Claiming His Chance by Ellis Leigh Page A

focused and attentive, but he didn’t understand. He didn’t know the truth. He couldn’t possibly have any idea what was about to happen. How bad things were about to get.
    With no warning, Piers leaped into the air. Black claws ripped through the tape on his hands, something I could only pray the humans didn’t notice. The handlers and trainers raced for the ring, probably having seen the same thing and knowing they needed to end the fight. Not that I thought they’d make it in time. I’d seen my cousin shift a thousand times, knew what to look for and what was expected, knew his speed and strength. The spectators, trainers, handlers, and Cahill didn’t.
    Hopefully, none of the humans had any idea the man jumping at my mate was about to shift into a dragon.
    Piers landed directly in front of Cahill, too fast for my mate to back away. The cold spread all the way through me, leaving me frozen in place, unable to approach the ring. I stood helpless as Piers brought his hands down and thrust them forward with the momentum of his jump, hitting Cahill square in the chest. The thud, the crack of broken bones, the deep, angry sound of what could very well be death would be a noise I never forgot. One that would haunt me, no matter the outcome.
    I watched as Cahill’s eyes rolled, as his entire body seemed to fold in on itself. As he fell onto his back on the ring floor. As he didn’t move.
    The crowd took a deep, collective breath, a single, odd moment of utter silence, before it erupted in screams even louder than before. But for once, I didn’t care about the volume. I stood as still as a statue, staring at Cahill’s motionless form, silently praying to the gods and the fates that he’d move. That he’d stand up. That he’d breathe.
    As the medics rushed the ring, Piers turned to me, still fully human, his defeated posture drawing my attention. The sadness, the fear in his eyes was more than enough for me to understand. He’d lost control, he’d almost shifted, and his dragon had eliminated what he saw as a threat.
    His dragon, a beast more powerful than any wolf could ever hope to be, had very possibly just stopped my mate’s heart and killed him on contact.

15
    Trinity
    I rushed through the halls for the medical wing, leaving Piers in the ring, not caring who saw or what they thought. Our secrets were out, or they would be soon. Piers had nearly shifted in the ring, his red eyes giving away his dragon side. No more hiding. Besides, I wouldn’t let anything keep me from my mate again, especially not if he needed me, not if there was a chance I could lose him.
    Could have already lost him.
    Surprisingly, Piers met me in the hall outside the medical ward, blocking a door I knew my mate had to be behind. How he made it there so fast, I didn’t know. Didn’t care, either. All I knew was he was in my way.
    “Let me through.”
    He put his hands up as if to reach for my shoulders. “Wait.”
    “No.” I punched him hard, left then right as he’d taught me to hit when we were children. Both fists making a satisfying thump as they slammed into his chest, forcing him to stumble back a step. “You lost control. You promised me you wouldn’t, but you did. And you lost it with my mate in the ring.”
    Before I could hit him again, Piers grabbed my arms and pulled me against his chest. I resisted at first, wanting to hurt him as much as his actions had hurt me, but then I broke, sobbing, shaking in his arms.
    “I’m sorry, Trin.” He wrapped his arms all the way around me, holding me tightly. And I let him because I had no idea if this was it, if he was about to be all I had left.
    “Is he—” I choked, unable to say the words.
    “He’s alive.”
    I sagged, crying harder, relief making me weak. “Oh, thank the fates.”
    The door swung opened, and the female doctor walked out, glancing from Piers to me in confusion. “Anyone here for Cahill?”
    “I am,” I said, pulling away from my cousin. I was done