Demon Monster eye-fucks Ryke like he’s going to literally fuck him. And not in the good way.
He isn’t mine. He isn’t mine. He isn’t mine.
I chant over and over and over again.
It’s the truth.
But then, why does my heart feel like it’s wide open and waiting to be cut to pieces?
Pen steps to the edge of the crowd, and her big eyes shine. Just like mine.
She’s young. Young and about to have her heart shattered.
Just like mine.
“Stop!” My lips snap together fast but not fast enough to refrain from screaming that one little word out.
Johnn’s attention shoots to me from where he stands just near the table. His eyebrows lift and he, like everyone else, waits for me to say more.
“Father,” I have to be careful. He’ll send me away to another realm entirely if I say the wrong thing. And then who will protect my men? “this room is much too small for a battle, don’t you think?”
That’s the best you have?Catherine huffs from the back of my mind.
“Shut up,” I say under my breath, gaining me another interested look from Johnn.
“Nonsense. It’s the perfect size, my dear,” the King says with another smile.
“The room’s too small!” I say once more with conviction and irritation lacing my words.
Stop fucking raising your brow at me, Johnn. Worry about your own fucking problems. Like who will rule this kingdom if I kill the King and run away to the demon realm to live happily ever after.
“Aries,” my father warns.
“The room’s just fine, Crow,” Ryke says with a cocky smile.
Gods, why is he so damn cocky? Why? Why can’t for once he just back away and say, “You know, this is too much. Maybe Demon Monster, Boogie Man Fucker is a bit too much for me.”
Demon Monster prowls toward Ryke, and when they face off at the center of the white tile floor, it’s apparent just how terrifyingly large Demon Monster is. From the tips of his taloned wings to the toes of his dirty boots, he’s three times the size of Ryke.
“Fu—ccckkk,” Zaviar whispers from behind me.
And I couldn’t agree more.
“Gentlemen,” my father says with big greedy eyes eating them up, “On my signal, you’ll begin. The only rule is, only one monster will win. The other will die the most dishonorable of deaths. The loser will have disappointed not only me, but all the realms.” My jaw clenches just as my nails bite into my palms so hard, I feel warm blood lick at my fingertips.
My father’s hand lifts and falls with dramatic finality.
Demon Monster launches himself forward without hesitation. His ashen claws grip Ryke’s biceps, and he slams him to the ground so hard that it rattles the crystals of the chandeliers above. It rattles my heart. Instead of pummeling him over and over and over again, the demon lets his claws sink with severity into the muscle of Ryke’s arms.
A cry of agony tears from Ryke’s throat and echoes around the room like a haunting melody. Wetness slides down my cheeks, but my jaws are locked tightly together without sound.
Ryke has little room to move beneath the enormous man. He thrusts his fist into Monster Demon’s solid abdomen again and again but there just isn’t space for impact.
It’s a quiet struggle that’s so silent, I can hear my own jagged breaths. It could end in seconds. Ryke’s heart could slow before stopping suddenly.
The empty sound settles in.
And that’s when he twists his wrist between them, and brings down his iron blade along his forearms, tearing through the demon’s flesh with a deep gashing slice. Blood splatters over both of them. It coats the shining tiles.
