Page 10 of The Dawn of the Cursed Queen

I was on my feet in the next second. Gasps overtook cheers as I rammed the jagged talons that replaced my nails through his chin. Pure hate oozed from his eyes, followed by blistering pain. I hoisted him up, my hand driving a fraction deeper, spearing through the fleshy tissue of his tongue. He glared at me and gripped my wrist with two hands while the others flailed, trying to fight me off.

“I think you talk too much.” Fangs replaced my teeth, and I brought him closer. “Let me help you with that.”

His pulse quickened, and his heartbeat was erratic. Blinding hunger ripped through me. My fangs sank into the rough flesh of his neck, blood thick and heavy filling my throat as I fed. My nose and ribs snapped back into place, the lacerations, scrapes, and bumps tingling. I gorged, gulping greedily, the viscous liquid dripping down my chin as every wound disappeared. His heartbeat slowed, and his body jerked before the last beat fluttered to a stop, the resulting silence destroying another part of me. I leaned back and took a deep breath before tossing him to the ground. He landed with a thud, and I eyed him with disgust, swiping my hand across my face.

The silence lingered for a few stunned moments before the crowd burst into screams even louder than before. Cheers turned to whoops as a voice cracked through the room, but I didn’t stay to hear the announcement.

I stalked to the gate, and the guards stepped aside, not even trying to stop me. I grabbed my discarded shirt and tossed it over my head, not slowing down as I headed for the exit. The crowd bickered, yelled, and exchanged money as I ducked around them.

I felt him more than heard him. Spinning, I avoided his outstretched hand. A single curved horn protruded from his head, Nismera’s damned gold and black armor covering his body. A commander from some fucking legion. He had been eyeing the entire fight, watching his favorite soldier pummel me.

“You owe me a fucking soldier,” he snarled at me.

I snorted. “I don’t owe you shit.”

The crowd grew louder as two new opponents stripped out of their armor and stepped into the ring, the sound of fists against flesh punctuating the noise. Commander Hornhead, or whatever his name was, took another step forward, blocking my view.

“You give me a soldier, or I take you.”

His hand whipped out, attempting to grab me by the throat but stopping a fraction away. A massive hand concealed in dark armor wrapped around the commander’s wrist. The room shifted, the darkness growing and filling every corner. The crowd’s cheers and murmurs turned to whispers before going silent, and I knew why.

“What do you plan on taking?” Kaden’s voice was soft. Maybe it was my newly enhanced hearing that made it seem foreboding. “Tell me again.”

The slits of the commander’s eyes dilated as he realized who held him. Kaden towered over him by a foot and a half, his shadow of a brother looming on his left. Both men were massive and powerful, demanding the attention of anyone in their shared space. The room felt heavier now, thicker, as if the air had fled in fear.

I didn’t know why I hadn’t seen just how much they resembled Samkiel until now. They were all one and the same, containing too much power in a single form. One glance, a single motion, and even the strongest would tuck tail and run. The only difference was Kaden and Isaiah didn’t carry that flicker of light Samkiel had. They did not smile or ease others as he had. There was no happiness in them, no real joy. They were monsters that stripped away the last living ember of hope this realm or the next had, and I had been an instrument in that.

I hated myself.

Chaos erupted as every single being in here grabbed their armor or belongings and headed out of the arena. I didn’t know if it was because Kaden and Isaiah had shown up or the fact that Nismera was never too far away. Either way, no one wished to stay.

“My apologies, High Guard. I was simply seeking reimbursement.”

“Reimbursement?” Kaden laughed and looked at his brother. Isaiah’s smile was a thing of nightmares.

Kaden’s hand tightened on the commander’s wrist until he gritted his teeth and fell to his knees. Kaden didn’t let go until the commander screamed. The commander cradled his wrist with his free hand.

“I think you’ve been fully reimbursed, yes?”

The commander nodded, jumped to his feet, and fled. Kaden didn’t even spare him a glance as the fleeing commander pushed past the dwindling crowd.

“I think he may have pissed his pants,” Isaiah quipped, watching him leave before turning back to me.

“Well, well, well.” Kaden glanced at me the way a predator gazes at a nervous fawn. “The little hunter is all grown up and winning pit fights.”

“And beating berserkers.” Isaiah whistled, grabbing the collar of his armor. “I’m impressed.”

“While this is lovely, I’d rather not talk to either of you. Ever.” I spun on my heel and made it two steps before my body froze. Every muscle tensed, leaving me completely immobile. I couldn’t talk or move. The only things that still worked were my lungs and eyes. What the fuck?

Kaden and Isaiah stepped in front of me. Isaiah’s eyes glowed red and swirled with power. He’d done this to me. Oh gods.

“Release him,” Kaden said.

Isaiah smiled as I half fell forward, trying to adjust to having power over my body again.

“What the fuck?” I snapped.

“It’s not important right now, little hunter.” Kaden smiled. “What is important is that I need something from you.”

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