Page 70 of The Blood of Gods and Monsters

A growl fills my throat as he turns and then disappears over the side, appearing only a moment later as he strides confidently through the sand until he reaches the center ring where a dark-skinned man with wide shoulders and a tapered waist waits for him.

I lean into Theos’ side. “What’s Parvan’s ability?” I ask.

Theos glances at me. “Worried about Kalix?”

I snort. “Hardly. Just curious.” If anyone deserves my concern, it’s Kalix’s opponent. I do not doubt that the only reason Parvan won’t be leaving this arena without a heartbeat is because of Ruen’s order.

Theos returns his attention to the arena once more. “He’s a nullifier.”

“A nullifier?” I frown. “What’s that?”

Ruen is the one to answer this time. “He nullifies the powers of others,” he says. “It’s probably the reason why he was selected to go against Kalix. If he touches him, Kalix won’t be able to use any of his Divinity.”

I sit up straighter in my seat and sharpen my eyes on the new match as it begins. A nullifier is something I’ve never heard of before. Is it possible that this man’s powers affect Gods as well? I wonder.

Unfortunately for Parvan, Kalix quickly demonstrates that his power is not tied to his physical abilities. Even as Parvan’s hands grab hold of Kalix and attempt to get him to the ground, Kalix laughs openly and lifts the other man, deftly picking him up and tossing him into an arena wall that’s at least fifteen feet away.

Parvan collides with the hard wall with a grunt, and a fresh cloud of sand goes up when he lands. It’s too late for him though. Once Kalix smells weakness, he’s on top of the other man with fists flying. His wide smile flashes white as he grins and pounds into the other man over and over again. Blood sprays into his face and that fact only seems to incite him further. My pity for the other Mortal God blooms in my gut.

The battle doesn’t last long, but Axlan doesn’t call an end to it until Parvan is unconscious and several Terra are led onto the arena grounds to remove him from the space. Barbaric doesn’t even describe it. My eyes turn to the rest of the students, scanning with curiosity to know who will be called next when I hear Axlan’s voice ring out over the arena.

“Kiera Nezerac and Theos Darkhaven. Take your places in the arena.”

Chapter 30

Kiera

Oh, they’re good. I slowly rise from my seat, feeling the heat of three gazes fixed on me as I turn and make my way out of the stands. Very, very good.

The Darkhavens warned me in the privacy of their chambers that the Gods were curious about me. Azai calling Ruen to him to specifically ask about me and my abilities wasn’t even the first hint that they want to know more about me and what I can do. Caedmon had all but alluded to it. Now here I am—about to show them exactly what I can do and I have no other recourse.

Fast footsteps fall into line behind me. Theos’ voice, low and throaty, reaches my ears. “Don’t worry,” he murmurs. “We have contingency plans. We’ll get through this. You’re good with a blade. We’ll grab swords on our way out to the arena and?—”

“It’s fine,” I say, cutting him off as I cast a glance over my shoulder. “I’m not worried.”

What I am is pissed.

The two of us leave behind the stands and enter the darkened interior of the inner corridors that lead back down to the center of the arena. Theos catches up and walks alongside me.

“They’re getting suspicious because they haven’t seen my abilities yet,” I say. “They want to know what I can do. Even if, technically, not all God Children have the same abilities as their Divine sires, sometimes they do. I have no doubt that they want to see if that’s the case for me.”

I sense Theos’ shock. “You’re going to actually use your abilities?”

I don’t see how I have any other choice. “Not right away,” I tell him, sliding a glance his way out of the corner of my eye. “But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you cannot appear weak in front of a strong enemy.”

Sunlight pours into the end of the corridor as we grow closer to the opening. A slender familiar Terra stands to the side with his arms laden down with swords and other weapons.

“Niall…” I stop in front of him. My chest squeezes tight. “How are?—”

“Not the time, Kiera.” Theos grabs two swords and passes one to me. “Move.”

Niall dips his head and backs away. I snarl a curse at Theos but stomp forward regardless into the bright cold sun of the battle arena.

Axlan, Danai, and Makeda are all standing now, side by side, with those glittering Divine eyes of theirs pinned to the two of us as we make our way to the center of the arena. None of the students are shouting. There is nothing but the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears, in my blood, and the wind as it whispers over too-hot flesh even though it’s still somewhat cold outside. Winter is clinging to the air, though it’s long since needed to be over. I’m grateful for the slight brush of wind over my skin as Theos and I take our stances about twenty feet apart in an invisible ring that’s far larger than it would have been had we simply been sparring.

I close my eyes and feel a bubble of darkness slither up my chest and into my head. I can win this if I so choose. Theos is a strong Mortal God. His power an electrifying mark of the sky. I’ve seen it—the flecks of white-hot gold that spring from his fingertips at his command.

Darkness swallows the light, though, and I will swallow his whole.

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