Declan stared at her for a long, silent moment, then turned back to Nimai like she hadn’t spoken.“Nothing to say, Nimai?No explanation for why you turned a wisp into a cat’s paw or used assassins instead of settling this yourself?You weren’t always so squeamish about blood.”
“You refer to the unfortunate incident with my former bond’s pet.That was a human.”Nimai’s gaze cut to Antonio and away.“Crushing an insect is no great concern.A fae, and a friend, is another matter.I’m sorry, Declan, but a lifetime of petty disrespect is not to be borne.You should have expected it to come to this when you threw your lot in with the man who made it his life’s purpose to betray me.”
“I’m not here to defend or deny Everil,” Declan said.“I played no part in his choices.He cut me off, just as he did you.You’ve wrongedme, Nimai.Repeatedly.You spoke ill in my home.You cower behind Protocol.I seek recompense.”
“That’s not how this works,” Kylan interrupted, his voice as sweet as the sidhe’s was sickening.
“It is, though.By Summer and Winter, Voids and Stars,” Declan said, lifting his voice enough to carry further than their little group.“By Faerie itself, itis.I challenge you to a duel, Nimai.Lifeblood for lifeblood, lest you be labeled a coward.”Declan’s lips twitched.“By your own admission, your previous conquest was of no great concern.Easy as crushing an insect.Very impressive.”
Nimai tensed, though he tried to hide it.Declan watched him, waiting for a response with all the patience of death.The bond burned with old anger, a low, sickly burn, like those fires in mines that never went out.
No escape.Not now.Not ever.This was always going to end in blood.
“A duel?Really, Declan.This is a bit dramatic, even for you.”Condescension dripped from Nimai’s every word.“Your nature may incline you to make a spectacle of death, but some of us have a bit of decorum.This isn’t the place.”
“Indeed,” Kesk added, his voice hitting Antonio with a fresh wave of nausea.“Protocol isn’t a shield.It’s a necessity.Bloodsport is beneath us.”
“Then you really should stop spending so much time at the arena, big brother.”The new voice came from near the back of the growing crowd, and every head but Kesk’s turned toward the sound.
If Kesk’s voice felt like a threat, demanding attention like a drawn gun, this one was a bribe.Purred invitation and promise, making Antonio as dizzy as Kesk’s did sick.
The crowd parted for the speaker, who came with an entourage of his own.Antonio recognized Nae and Tsuri among them.If the new sidhe was Kesk’s brother, the resemblance didn’t show.His wings were as black as his hair and his skin was olive to Kesk’s ivory.
In the photos Antonio had seen, Hyacinth hadn’t had the wings, and his face had been less sculpted.But the eyes were the same blue-green, and that easy, amused smile was unmistakable.This was the man who’d grinned at the camera in front of a New York bar, his arm around Declan’s shoulders.
“That’s different.Those are…” Kesk was tense now, glaring at Hyacinth with as much hatred as Nimai showed Declan.
“The word you’re looking for is ‘unseelie.’I know you can say it.I’ve heard you.”Hyacinth met Kesk stare for stare, but his expression was much harder to read.
“This doesn’t concern you, Hyacinth,” Nimai snapped, all the fake friendliness gone from his words.
“My concerns are what I say they are.”Hyacinth’s piercing gaze barely brushed over Nimai before shifting to Declan.“Making your own fun?”
“I would, but everyone’s afraid to play,” Declan answered.“A bit disappointing, considering the cowardice comes from a man who has a bond he may draw upon and an unfortunate habit of attempting to have me killed.”
“Sluagh use rot and acid,” Kylan said, gone full Karen, all offended sensibilities.“One could hardly consider that ‘fun’ or fit for anythingbutthe arena, where we are certainly not.”
“No rot, then.No spitting acid.I won’t even use my teeth.”
Why thefuckwas he throwing away the best weapons he had?
“Declan,” Antonio said, low and tight.Only that.He couldn’t argue.Not here.
Declan shot him the ghost of an apologetic smile.Antonio didn’t scream.Couldn’t do that either.Instead, he played his part.The one Declan hadn’t even asked him to play.
“And I’m a Hollow,” he said, fighting every instinct that screamed in him to run, to hide, to not draw their attention.“Can’t do shit to help.So it’s two on one.”
This time, Declan’s look held gratitude and worry, before he turned back to Nimai.
“Me alone, without the best defenses at my disposal.I’d say that’s more than fair.I wouldn’t face the weak without some concessions.Then it’d simply be bullying.”
That hit a mark, alright.Nimai looked like he’d swallowed something as sickening as Kesk’s voice.
“You always were the noble one, Declan.”Hyacinth put in, fixing Nimai with a bored look.“The way I see it, Nimai can either fight you, or everyone will know he couldn’t.I’ll make sure of that.”
“This is utterly degenerate,” the brownie snapped.“But very well.Declan, if you wish to end your life at my hands, so be it.Kesk, will you stand as witness?”
The angelic fae nodded, a cruel smile playing on his lips.“I suppose a little bloodsport won’t hurt anyone … important.I’ll see that everyone plays by the rules.”
