Page 89 of Hallowed Games

He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against a column. His gaze flicked away from me. I’d already lost his interest. “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe it’s not a curse?”

“You think the risk of killing everyone I love isn’t a curse…though I suppose that wouldn’t seem like a curse to you, would it?”

He’d only just thrown the Pater into the hollow, and he already looked bored. “Maybe you just need to spend more time around vampires instead of fragile mortals.”

Just above his crossed arms, something caught my eye. It was the tattoo on his healing chest, visible where I’d ripped the fabric.

I stepped closer to him and pulled away his arms. He didn’t resist. Instead, he just stared down at me, and I studied the tattoo on his skin. My breath went still. I’d seen this already, in my vision. One of the first times I’d touched Maelor, I’d seen a spiked crown tattoo, blood-spattered. But Maelor didn’t have a tattoo. It was Sion’s. And just like in the vision, a butterfly pendant hung down, visible in the space where I’d ripped his robe. The memory burst to life in my thoughts, vibrant as sunlight. I brushed my fingertips over his pendant.

A dark smile curled his sensuous lips as he stared down at me. “Honestly, Elowen. I know vampires are irresistible, but is this really the time to undress me with your eyes?”

Tension coiled through my body as I pointed at his chest. “I’ve seen your tattoo before. Just like this. Spattered with blood.”

From under dark eyelashes, gold eyes pierced me. Shadows spilled around him like ink through water, and a shiver rippled over my skin.

“I see your memory is coming back,” he murmured.

I stared at him. “Memory of what?”

“Well, it could be one of two times.”

My eyes stung as it slid together in my mind. “I remember blood on the white anemones when Father died. You were there. Is that what you meant when you said you make people believe your reality? Did you force me to forget things?”

He was still as the stone column behind him. The shadows whipped and licked at the space around his broad shoulders. “It’s probably a good thing you’re all out of stakes right now because I really didn’t enjoy being stabbed.”

“You killed my father.” My voice cracked. “Tell me now, or I swear to the Archon, I will make good on your advice to draw out the pain.”

“That’s adorable.” He gave an easy shrug. “Yes, I killed him. But don’t go off on a whole unhinged revenge mission because clearly, you’re incapable of killing me. And I might start to lose my patience, my pretty friend.”

Molten rage ignited. I blinked the tears from my eyes. “So. You were just hungry? Wanted to fill your belly? Why not? Our lives are over in the blink of an eye anyway, right?”

“You’re really not going to like what I have to say next,” he whispered.

“I already fucking hate you,” I snarled.

I thought I saw him flinch, though I had no idea why, since he clearly had no feelings.

I stepped closer to him, wrath spilling through me. “And I will figure out how to end your life,” I added. My voice sounded cold, ragged with pain.

He stared down at me, his expression cold, unreadable. “Maelor and I were members of the resistance after the Order took over the kingdom. It was our job to kill those who informed.”

I shook my head. “Absolute bollocks.” My voice echoed off the dome. “My father wouldn’t work with the Order.”

“Not for money, no, but the Order knew a witch lived at the manor. I think you know who that was, don’t you? The Ravens were closing in. Your father gave a name to save your life. Leo’s father. In the end, they took the boy’s mother as well. You know how it is. And that, Elowen, was how you ended up with Leo.”

I could hardly see through the blur in my eyes. I jabbed at his steely chest with my finger. “I don’t believe you. Why would I believe you? You are the most repulsive person I have ever met. When I look at you, I feel physically sick.”

His eyes looked like I’d struck him, and shadows rippled out from his body. But it was only a moment before a smirk was on his face again. “I don’t really give a fuck, Elowen. Why don’t you tell all this to your lover? Where is he, anyway?”

“Locked in my room.”

His low chuckle filled the temple. “You really fucked him up. I’ve never seen him so deranged. It’s been decades since he’s killed like this, and…” His smile faded. “Actually, I kind of like it. He was getting really sanctimonious about not feeding or fucking. And then what’s the point of living?” A heavy sigh. “But tedious as he is sometimes, I can’t leave him there. He’ll never get out. Even a vampire can’t scale Ruefield’s walls—”

The door slammed open, and Maelor stood in the doorframe. Shadows darkened the air around him, and blood streaked his knuckles. A chill rippled into the temple, a frigid breeze that nearly snuffed out the torches. My gaze flicked to the blood that dripped off Maelor’s knuckles. He must have punched the wood between the iron bars until the door fragmented enough so he could let himself out.

“What exactly is happening?” he hissed.

“Your sweet friend here killed the Pater and rammed a stake into my chest. How did she learn about stakes?”

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