Oskar wanted to tell her to go sit down. No good could come of this. Her father would demand that the fight continue, and then punish Zora soundly for her insolence. Zora would be watched closely from now on, for fear that she was partial to the shifters. No longer would she be able to sneak supplies across the tunnels.
But Oskar was too weak to do much more than lift his head. After an initial shock, the lion seemed to recover his senses and turned back toward Oskar. With a low growl, the beast started creeping forward again. Oskar closed his eyes and prepared for the inevitable. But again, Zora’s voice interrupted.
“Stop!”
The lion halted and the crowd fell deathly silent. From the midst of the silence. Zora’s father’s voice rang out, booming and deep.
“Zora, come down from there at once! This fight is not finished until only one contender remains alive.”
Oskar opened his eyes and watched as Zora squared her shoulders, lifted the bullhorn to her mouth, and said, “No.”
A wave of gasps went through the crowd, and Oskar’s own jaw had dropped. Zora was acting foolish, yes. But she had never been more beautiful than she was in that moment, defying her father in an attempt to protect Oskar’s life.
Oskar had warned her not to try to sway her father, but he supposed he should have seen this coming. She was his lifemate after all, and she had felt the lifemate bond just as he had. She was doing the only thing lifemates could do: protect each other at all costs.
And even though Oskar knew the costs for this would be high, he was so damn proud of his girl in that moment.
Chapter Eighteen
From across the Arena, Zora could see her father’s face turning purple with rage. Her hands trembled, but she kept her head high and kept the bullhorn raised to her lips.
“The rules of the Games state that any Gilt Hollow noble may call a winner in a Death Match and bring an end to the Death Match, regardless of whether any deaths have occurred. I am exercising that right now. I call this match for Oskar of House Severson. He has killed three out of four lions and still lives. I think we call can agree that such a performance deserves a win without needing to see him actually kill the final lion.”
A low murmur went across the crowd, but then silence fell again. Below Zora, on the Arena floor, the final lion seemed to recover from his shock at the change in the noise level, and he once again started creeping toward Oskar’s bloody body.
“Assistants! Please remove the lion from the ring,” Zora yelled into the bullhorn. The noise temporarily startled the lion into inaction again, but Zora knew she didn’t have much more time before the changes in noise stopped bothering the lion and he finished off Oskar. From the way things looked up here, one more blow would finish Oskar off.
“No!” Zora’s father yelled. “This is absurd. There is no such rule. Get down immediately Zora. You’re embarrassing yourself.”
She was embarrassing herself, that much was true. She didn’t know how she would ever show her face in public again after defying her father in the middle of this Death Match. But she would worry about that later. Right now, all that mattered was saving Oskar’s life. Below her, the assistants stood just behind the restraining wall, tasers in hand, looking back and forth between Zora and her father, unsure of what to do.
“There is a rule, Father,” Zora said. “Rule 7.34 states that, due to the fact that the Gilt Hollow Council recognizes that the Games are for a show of sportsmanship, and are not intended to be barbaric, any noble may, at their discretion, end a Death Match to prevent actual deaths. I am invoking that rule now.”
Zora’s father knew, as did Zora, that the rule had never been intended to be actually used. It had been put on the books for show, as had many rules like it, so that the Gilt Hollow citizens could pat themselves on the back and act like the Games were humane. But Zora was using this rule as her Hail Mary pass right now, much to the consternation, she was sure, of every Gilt Hollow noble in attendance.
Loki jumped to his feet now, too. “Zora, this is absurd. Stop interfering in things you don’t understand.”
“I do understand. Assistants, if you please. The rule is valid and I am exercising my right to use it now.”
Zora’s heart pounded in her chest, and she prayed that the assistants would listen to her before the lion charged again and it was too late.
“Zora,” her father said again, his voice angrier than she’d ever heard it. But before he could finish his sentence, the Princess herself rose.
