Page 41 of The Blood of Gods and Monsters

“Thank you for the sparring match,” I say instead, directing the comment to him.

Ruen inclines his head slightly. “It was informative,” he replies.

“Informative, huh?” I huff out a breath as I pull on the tunic. The fabric immediately clings to the quickly drying sweat on my flesh.

“Yes,” Ruen agrees. “It’s good to know where you’re at so that I can train you later.”

I blink. “Train me later?”

He nods. “There’s no telling when the Gods will announce another official Battle tournament,” he states. “If you’re called, you need to be prepared. Though your fighting style is good, you’re uncontrolled in a lot of your movements.”

“I’m not uncontrolled,” I snap back. “I evade and counter. If I’m controlled then I’m predictable.”

“Predictable and control aren’t synonymous,” he argues.

Heat burns up the sides of my neck as I feel eyes on me. I know without looking that Kalix and Theos are done with their sparring session. In fact, a subtle glance around tells me that everyone is. Now, they’re all watching Ruen and me with assessing gazes.

I stomp forward and though Ruen frowns in confusion, he doesn’t move. I don’t stop until our chests are nearly brushing and then I lean up on my toes, letting my lips skim the bottom of his ear as I speak in a low voice.

“You might have won this round,” I tell him, “but don’t think you’ll win if I actually give it my all.” Then before I can think better of it, I add another note to the already tense air between us. “I am everything you can’t control, Ruen,” I say, leaning closer so that the heat of my breath slides over his earlobe. “And I know that kills you.”

With that, I turn and walk away, putting a little bit more stomp in my step as the sun slowly slips over the horizon, and the burn of Ruen Darkhaven’s eyes settles on my back and stays there until I’m well and truly out of sight.

Chapter 17

Kiera

Later, after I’ve washed away the sweat and sand from my skin, I sit alone in the Darkhavens’ rooms contemplating the strange buzzing under my skin. The sun has long since set and still they have not returned. The fire in the hearth is dying as well, and I have no desire to get up to tend to it. Instead, I just sit there. In the near darkness, covered in the sensation of little insects crawling under my flesh.

It’s not like when my spiders come to me. That feels … different, though I’m sure many others would not agree. To most, spiders are just as much insects as a fly or a bee, but they’re not. They’re far more intelligent creatures than even many Mortal Gods.

As if sensing my inner thoughts, Ara comes creeping out of the shadows and marches towards me. My lips twitch in amusement as she latches on to my trouser leg and crawls up until she reaches my knee. The moment she stops, reclining on her perch on my leg, she peers up at me with her numerous black eyes.

Curious. That is the emotion that comes from her, slipping more easily than ever into my mind. That, too, is different. Whereas before, it had been somewhat difficult to find the creatures that claim their place as my familiars, now it’s as natural as breathing. I used to have to work at finding them, at calling out to them. Now, they are there. Always. Perhaps I would be frightened and disturbed by that were it not for the fact that, in many ways, their presence feels like comfortable company. They don’t demand anything from me. They don’t pressure me for anything. They are simply there, silent and waiting.

I lift a finger and pat the top of Ara’s little head, the short fuzz making my twitching lips turn into a full-blown grin. “I’m alright,” I assure her. “I’m just feeling off.”

Maybe because I lost a fucking battle to Ruen or maybe because I felt like neither of us had even really been trying. Or maybe because since I woke up that first time back after having the brimstone removed, I’ve felt a growing sensation building within me. A pressure that swells with each passing day.

A knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts and I cup a hand beneath Ara as I stand. For a moment, I contemplate taking her with me, but I don’t know who it could be on the other side of that door, and other than the few people who frequent the Darkhaven quarters, not many know of her existence.

Ultimately, I decide to leave her behind, setting her gently on the lounge I’d been previously sitting on before petting her head and heading for the door as the person on the other side knocks again. I’ll call for her if I need her.

I know before I turn the lock that it’s not one of the Darkhavens. None of them would knock on their own damned chamber door. Still, I find myself repressing both surprise and confusion when I spy a Terra on the other side. Not one I know well as I don’t recognize her face, but the clothes she wears tell me that she’s a servant just like I used to be.

“Yes?” I frown down at her as she stares up at me with wide doe brown eyes that remind me of the deer my father and I used to hunt for food when I was a child.

Her head dips back down as a flush creeps up her neck. “M-my a-apologies, my lady,” she says. “I-I was sent to retrieve you.”

My lips curl down instinctively at the ‘lady’ comment, but I ask instead, “Who sent you?”

“L-Lord Caedmon,” she stutters.

Caedmon. Of course, it must be about my tutoring. I suppose the Gods decided to give him that task. Despite my earlier wishes, I’m not yet certain if I’m grateful for that or not.

Carefully, I step out of the chambers and seal the door shut behind me. The fire has died down more than enough, I don’t have to worry about going back to put it out. If it does suddenly spark up and catch on something nearby, well … I don’t exactly care if the entire Academy burns down or not.

“Lead the way,” I tell the mousy girl, gesturing back towards the stairs.

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