Kira never took her eyes away from the aggressive spectacle, a hungry grin curving either side of her pretty maw. She could think of few things more fun to watch than two warriors really going at it. The smell of blood and the muffled sounds of teeth hitting flesh were music to her perked ears. She thought she heard the low crackle of bones shifting in place. Growls shattered the air. What if they got too caught up in the moment? Would one of them kill the other? Ooh, how delicious, Kirastasia wanted to laugh thinking about it—

“Aw, boo.” Too soon the fight was over and the two fighters were panting across from each other. The spell had been broken. The spar was over. In the corner of her eye Kira saw Devil nodding his assent. Lovely, the honor of judging the match was up to her. Fitting, since the white bird was Malignant’s heiress.

“Well done you two, it was a fine show!” the princess yipped, stepping between the wolves in case they decided to lunge at one another again. “You did all right, stranger, but I declare our girl Hocus as winner. Unfortunately, that means you lose.” Now her bubbling voice dropped lower. The girl’s visage was abruptly serious, ice cold, allowing no argument to her royal decree. “You will need to leave these lands. You’ve insulted me, our beta, and our packmember. I tried to give you my help, but you did not want it. You have no respect for Malignant. Do not return until you’ve learned some manners.” Then her smile was back, flirty and light as always. She gave the dark dog a final parting wink. “Don’t push your luck, sweetie!”

And with that the little would-be-queen was gone, darting back into the forest without a backward glance.