“Enough,” Princess Isadora said. Zora’s eyes widened, and her heart sank. The Emperor’s daughter had always been polite to her, but Zora doubted that politeness would extend to helping Zora end a Death Match. The only family more invested in the popularity of the Games than the Seversons was the Emperor’s family. Zora could tell by the smug expressions that crossed her father’s and Loki’s faces that they knew it, too. But then, Princess Isadora continued speaking and shocked everyone with what she said.
“Zora is correct. That rule does exist, and she has properly invoked it. Assistants, please remove the lion from the ring. Medical personnel, please help Oskar back to the medical wing. The Death Match is called for Oskar, just as Zora requested.”
For a moment, absolute silence hung in the air. Zora’s jaw dropped, and she saw the Emperor himself raise an eyebrow in his daughter’s direction. Zora was sure he was about to stand up and denounce everything his daughter had just said, but instead he shrugged and then nodded at the assistants, who scrambled to do as the Princess had ordered. Zora’s father’s face turned an even darker shade of purple, but he said nothing. He didn’t dare contradict the princess.
Meanwhile, the crowd seemed to have realized that the match was over, and that Oskar had won. Roaring cheers filled the Arena, and soon an actual chant of “Oskar! Oskar! Oskar!” rose into the air.
Zora, trembling more than ever now and still hardly able to believe what she’d just done, handed the bullhorn back to the announcer and turned to run toward the medical wing. She had to see Oskar, and see for herself how he was. She wasn’t entirely convinced that he was going to live, and if he wasn’t going to make it she wanted the chance to say goodbye.
The loud cheers for Oskar followed her down the hallway, and she smiled. Even though she knew that Oskar didn’t care about the crowd’s approval, she was still proud of him for earning it. He’d beaten off three lions, lasting much longer than anyone had thought he would. And lasting long enough for Zora to fight her way up to the announcer’s booth and save his life.
“Third room on the left,” a doctor said to Zora when she stepped into the medical wing. He hadn’t had to ask who Zora was seeking.
“Thank you,” she said. “How is he?”
“In rough shape, but stable. He’s lost a lot of blood, but barring any unforeseen complications, he should pull through.”
Zora thanked the doctor and ran toward the door he’d indicated. A group of doctors and nurses was inside, but they stepped back to allow Zora through.
“Oskar!” she cried out, rushing toward him. He groaned in response, which Zora took as a hopeful sign. At least he was responsive. The medical personnel had cleaned up the blood and stitched him up already, but he looked awful nonetheless. Every visible part of his body was covered with deep gashes, and bruises were already showing in many locations. When he turned his head to look at her, she saw that one of his eyes was swollen shut. Still, he had never looked more gorgeous to her.
“Oskar,” she said again, her voice more of a whisper this time. His lips turned up in the hint of a smile.
“Zora,” he said, his voice sounding surprisingly clear and strong. “You shouldn’t have done that, you know. They’re still going to kill me anyway.”
“Not if I can help it! I’m not giving up on you.”
“I’m afraid your dad and Loki won’t either. They’re determined to see me dead. But what you did showed a lot of bravery. I’m proud of you.”
Zora fe
lt tears pricking at the back of her eyelids. “I’m proud of you. You fought so well. And you’re the brave one. You sacrificed your life to keep your friends safe.”
Zora didn’t want to say too much, since the doctors and nurses were still in the room. But she didn’t have to. Oskar knew what she was talking about.
“What will happen to you now?” Oskar asked, concern etched into his face. “Won’t your dad be angry?”
Zora shrugged. “He will. But so what. He can’t kill me. The worst he can do is—”
“Everyone out,” a voice boomed out as the door to the room swung open. Zora looked up to see her father, but he didn’t look like her father. His face was still dark purple with rage, and his fists were clenched so tightly that Zora wondered how he didn’t break his own knuckles.
The doctors and nurses hurried to leave the room, tripping over their own feet in an attempt to get away from Fitz Severson as fast as they could. When the last one had left, Loki stepped into the room from out in the hallway, then shut the door behind him.
