Page 77 of Sticks and Stones and Broken Bones

“Why? Scared of submitting?” he asked, his lips trailing tantalisingly over my neck.

“Yes, but also, we have work to do.”

Rook sniggered. “Sounds like a copout, love.”

Hawk pulled back and pressed a hard kiss against my lips. “I’ll be waiting when you’re ready. But we will talk about work if you prefer.”

Then he sat back on the sofa and my senses returned to normal, allowing me to think clearly. “So, um, which God owes you a favour?”

Hawk laughed softly. “Ares.”

“The fuck?” Rook blurted.

“My thoughts exactly,” I said. “How did that happen?”

“He got caught in a compromising situation with a married woman. I merely helped him out of the tricky situation.”

Rook swivelled in my lap and turned to face Hawk. “That doesn’t seem to warrant owing you a favour.”

“It does when the married woman is a Queen, and the fall out would cause a war that would lead to his embarrassment.”

“Naughty boy,” Rook chuckled.

“Very,” Hawk said. “But in return for avoiding the war and saving his lady love, he promised to grant me a favour should I ever need it.”

“Guess it’s time to call it in then,” I said with a smile.

Hawk hummed in agreement. “I guess it is. I’ll make the arrangements.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Raevyn

“Where are we going?” I asked Hawk as we strode along a dark alley in the back end of Infernium. It felt like a seedy sort of place. There were people lingering in doorways, donors offering veins to vampires, shady deals and whispered secrets.

“A night club called Bloodsport.” Hawk wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. I had the urge to lean in and press my nose against his skin just to drag his scent deep into my lungs. Wild mountains had never smelt so good.

“Bloodsport?” Didn’t sound like a pleasant nightclub.

“Yes,” Hawk replied as he leant down, his long hair brushing against my cheek. “It’s where criminals have the option to fight for their freedom. If they survive, they go free. If they don’t, well…”

I didn’t need Hawk to finish his sentence. The implication was pretty clear.

I turned my chin up to look int Hawk’s bright eyes. “And how often do they go free?”

His grin was wild and made him look barbaric. “Almost never.”

“I love this place,” Nox said, twirling his blade between his fingers. “Although, I haven’t been for ages. Wonder if Ares still fights in the ring?”

“What’s he like?” I knew the legends, of course, but the thought of actually meeting the guy was terrifying. He was the God of War, built like a brick shithouse and had a temper that rivalled Hades’.

“Charming,” Hawk said with a chuckle and there was a warmth to the word that suggested an intimacy between the two. “So make sure you don’t end up alone with him. You’re beautiful and powerful, two things guaranteed to make him interested.”

“And you don’t like that idea?”

Hawk pulled me to a stop, a slight frown above his eyes. “Raevyn, other than the Revenants, the thought of anyone else touching you makes me want to rip limbs from bodies and crush skulls with my bare hands. It’s unreasonable but…” His gaze dipped to my lips and roamed the contours of my face. “Just stay close and don’t wander off.”

He was gone then, wandering towards the end of the alley to be engulfed by shadows that seemed unnatural.

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