Page 69 of The Blood of Gods and Monsters

They flow into my ears and then back out. The other students’ excitement doesn’t touch me. Ruen leans close to my side, dropping his voice as he whispers to me. “Keep the animosity down, Kiera,” he grits out. “Show them respect.”

Why should I? They don’t deserve my respect, I want to snap back. I don’t. Instead, I listen to him for a change and lower my gaze back to Axlan. I don’t know why two of the God Council members have deigned to watch us practice for their bloody entertainment, but I refuse to let it distract me.

“As you’re aware, we have an audience today,” Axlan continues talking. “Therefore today will be slightly different from your usual training. Today we will have mock battles, one on one, each at a time. You may use the length of the arena as if you were in a true battle.”

Someone behind me raises a hand. “Will these mock battles be to the death?” a deep voice inquires.

Axlan shakes his head. “No. Today we will simply be watching to see who has come the farthest. Some of you are in a position for advancement.” Axlan’s eyes fall over the three Darkhaven brothers, and for a moment, I think he’s going to ask them to recommend someone. Instead, he points to a girl in the second row and then a male in the furthest one.

“Davina and Raze. You two will start us off. You may use any ability you have. The battle will go until either one of you is unconscious or I say so.”

A firm hand grips my arm and begins dragging me backward. “Come on.” I glance up with surprise to see it’s Theos.

“What? Where are we going?” I ask.

“The stands,” he answers.

Ruen and Kalix follow us as we head out of the arena, leaving behind the two chosen to start the mock battles and I find myself being led towards the same place the Darkhavens had chosen to sit for the actual battles all those weeks ago. This time, instead of being forced to stand at their side, Theos drags me down onto the cushion at his side.

“Why are they doing this now?” I ask, curious to know if the Darkhavens have a better idea of what the Gods are planning than I do.

“They’re likely planning to see if another battle will be entertaining,” Ruen says.

“Or perhaps they’re looking for new playmates,” Kalix replies with a deep chuckle.

He leans forward around his brothers and winks my way. “Should we show them what you and I can do, little liar?”

I flip him off, earning another amused sound from him before he’s forced back by Ruen’s hand on his chest. “Keep it in your pants,” he huffs.

“Now, now,” Kalix says, “I know for a fact that our little no-longer-a-Terra likes me out of my pants.”

I roll my eyes at his jab and focus on the arena as the two students who’d been called upon step into the middle of the ring, facing each other. Davina is a tall willowy female with plaited blond hair and almond shaped eyes. In contrast, her opponent—Raze—is a muscular male with golden skin that can’t be replicated under any amount of sunlight.

The two of them stand face to face as Axlan repeats the rules of the battles. Then, as the God turns and leaves the arena, they continue to wait until he appears above them on the balcony alongside Danai and Makeda.

“You may begin!”

Fire explodes into the sand, sending up a plume of dust so thick that I have to lean forward and squint to see anything. The shapes of two people dive out of the cloud a split second later as Davina and Raze race across the arena sands, eyes moving from where they’re going to their opponent with clear intent.

“Davina’s not playing around,” Ruen murmurs.

“Of course not,” Theos replies. “The Gods are watching.”

I glance around, noting that the stands are mostly empty. The only people watching are those who have training at this time and the three Gods presiding over this mock battle. Once again, I find myself turning my attention to the balcony.

Danai’s eyes are heavy-lidded as she watches the two Mortal Gods fight each other. She looks disinterested and it makes me wonder why she bothered to come in the first place. Makeda, however, is different. She’s sitting forward, eyes focused and sharp on the two battling it out in the arena as if she’s trying to pick apart their strategies.

Then again, from what I now know, she’s the Goddess of Knowledge—no doubt it’s something she’s always interested in. Knowledge of others.

The fight between Davina and Raze ends in a draw, called to an end by Axlan who announces the next opponents. A male named Parvan Rockwell and … Ruen slaps a hand out against Kalix’s chest when he moves to leap up when his name is called.

“Don’t kill him,” Ruen growls.

Kalix frowns down at him and then huffs out a breath. “Fine.” He points to me as Ruen drops his arm away from his brother. “But then you owe me a night.”

“What?” I gape at him. “Why me? I didn’t ask you not to kill him.”

Kalix hooks a leg over the edge of the several foot drop instead of walking around like any sane person would. “Doesn’t matter. I agreed. You’ll be paying up when I win this, little liar.”

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