“Hello, Father. Hello, Loki.”
Zora’s father scowled at her. “Hello, Zora. Or should I say ‘hello, traitor. What the hell were you thinking?”
Zora stuck her chin out defiantly. She refused to apologize for what she’d done, even though she knew the safest thing for her to do right now was to grovel and beg for his forgiveness. She didn’t care about doing the safe thing right now, though. She cared about doing the right thing. And the right thing was to stick by Oskar and insist that he didn’t deserve to die like an animal.
“I was thinking that I’m tired of seeing the Games turned into a big circus where no one treats shifters like humans.”
Loki rolled his eyes. “They’re not humans. Are you blind? They’re all animals.”
“They have an animal side, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t human. They still feel emotions and are self-aware, just like you and I.”
“Zora, please. You can’t be serious. Just look at him. He’s—”
“Enough!” Zora’s father bellowed. Zora and Loki both fell silent and looked at their father, his skin purple and his eyes black with rage. For a few moments, the room was so quiet that the only sound was Oskar’s raspy, labored breathing. Zora dared to glance back at him, worried that he was growing worse and needed medical attention. But his face still seemed serene, and Zora decided that he must still be alright for the moment. She turned back to her father, who looked like he wanted to murder both her and Loki.
“I’ve had enough of your jabbering, Loki,” he said. “I don’t want to hear another word out of you. And you, Zora…I don’t even know where to start with you. You know that the Severson family takes great pride in our participation in the Games. I will not have you interfering with matches like you did today. I expect you to issue a full, public apology, and then I expect you to keep your mouth shut at all future matches.”
“No,” Zora said, crossing her arms. She was trembling, and she was pretty sure her father could see that. But it didn’t matter. She refused to back down.
“Zora, I’m warning you. You’re messing with things you don’t understand. If you start getting protective of one Shifter, they’ll all take advantage of you.”
“I understand perfectly well. I understand that you were trying to kill Oskar to make an example of him, and I don’t think you should treat shifters like that. We always say we’re not barbarians, so why are you acting like one?”
“Zora Severson! You will not disrespect me like that. One more insolent comment like that and I will disown you.”
Zora was shocked into silence for a moment. She had never thought her father would actually threaten to disown her. They both knew that disowning a child was extremely difficult. Family ties and bloodlines were highly valued in Gilt Hollow, which meant that a child actually had quite a few rights. If Zora’s father tried to disown her, he’d have to go through lengthy court battles. Zora could make quite a few public scenes and humiliate him. And in the end, the court might decide that what Zora had done had not warranted being disowned. Then, all of her father’s work would have been for nothing. Her father would probably love to disown her after what she’d done today, but actually doing so would not be so easy.
Which suddenly gave her an idea.
“Fine, Father. You want to disown me? I’ll make you a deal: your freedom for his.” She pointed at Oskar as she said this, and her father frowned in confusion.
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“I mean, if you want to get rid of me, I’ll go. But first you have to agree to give up your schemes to kill Oskar and let him go back to Bear Hollow.”
Loki snorted. “Oskar is mine. And—”
“Enough!” Zora had never heard her father so angry. “Oskar belongs to the Severson family, and I am head of the Severson family. I decide what to do with him.”
Loki’s face took on a sullen expression, but he fell silent. Beside Zora, she could hear Oskar continuing to breathe heavily. She glanced nervously at him, but he gave her a small, reassuring smile. He was okay, for now. The question was, would she be okay after her father was done with her? She watched as her father stroked his chin, his gold-threaded clothes glittering in the bright light of the triage room.
