Chapter 7 - chapter 6

### Chapter 6: Broken on the Blade 🐺🔥🌙

**Lia's POV**

My body aches from the fight, my ribs throbbing where that girl slammed me into the dirt.

The crowd's laughter still rings in my ears, their mocking eyes burning me like fire. I'm barely catching my breath when I turn and see Dorian striding across the field, his dark hair catching the sunlight, his smirk cold and cruel.

The girl steps aside, bowing her head like he's some damn god. A warrior hands him a sword, the blade glinting with a promise of pain.

My heart stutters, not from fear but from hate. I've been running from him, from *them*, for two years—Dorian, Eric, Rick. My so-called mates. The bond in my chest burns, a curse I can't escape, tying me to the monsters who killed my parents. 🩸✨

I glare at him, my voice shaking with rage. "What the hell are you doing?"

He stops in front of me, too close, his presence suffocating, like a storm stealing my air.

His dark eyes lock on mine, glinting with something that makes my skin crawl and my traitor heart skip.

"Fight me," he says, his voice low, teasing, but sharp as a blade. "Let's see how capable you are, mate."

The word *mate* twists in my gut like a knife. I know what I am to him—to them—and I hate it. Two years I ran, dodging their claws, their growls, this damn bond that pulls at me even now.

I laugh, a sharp, bitter sound.

"You're not serious," I say, my voice cracking. Him? Fight *him*? He's an Alpha, all power and muscle, and I'm just an omega, my strength drained from running, from fighting this curse.

He steps closer, and I stumble back, my heart pounding. His smirk widens, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.

"Oh, I'm serious," he says, his voice a dangerous purr. "I want to see what my mate's got."

I glare, my hands shaking. "You're crazy," I yell, my voice raw. "You think I'd fight you? After everything you've done?"

He laughs, loud and mocking, and lunges forward, forcing me back. I stumble, my feet slipping on the grass, and I yell again,

"You're insane!" The crowd cheers, their voices a roar, feeding off my fear, my anger. I hate them. I hate *him*. The bond burns hotter, making my skin tingle, and I want to rip it out of my chest.

He moves again, faster than I can track, and I dodge, barely, my body shaking. "I'm not strong enough to fight you!" I shout, desperation creeping in. "You know that, you bastard!"

He stops, his sword lowering slightly, but his eyes are cold, unforgiving. "Useless," he says, his voice dripping with venom. "What's the point of a mate who can't even fight?"

His words hit like a punch, and before I can respond, he kicks me—hard. I hit the ground, pain shooting through my ribs, the air knocked out of me.

I gasp, clutching the grass, and look up as he stalks closer, his shadow swallowing me.

"If I'm supposed to have a mate," he says, his voice low, venomous, "she should be strong. Fearless. But you? You're a mistake."

Rage burns through me, hotter than the pain. A mistake? They're the ones who ruined me, who took everything—my parents, my life.

I want to scream, to claw his eyes out, but my body's weak, the bond draining me even as it pulls me to him.

He raises his sword, his eyes glinting with something deadly, and I throw my hands up, bracing for the blow.

I wait, my breath caught, but nothing comes.

Slowly, I lower my hands, my eyes widening. Rick's there, standing between me and Dorian, his hand gripping Dorian's sword, stopping it mid-air.

His face is different—hard, angry, his hazel eyes burning with something I've never seen in him before. 🐾✨

Dorian's eyes narrow, his voice a growl. "What are you doing, Rick? Go back to Eric."

Rick doesn't move, his grip on the sword tightening.

"Enough," he says, his voice low but steady, shaking with rage. "You're scaring her, Dorian. You planning to kill her?"

Dorian laughs, a cold, sharp sound that cuts through the air.

"She's useless," he says, yanking his sword free. "Can't fight, can't do anything. She almost killed *you*, Rick. Or did you forget?"

Rick's jaw tightens, but he doesn't back down. He steps closer to me, dropping the sword, and kneels, his eyes softening as they meet mine.

"You okay?" he asks, his voice gentle, a stark contrast to Dorian's venom.

I nod slowly, my chest tight, my body trembling. He reaches out, his hands steady as he lifts me to my feet.

I'm shaky, my legs barely holding me, and I cling to his neck, letting him support me as he leads me away from the field.

The crowd's murmurs fade, but I can feel Dorian's eyes burning into my back, his anger a weight I can't shake.

We end up in a room, smaller than the one I woke up in before, with soft light filtering through a window. The bed's neatly made, the walls lined with shelves of books and weapons. I glance around, my voice quiet. "Is this your room?"

Rick nods, his eyes on me, cautious but warm. "Yeah," he says. "Stay here for a bit. Away from Dorian."

I nod, my throat tight, and he starts tending to a cut on my arm from the fight, his touch gentle.

The bond hums in my chest, stronger now, and I hate how it makes me feel—safe, when I know he's one of them.

I watch him, my heart racing, and the words slip out. "Thank you," I say, my voice barely a whisper.

He looks up, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's nothing," he says, his voice soft.

I stand, my legs unsteady, and move toward him. The bond pulls at me, a fire I can't fight, urging me closer.

"I'm sorry," I say, my voice shaking. "For trying to kill you before."

He smiles again, softer this time. "It's nothing," he says, turning to leave.

Before he can go, I grab his hand, my heart pounding. He turns, his eyes meeting mine, and I feel it—that pull, that heat, like a flame I can't control.

Without thinking, I lean in, pressing my lips to his. It's quick, desperate, and the moment our lips touch, the bond ignites, a rush that sets my skin ablaze.

I hate him, hate them all, but this feeling—this cursed bond—is alive, and it's drowning me. 🥀✨