“I’ll bet more than half will walk away before the elimination round, now that they know the terms.” I lean around Lore to see Cyrus.
“I’ll take that bet. They’ll need to see a few die before they give up.”
“Winner gets to give Lore her next orgasm.” My shoulder jerks forward when Egan shoves me. “He wants in on it too.” I don’t need to look over my shoulder to know what he wants.
A tinkling laugh erupts from Lore. She tries to stifle it with her fingers, but it’s too late. Half the creatures gathered around are already looking in her direction. Once she manages to keep a straight face, she says, “He wants to know what he can claim if he kills everyone now. I don’t know why I’m laughing, it’s not really funny.” She rolls her lips in, still fighting her mirth.
“It’s the adrenaline, princess, and knowing he truly is capable of slaughtering them all.” I don’t bother keeping my voice down. If it scares a few more away, then it pads the odds for me.
“Ten minutes until midnight. Be ready when your name is called. You will have two minutes to get to the arena, otherwise you’ll forfeit, which also means you must be out of Obsidian Angels’ territory before sunrise, or you’ll be considered a rival and killed on sight.” The torchlight flickers in Rolk’s glassy eyes as he observes the group. For a goblin, he sure seems to be enjoying himself.
CHAPTER26
Lore
At the stroke of midnight,two names are called, but only one comes to the ring. “Another one down,” Modeus notes smugly.
Two minutes later, another name is announced, and a second contender enters the sand. The first is a vampire. He’s a squat male with scars all over his neck, which makes me think he was a blood slave at some point. His competitor is a shifter, a bear of some sort by the smell of him. Using blind observation, it would seem like the bear has the advantage. He has a much longer reach and brute strength, but vamps are notoriously fast, so I’m not ready to make any assumptions.
They circle each other for a few seconds, neither of them willing to make the first move, until someone in the crowd shrieks, “Let’s go!” The vampire attacks, using lightning quick speed to run directly at the bear. My breath catches in my throat when the bear lifts his forearm and covers his neck right before the other male latches onto the thick, sinewy muscle of the underside of his arm.
Killing blow averted, the bear throws his arm down and the vampire goes along for the ride like a rag doll. The field is so quiet, you can hear the shifter’s flesh rip when the vamp tears his teeth from his arm.
The larger male’s arm is missing a chunk and dripping with blood, but the sight of the vampire licking his lips with crimson liquid dribbling from his bared teeth is more enthralling. The bear might have saved his throat, but he also gave the vampire a taste of his blood, and judging by the look in the creature’s eyes, he wants more.
The bear announces his attack by releasing a loud roar before charging the smaller male. It’s clear neither male possesses any real skill when it comes to fighting. Was it desperation or an inflated sense of self that made them think they would stand a chance in these trials?
The bear paws at the vampire, cuffing him in the side of the head a few times before the vampire dodges the next blow. They begin circling again. This could go on all night.
“We should have set time limits.” I drop my chin into the palm of my upturned hand, already bored after thirty seconds. Good thing we have chairs.
“It’s so sloppy.” Cyrus winces.
Spurred by our words, or maybe the vampire was just toying with the bear, the smaller male uses his speed and feints a frontal assault, but he actually ducks past the bear and climbs up his back. The shifter starts waving his arms in the air and shuffling to try to dislodge his attacker. It’s only after the vamp sinks his teeth into the side of the bear’s neck that he reaches back and palms the vamp’s head. There’s a gurgling sound followed by a sudden pop with a wet splat.
The bear stumbles forward, then drops to a knee as the body on his back slides to the sand. The bear’s neck is ravaged, and he’s bleeding like a sieve, but his brain isn’t leaking out of his ear like the vampire’s is. I suppose strength did win out on this one.
A delayed round of shouts and yells fills the night as the first clash ends in the vampire’s death.
Two more names are called as three of my enforcers haul the bear from the ring. The way he flops to the ground with his toes still in the sand doesn’t leave me hopeful he’ll be prepared to fight again anytime soon, but nothing would save him anyway.
Things don’t get interesting until the twelfth fight. A female demon saunters into the ring. I, along with everyone else, take note of her pale, icy blue skin that contrasts well with her ginger hair and eyes. She is seduction wrapped up in a pretty little package. I wasn’t expecting a succubus.
My first clue that shit is about to go down is the heavy hand that lands on my shoulder, holding me in place. When I look up, I expect it to be Modeus, but it’s Egan, and his eyes are locked on the center of the ring.
When I follow his gaze, I see the demon’s forked tongue slip between her indigo lips as she tastes the air while watching my fallen. “I had to see it for myself.” Her voice is sultry, just like the rest of her. Egan adds a little weight to his palm, ensuring I do not rise.
Unknowing of our standoff, her opponent enters the ring. The demon doesn’t avert her eyes, but she coos, “Wait.” Her adversary slouches into a relaxed stance as his eyes glaze over. I want to ask Egan what the fuck is going on, because I’ve never witnessed a succubus with so much power.
Egan’s jaw tightens as a scowl curls his mouth into a sneer. I reach up and lay my hand over his, which is still on my shoulder. His eyes drop to mine with the contact, and his harsh expression melts away.Only you, Egan assures me.
The demon sucks in a pained breath. “You speak to her?” It’s not a real question, her tone is too accusatory for that. My question is how did she know? “Did you tell her I taught you how to fuck?”
I swivel my head and meet her eyes. “No, but I have the urge to say thank you before you die.” The succubus’ nostrils flare, but her gaze quickly reverts back to Egan. I don’t think that was the reaction she was hoping for.
“I came for only you, but after she’s dead, I will claim all her mates.” Her words are meant for Egan, but I’m the one to react.
A dark chuckle starts low in my throat, slipping past my lips. Egan’s hand slides up from my shoulder to the side of my neck before he traces his thumb up and down my skin tenderly. Her eyes are glued to the movement. I can’t imagine how she would think any of that was possible.
