Chapter 28: The Bet [Bonus]

Chapter 28: Chapter 28: The Bet [Bonus]

Lyra stepped out from behind Daniel. Her face was still pale, but her eyes were hard. Determined. She had stopped trembling. She had stopped hiding. She was standing on her own two feet, her hands clenched at her sides, her chin held high.

"You’re not the heir to anything," she said. Her voice was steady. Clear. Loud enough for everyone to hear.

The man’s face twitched. "What did you just say?"

"I said you’re not the heir." Lyra took a step forward. "You’re the second weakest in the family. Everyone knows it. Your older brother is the heir. You’re just... you. A mama’s boy who runs to his mother every time someone hurts his feelings."

The man’s face went red. "You bitch—"

"You have fifteen wives," Lyra continued, her voice rising. "Fifteen. And you proposed to me. Your own cousin. I refused. I told you no. But you kept threatening me. You said you would put poison in my food. You said you would have me kidnapped in the night. You said you would make my life a living hell until I agreed to be your sixteenth."

The crowd was gathering now. People were stopping in the streets, drawn by the commotion. They whispered to each other, pointing at the man, at Lyra, at Daniel.

The man’s eyes darted around. He could feel the eyes on him. The judgment. He puffed out his chest, trying to look confident.

"That’s a lie!" he shouted. "She’s lying! I’m the strongest! The strongest in the family! My father said so! My mother said so! I could crush anyone who stands against me!"

Lyra laughed. A cold, humorless laugh. "Your mother said so. Of course she did. She’s the only one who believes it."

The man’s hands were shaking. His face was a mask of rage and embarrassment. He looked like a child throwing a tantrum.

Then he mentioned the beatings.

"She’s lying!" he screamed. "She’s always been a liar! A blind, useless liar! I never touched her! I never—"

Lyra pulled up her sleeve.

Bruises. Old and new. Purple and yellow and green. They covered her arm, from her wrist to her elbow. Some were faded, almost healed. Others were fresh, dark and angry.

The crowd gasped.

Daniel saw the bruises. His vision went red.

He wanted to punch this man. He wanted to break his nose, his jaw, his ribs. He wanted to make him feel every ounce of pain he had inflicted on Lyra. On the rabbit folk. On anyone weaker than him.

But punching him wouldn’t be enough. Beating him wouldn’t be satisfying. Not really. Not in the way Daniel wanted.

No. It would be so much better if Lyra did it herself.

Daniel took a breath. He forced his anger down. He forced his face into a smile. A cold, dangerous smile.

"Wanna bet?" he said.

The man looked at him. Confusion flickered across his face. "What?"

"A bet. Since you’re so strong, it shouldn’t be so hard to beat up a blind girl, right?"

The man’s eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"

Daniel gestured toward Lyra. "A fight. You and her. One on one. No weapons. No interference. Just the two of you."

The man stared at him. Then at Lyra. Then back at Daniel. He laughed. A nervous, uncertain laugh.

"You want me to fight her?" he said. "She’s blind. She’s weak. She’s nothing."

"Then it should be easy for you." Daniel’s smile widened. "Here are the terms. If you win, she becomes your wife. You get what you’ve always wanted."

The man’s eyes lit up.

"If you lose," Daniel continued, "I take your slave."

The man glanced at the rabbit folk, who was still lying on the ground, free of her collar, tears streaming down her face. He shrugged.

"The slave?" He waved a dismissive hand. "I don’t give a shit about the slave. Take her. She’s useless anyway."

Daniel’s smile didn’t waver. But his eyes were still cold. Still dead.

"Then we have a deal?"

The man thought about it. There was nothing important to lose. The slave was worthless. And Lyra... he had beaten her plenty of times before. She was blind. She was weak. She was nothing. This would be easy.

And it meant he wouldn’t have to fight the monster standing in front of him. The man with the dead eyes. The man who had crushed a magical collar with his bare hands.

"You fool," the man said, a grin spreading across his face. "I will crush her. I will make her my wife. And you will watch."

Daniel nodded. "Then it’s a deal."

He walked over to the rabbit folk. She flinched as he approached, her eyes wide with fear. But he just knelt down beside her.

"What’s your name?" he asked softly.

She stared at him. Her mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

"R-Rabbit," she whispered. "Useless servant is called Rabbit."

Daniel’s jaw tightened. "Your real name."

She blinked. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I... I don’t remember. I’ve been Useless Servant for so long..."

Daniel reached out and gently lifted her onto his back. She was light. Too light. He could feel her bones through her clothes.

"You’re not useless," he said. "And you’re not a servant. Not anymore."

He stood up, carrying her on his back. She wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him like he was the only solid thing in the world.

The villagers had formed a circle. A makeshift arena in the middle of the street. People were pushing and shoving, trying to get a good view. Bets were being placed. Coins changed hands.

Lyra stepped into the circle. She looked small. Fragile. Her dress was simple. Her hands were empty. She didn’t look like a fighter.

The man stepped in across from her. He cracked his knuckles. He rolled his shoulders. He grinned.

"Ready to lose, cousin?" he said.

Lyra didn’t respond. She just stared at him. Her eyes were hard. Her jaw was set.

Daniel stood at the edge of the circle, the rabbit folk still on his back. He looked at Lyra. She looked at him.

He nodded.

She nodded back.