Alistaire got to the meeting place one hour before the time stated on the paper. He wasn’t surprised to see Euan already there waiting for him. The other immortal was leaning against the tree with his head back and his eyes closed.
“I knew you’d be early, McBain heir.” Euan opened his eyes and smiled as he looked at Alistaire.
“I’m not here for small talk.” Alistaire clenched his fingers around the sword in his hand.
“Do you know I could have killed you a long time ago?”
“Then why didn’t you?” Alistaire growled.
“I enjoy the chase,” Euan smiled. “I loved seeing you sweat and fight me with all your might. I will say one thing, Alistaire McBain.” Euan’s accent grew thicker with each word he spoke. “You’re nothing like your father.”
“I’m glad I’m nothing like my father because I will succeed where he failed.”
“You really are after my neck.” Euan shivered mockingly. “Did you enjoy the wine I sent your mate? Well...I should say my mate after tonight.”
Alistaire growled. “You will never lay a hand on him.”
Euan barked out a laugh. “You’re jealous another man finds him attractive? I guess I will be too once I make him mine.”
Alistaire drew his sword from its sheath, growing tired of the chatter. He hated that Euan was using his love for Fox against him. “I thought you gave me a challenge? What’s with all the chit chat?”
“That’s what’s wrong with youngsters like you, Alistaire. All you want to do is fight. Can’t we have a drink together before I take your head?”
“Shut the fuck up!” Alistaire rushed forward and swung his sword at Euan’s chest, but the man had quick reflexes and blocked his attack.
“See, so quick to fight. I know all your moves, McBain heir.” He pushed Alistaire back, separating their swords. “I thought you’d have learned something living with a Dragonmir vampire. However, it appears he taught you nothing! You attack with no form and swing your sword without thought.”
Euan’s anger seemed to build the more he yelled at Alistaire. Alistaire ignored him and attacked once more. Both their swords clashed, and sparks ignited from the force of their blades. They glared at each other menacingly—unwilling to release their hold on the struggle going on between them.
Alistaire knew this was a fight to the finish and refused to let Euan gain an inch. Alistaire kicked Euan in his stomach, pushing him back and knocking him off balance. Before Euan could get his balance back, Alistaire swung his sword aiming for Euan’s neck, but the man was quicker and blocked it with his sword. Their fight continued with both men pushing and taunting each other without using words, letting the force of their fighting skills do the talking.
Thunder clapped in the air, but Alistaire knew there wasn’t any rain in the forecast.
“I underestimated you, McBain heir.”
“Shut up and fight,” Alistaire growled, swinging his sword and slashing Euan from his shoulder to his hip bone.
Blood instantly soaked the other man’s clothes, but he kept on fighting as if he hadn’t been hurt. Euan retaliated with the same force and tried to injure Alistaire in the same way, but he was ready for it and jumped back before the other man’s sword could touch him. Alistaire smirked, twirling his sword to get a better grip while Euan was distracted—looking at his injury. Alistaire rushed forward again, aiming for the man’s neck, hoping to end their fight once and for all, but was shocked when Euan looked up as he felt a sharp pain in his side.
Alistaire stepped back, looking down, seeing the tip of an arrow sticking out of his side.
“I should have known you wouldn’t fight fair,” Alistaire growled, bearing his fangs.
“All’s fair in love and war, McBain heir.” Euan smiled then walked around Alistaire as he spoke. “I aim to have beautiful Fox by my side. I can’t wait to sink inside of him and feel his warmth. I’m sure he and I will put those bottles of wine I sent him to good use. I’ll enjoy licking every drop of it from his skin and leaving my marks.”
Reaching behind him, Alistaire pulled out the arrow, howling in pain as he felt the jagged tip tear his flesh. Once it was out, Alistaire threw the arrow to the ground. He didn’t think Euan had poisoned him since he wasn’t feeling any side effects. But Alistaire’s senses were heightened. Thanks to his vampiric blood and his immortality, his wound was healed in a matter of seconds. Alistaire didn’t feed into Euan’s words. He knew what the man was trying to do. The angrier he got, the more careless his movements would become, giving Euan a chance to kill him.
“I won’t tell you again, Euan. Shut the fuck up and fight.”
Alistaire was about to rush forward and attack Euan but ducked to the right when a whooshing sound reached his ear. An arrow swished by his head. Alistaire went to situate himself but flipped back, hitting his left shoulder on a tree trunk when he saw Euan coming right at him. The sword in his hand fell to the ground. He didn’t have time to pick it up because he had to move quickly—dodging behind the trunk when he heard the sound of another arrow coming for him. Alistaire growled, completely tired of Euan’s games.
“You fucker,” Alistaire yelled. “Are you done playing around, or are you ready to fight?”
Euan laughed at his statement but said nothing else. Alistaire looked around the tree trunk, figuring out where Euan had the bow stationed. He found the man had not one but two of them set up opposite each other. He couldn’t tell what models they were from the distance or how many arrows were still left in each. He figured Euan was controlling them with a remote or had them set on a timer. All he could do was buy some time and pray his next strike would take Euan out. Alistaire kneeled and searched for his sword but found it wasn’t where he’d dropped it. Looking up, he saw Euan on the other side of the forest, holding his sword and smiling.
“I remember the night I used this very sword to take your father’s head.”
Damnit, I need to get out of this mess.
