“He has done many things.”
Saer’s throat tightened, but he growled the words out, “You know Neyu is dead?”
“I know you killed her.”
To save you!The argument sprinted to the tip of his tongue, but he bit down on it.What proof did he have?What reason did Runeak have to believe him?
Still, he couldn’t keep back the singular, searing truth that haunted him day after day.“If it weren’t for Errshek, she’d still be alive.”
“Perhaps.”
Saer ground his teeth together and dragged his fingers through his hair, taking a calculating risk in lowering his gaze from the demoness.“I’m going to end him.But I need to find him.”He somehow managed to keep from jerking his eyes up to her, even as Runeak’s feet shifted, then circumvented the table to stalk closer.“If you’ve seen him, if you know anything about where he is or where he’s gone…” The sentence faded when Runeak’s black boots came into view, standing directly in front of Pride.Saer growled to the implied threat and lifted his head.
“Are you commanding me, Eldest?”Runeak asked.
“I am asking as one who seeks vengeance for a wrong committed against our kin,” Saer answered with hushed caution.
Once again, a flash sparked in Runeak’s gaze, though this one appeared interested.“Fascinating.”
An odd choice of word.
“Will you help me?”
The demoness considered.
It occurred to Saer he hadn’t seen her blink once since entering the tent.
Runeak leaned forward with precise leisure, and Saer held his ground, refusing to lean back despite the sudden uptick of his pulse.Hands coming to rest on the arms of the chair, she brought her face close enough that their noses almost touched.This near, he could see her ebony eyes calculating, the limitless pupils dilating amidst their textured, onyx irises.Wrath’s nostrils flared when she breathed in.
When Saer sensed pride in others, he never would have described it as a scent.Sitting in front of Runeak at that moment, he became more and more convinced she perceived her own flavor of sin in her own way.She could trulysmellhis wrath.
Moreover, she seemed to enjoy it so much he grew worried she’d start rubbing her cheek against his like a cat.
“Runeakael.”He spoke the lengthened name in warning, but before he recited the last syllable, the demoness’s hand snapped up.Her fingertips hovered over Saer’s lips.
“I propose an exchange,” she said.
Pride raised a hand and wrapped it around Runeak’s wrist.She didn’t fight him, but allowed Saer to pull her fingers down and away from his face.“What are your terms?”
“Fight me.”
He couldn’t help his eyebrows lifting in surprise.“You want to fight...me?”Not since their battle in the Hells centuries prior had the two engaged in combat with one another.It had been Lucifer’s punishment, forcing Saer to clash with each of his kin.Since then, it hadn’t been required or wanted.
So he thought.
“I never yielded.You were not fresh.”The way Runeak said the word ‘fresh’ sounded like she’d just sunk her teeth into a raw and bloody steak.She, of course, alluded to Saer having fought both Kalia and Errshek before facing her.
“I dropped you to the ground and you didn’t move until you were dragged away.”
“I was notdone!”
The corner of Saer’s mouth twitched.Her own pride had just exploded off her in waves, heating his skin.“Now, Runeakael, you feel likemine.”
It was not the smartest thing he’d ever done, provoking the Fifth.
His seat toppled backwards, and Runeak’s boot slammed into his throat, pressing down on his windpipe before Saer could reconcile up from down.The legs of the wooden chair somehow ended up in her hands and she used it as leverage to push on his sternum with its back, holding him in place.
Unable to gasp or cough, Saer gripped Runeak’s ankle and thrust her away at the same time he rolled, trying to throw her off balance.It succeeded only in making her step off with her usual predatory grace.Saer shoved the chair away, propping himself up on his palms.He could do so only because she hadn’t pursued her course of action—and they both knew it.