It would cost her father something to let go of Oskar, and to get rid of her. Zora knew that. But it would cost him something to keep them both, too. Oskar was now a two-time champion, and a favorite of the crowds in Gilt Hollow. That made him difficult to kill. Loki would have loved to keep Oskar around to keep winning Games, but Zora knew her father couldn’t stand the sight of him. As for Zora herself: she had defied her father publicly, so he had to punish her publicly. Disowning her was extreme, but it would send a message to everyone in Gilt Hollow that he was not the type of man to be messed with. And at this point, Zora’s father must have given up hope of ever truly reforming Zora. She had always been a wild, rebellious one, pushing back against the system that her father and Loki both loved. If Zora’s father had ever cared for her, that care had long ago been swallowed up by his own pride and his own obsession with smashing the shifters under his thumb.
Zora saw his eyes turn cold, and she knew before he even spoke that he was going to agree to her conditions.
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll let Oskar go back to Bear Hollow, and agree not kill him. But in return, you must allow me to disown you with no fuss. You’ll lose your inheritance, and your place at my house. Don’t expect any help from me in figuring out where to live or how to support yourself.”
Zora took a deep breath. “Don’t worry. I can take care of myself. But I want all of this in writing, so that you can’t go back on your word.”
Her father rolled his eyes and sneered. “Whatever. I’ll draw up some documents for you this evening. I don’t know how you think you’re going to survive without me, though. No one is going to want to help the disowned daughter of Nobleman Severson. Where are you even going to go?”
Zora smiled, her grin stretching from ear to ear. “That’s easy. I’m going to Bear Hollow.”
Chapter Nineteen
Less than twenty-four hours later, Zora crossed the shifter bridge over the Golden Claw River, carrying one large bag with all the possessions she’d been allowed to keep. Her father hadn’t wanted to let her take anything at all, but her mother, in hysterics over the fact that she was losing her only daughter, had insisted on at least letting Zora take one sack of personal items from her former room.
Zora had selected the most practical clothes she owned, which still weren’t all that practical, but were better than nothing. She’d eventually get some clothes more suited to her new life in Bear Hollow. And then, she’d filled up almost the entire rest of the bag with books from her expansive collection. Who knew when she’d be able to get new books again? She took her favorites and a handful that she hadn’t read yet. A couple pairs of shoes rounded out the bag, but Zora made use of the space inside those shoes as wel
l: she stuffed each pair full of her most expensive jewelry. She didn’t care about wearing the jewelry in Bear Hollow. She knew enough to know that Bear Hollow wasn’t the type of place where one paraded around looking fancy. But she also knew that jewelry could be sold and traded in the Gilt Hollow marketplace. When she and Oskar were short on funds, that jewelry could go a long ways toward tiding them over.
“You alright?” Oskar asked. He walked beside her, carrying nothing. He hadn’t been allowed to take anything from his room, but he wouldn’t have wanted to. What use did he have for Games uniforms? He didn’t need anything Gilt Hollow had to offer him. He had tried to carry Zora’s bag for her, but she had refused. His wounds from yesterday were still too fresh, and she didn’t want to risk him popping the stitches open with the weight of her books and clothes.
“I’m fine,” Zora said. “But this all feels surreal. I never would have thought I’d be crossing the shifter bridge instead of the bridge for Gilt Hollow citizens.”
Oskar gave her a sad smile. “I can’t thank you enough for all you did for me. Life is going to be very different in Bear Hollow than it was in Gilt Hollow.”
Zora shook her head. “You don’t need to thank me. I should thank you. You gave me the courage to believe I could have a different life. I know it won’t be easy, but it will be so much better than being forced to play along with all the horrible things the Gilt Hollow nobles do.”
Oskar reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’re amazing.”
Zora felt herself blushing. “I’m just doing what any decent human being would do.”
“I guess there aren’t many decent human beings in Gilt Hollow, then.”
“No, there aren’t. But it only takes a few good people to change things. The resistance is safe, for now at least. And don’t underestimate the impact of my standing up to the Games system in front of the whole city. I’m sure there are at least a few people who agree with me that the Games are barbaric, but they might have thought they were the only ones who think that way. Now, they know they aren’t.”
The Misfit and the Bear (The Shifter Games Book 1) Page 16