He’d seen it a thousand times before as he faced his enemies on and off battlefields. That look of dazed bloodlust and maddened fury.
He’d felt it himself more times than he could count. Putrid self-hatred. A need to prove to the world that he wasn’t the shit stain everyone thought him to be. That he was done being kicked and pushed.
There was no sanity inside Ferox. He was only a maddened beast who smelled blood and wanted to tear apart the one he felt had done him wrong.
He didn’t see Dash as a sentient being. Only a target that had to be destroyed.
This wasn’t about honor. It was all about blood.
Ferox ran at him.
Tanis unleashed a stream of fire between them. Ferox pulled back and dodged it then shot an arrow at her.
Turning human, Dash used his powers to deflect the arrow away. The moment he did so, Ferox sneered. “That’s where you were hiding. Were you really that afraid of me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself, you matted up nag. I just didn’t want to catch your fleas.”
Dove sucked his breath in sharply. “He did not just say that.”
Ryper scoffed. “Better than the dart donkey he uses for me whenever I piss him off.”
Ignoring them, Tanis started forward, but before she could take more than a step, she turned human. Dove and Ryper immediately rushed to shield her.
Ferox tsked. “That explains that, doesn’t it?”
“She’s no concern of yours.”
“You’re right. It’s not her head I need to take to my mother. It’s yours.”
Dash stood still as Ferox walked a small circle around him. “I’m giving you one chance to surrender, Ferox. This isn’t your mother’s arena.” And he was no longer the angry colt he’d been there.
Fury no longer ruled him.
His red horn was long gone. Yes, that demon inside still salivated and still wanted to rip out the throat of this centaur or anyone dumb enough to challenge him, but Dash had learned how to cage that part of himself.
He no longer fought his demon. They now snuggled up close and cuddled.
Ferox scoffed at him. “Do you really think you’re going to survive? The kingdoms are at each other’s throats again. Even if you were to kill me, my mother will avenge my death. As will the sons and daughters of all those you’ve slaughtered for your crown. You’ve built your reign on blood and vengeance. Those families will not rest until you pay for your crimes.”
Those words...
Dash froze as they tugged at something in his memory. Something fleeting.
He’d heard them before.
Where?
He couldn’t remember, but it was there. Like a dream he could just barely recall. One that was...
Ferox ran at him.
Growling, Dash parried his sword stroke and drove him back with his powers. He wasn’t about to fall to a centaur. Not today. Not ever.
He might have been bastard born, but he wasn’t the inferior species.
Driving his shoulder into Ferox’s stomach, he forced his enemy to give ground. Ferox tried to slice at his spine, but Dash dodged the blow and landed a blast of ice into the centaur’s side.
It knocked Ferox sideways.
