Really Unusual Bad Boys by MaryJanice Davidson Read Free Book Online

on Earth? Or would I be dead-for-real? And why am I thinking about this morbid shit? Jeez!
    The fighters were announced one by one. Interestingly, they all trotted up to her seat and bowed when their names were called. She waved back. These guys really knew how to treat a visitor! And they all looked like escapees from a Mr. Hardbody calendar. Not a scrawny, short fella in the bunch.
    When Damon came, she tossed him a kumkoss, which he snatched out of the air and popped in his mouth so quickly, she never saw his arm move. “A boon from my lady!” he called triumphantly, and the crowd cheered.
    â€œIt’s candy, not a boon,” she told him, but he was already moving back to his place, his gorgeous backside flexing as he walked. She nearly fell out of her seat as she craned to get a last look at that fine butt before he turned again.
    There was dead silence when the last name—King Sekal—was called. She saw Maltese’s and Shakar’s mouths pop open in surprise, but Damon just frowned.
    â€œHave a care, my good lord,” he said in the abrupt silence.
    The king, who had just finished bowing to her, grinned. “Shalt take your own advice, my good son?”
    Meanwhile, Zeka and two other servants were fighting so hard over who would be the one to pour Lois a drink, her beverage ended up on the floor. “Cut it out, you guys,” she said, turning around and giving the three of them a good glare. “Go find somebody else to bug.”
    â€œBut my lady is the one…one we wish to…bug!”
    â€œToo bad. Go on, shoo.”
    She turned back to watch the action—and nearly shrieked. The king and his opponent had just… transformed. The king was a puma, like Damon, except leaner and longer, with a gray face. His opponent was a black leopard.
    The fight happened so quickly, before she knew it, it was over. The puma and the leopard fought, were men again, slugged it out as men, were animals again, clawed and bit, and now they were punching, and now they were leaping, and now they were kicking, and now the king was bowing to her in man-form and the leopard was rolling over on its back, showing throat. It happened so fast, she was shocked, frozen. Finally, she clapped. It seemed the polite thing to do. After a long beat, the audience followed her, awkwardly banging their hands together.
    These guys are sooooo polite, Lois thought. They put “Minnesota nice” to shame.
    This went on with surprising rapidity. Lois wasn’t sure if they were letting the king win because he was the king, or because the old guy was a righteous ass-kicker. Regardless, it was a helluva show.
    He beat Maltese. He beat Shakar. And when it seemed the entire arena was holding its collective breath, when Damon grimly approached him for a turn, the king abruptly bowed to Damon, bowed to her, and walked off the field with dignity to spare.
    The crash of applause was thunderous; she nearly jumped out of her skin. By now, the audience had gotten used to clapping, even enjoyed it, and they gave the king what he had earned, and then some. Minutes later, he was settling into his seat beside hers.
    â€œAwesome,” she told him.
    â€œMy lady humbles me.”
    â€œDidn’t want to puncture Damon’s ego, huh?”
    â€œMy point was made, I think, and I am too old for such games. Still,” he added wistfully, taking her hand in his, “it was enjoyable while it endured. I’truth, my lady, I doubt I would have beaten my eldest. Best not to let him find out for sure.”
    She laughed, and after a moment, the king joined in.
    Once the king had dropped out, the pecking order was quickly established. And before another hour had passed, Damon had been proved the winner, with Maltese in second place and Shakar in third. Lois clapped hard. The royal family had certainly kicked ass and taken names today! She could really get behind a family like that.
    â€œThe winner, ruler of