beside Josiah with a pack of ice and a bottle of water.
“I’m not making a dent,” he protested with a huff.
“He’s way taller than you,” Micah replied. “Punching him is going to end badly for you.”
“What are you doing?” Josiah questioned. “You’ve been wrestling. Go for the knees. Get him on his back.”
“He’s been wrestling when?” Caleb countered.
Josiah glanced at Caleb. “He isn’t a fan of the Luchador, Mike. Abe is the Luchador.”
“No shit,” Caleb answered in amazement.
The bell rang, ending the break. Abraham rose off the stool and leaned on the fence as Josiah swiped it. He watched his brothers race out of the cage and the door shut. He blew out a long breath. Here goes nothing.
The referee cried out “fight” as he dropped his hand. Both fighters rushed toward each other. As Loch swung, Abraham dropped to one knee and buried the side of his face into Loch’s hip. He lifted and twisted to drop the monster onto the mat.
Abraham scrambled up Loch and rained punches at Loch’s face. Loch covered his head before he sat up and flipped Abraham onto his back. Abraham rolled away again and rushed to standing.
Loch stood and raced at Abraham. As the monster buried his shoulder into Abraham’s belly, Abraham wrapped his arm around the back of Loch’s neck. He dropped his arm under Loch’s chin across his throat. He locked the choke as his back hit the mat with a loud thud.
He squeezed himself into a ball as he kicked a leg over Loch’s back. Loch struggled against the choke, each movement growing weaker. The referee pulled Abraham away as Loch slumped to the floor.
He rushed to his corner as he watched them try to revive Loch. He felt his brothers pat him through the chain link.
“Great job,” Josiah told him.
“Thanks for the fantastic coaching,” Abraham replied.
“Anytime, bro.”
The referee called Abraham to the center of the mat as the doors were opened and the officials and teams climbed inside.
The announcer’s voice quieted the cheering crowd. “Our winner by a guillotine choke in the second round, Abraham Hallow.”
Abraham sucked in large breaths as the referee raised his hand in victory. He felt the cold metal of the belt strapped across his waist. In all the chaos that led to this fight, he realized this was a first for the newborn promotion. He was the bantamweight champion.
It didn’t mean his job was finished. Once the referee dropped his hand, he launched himself past Loch, his fists swinging until they connected with Neptune’s chin. He didn’t stop when the merman fell. Instead he mounted Neptune and kept pounding.
Hands gripped his biceps, stopping his assault and hauled him to his feet.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Josiah demanded.
Abraham glanced at him and Micah on this other side. Kai stared at him with big eyes from behind Micah’s arm. He glared down at Neptune at his feet. A thin trail of blood trickled from Neptune’s nose and his eye was already starting to bruise.
Abraham chuckled as he pulled free from his brothers. He turned his focus back to Neptune. “You know what? I want to beat you to a bloody pulp for all you’ve done to Kai. You almost killed her, you asshole. But now that I think about it, I have the perfect revenge for you. You’ve wanted her this whole time, didn’t you? Guess what? She’s mine now. She even bears my name. Live with that for whatever cursed amount of time you have.”
“You are beneath her,” Neptune accused between grit teeth.
Abraham reached out his hand to Kai. Instead of taking it, she hurried to his side and curled up against him. He wrapped a protective arm around her. “I don’t disagree. But at least she loves me.”
With one last snarl, Abraham walked out of the cage with Kai by his side and his brothers on his heels. He skimmed his fingers absentmindedly over the metal on his belt.
He felt a hand on his shoulder. “Dad would be proud of you,” Josiah told him. “I sure as hell am.”
“Me too,” Kai chimed in as she gazed up at him.
Abraham pressed a deep kiss on her lips as his brothers found their way to the rest of the family. Finding his mermaid made him grow up so fast it was almost painful. Yet he would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
When they parted, they found themselves alone. Even the event workers had disappeared.
He nuzzled his nose to hers. “Let’s go home.”
“Yes, let’s go,” she agreed.
Abraham took her hand in his and pressed one last kiss to her lips. They hurried off to the back, laughing together the entire way.
The End