But my mind flashes to how jittery she seemed after my fight, her blown pupils, the flush in her face. The way her legs rubbed together. Those aren’t responses of a pure woman—but a hungry siren, feeding off of blood and gore.
“You look like shit,” Killian comments, leaning against the bar. A few men give him a wide berth. Most are afraid of him—rightly so. Others dream of bedding him. But unless you’ve got a thing for knives, they wouldn’t last.
“Fuck off, reaper,” I mutter, sipping from my new glass. “I’m self-medicating.”
“I see that.” He glances at Collins. “Not using the doctor to her fullest potential?”
“I tried,” she gripes, my insult no longer souring her mood. “He’s refusing medical attention.”
“Stupid, considering this round is to the death.” His eyes glint in the flickering flames.
“Gee, really? I didn’t catch that when Finn spilled West’s blood all over the tile.” My lips twist into disgust. “Meg’s going to be pissed to clean that up.”
“She’ll live.”
“Let me guess. You did this?”
Dryly, he hums, holding a glass. “Obviously.”
“Any reason why?”
“Would you believe me if I told you?”
Point to the hitman.
“You should let her stitch you up.” The heavy notes of whiskey drift through the air and I swallow another gulp. “You’ll need all the help you can get. Heath isn’t pulling any punches tonight.”
Fuck. I’m going against Heath.
And Killian just gave me a leg up. The bastard is planning something.
Stepping off the stool, I peer into the murderer’s eyes, grin sharp. “You know, I want to snap every bone in your miserable body. Everysingleone.”
He rolls his eyes. “Does that make you special?” He finishes his drink, turning the tumbler over. “Don’t die.Shewouldn't want that.”
Watching him glide through the crowd, I pinch my brow. I might know who my opponent is, but I know nothing about Heath’s fighting style. Hell, I barely know what he looks like.
Collins slaps my chest. Glaring down at her, I bark, “What?”
“Heath always steps before he hits.” At my raised eyebrow, she gestures to the bar. “While you’ve been drinking, I’ve actually been paying attention. He steps before he punches. He doesn’t kick much, which I assume is because his legs are weak. Take them out and you have the advantage.”
I’m hardly ever impressed but fuck, I am now. “Seriously? You noticed all that from one five-minute fight?”
She shifts again and pieces click. She watched the fight. Not because she wanted to know the competition, but because my viper gets off on violence. The signs are there—and it just saved my ass.
“Maeve said you’d be in the lower rankings,” she explains, oblivious to what I know. “I figured it’d be from one of the cousins, so I watched their fights. You have the size and strengthover Heath, but he fights dirty. Watch where he steps and you should be fine.”
I’m going to kiss her, drop to my fucking knees for her, when this is over.
She noticed something that’s pivotal to my survival and all because she likes the depravity. This beautiful creature to my side is as dirty as the rest of us, and if it doesn’t warm the black soul inside my chest to feel a kinship with her.
Grabbing her hair, I haul her close, laying a harsh kiss on those pouty lips.
Collins stiffens at first, nails cutting deep into my chest out of fright and I moan against her mouth. She’s not the only one who gets off on violence.
Those nails rake down, melting under my kiss and her hips surge forward, seeking me out. We moan together, sounds drowned by the hum of the bar. Our tongues mesh, slopping and raw as our teeth clash.
This is the siren under that perfect daughter mask. This is the monster under her demure smile and I’m ready to let her drown me into a watery grave, just for another taste.
