Page 87 of Hallowed Games

I stalked inside, blood-soaked and reeking of death.

The Pater’s eyes slid to me immediately, and his jaw dropped. His eyes went wide. Right now, there was no one in here but us and the silent, eyeless torchbearers.

“Help!” The Pater’s voice echoed off the stone. “Magister!”

Fury hummed through my bones, and I prowled closer to him. “He can’t help you now. Death has come for you.”

Fear crackled through the air. The torchbearers stayed in place, committed to their vows. Their torchlight danced over the room.

The Pater, coward that he was, turned to run. “Luminari!”

I broke into a sprint after him, quickly closing the distance. I caught him by the cowl and pulled him back sharply with a hard jerk. He fell down backward on the stone floor, and I pinned him.

Joy slid through me as I gripped both his hands in one of mine. I stroked my fingertips down his face, from his forehead to his cheeks.

His eyes went wide.

“You shouldn’t have threatened Leo,” I hissed.

Bruise-colored veins shot beneath his skin, and his muscles seized up beneath me. I watched, entranced with my work, as his mouth opened and closed soundlessly. His body convulsed. The sounds of his gasps were a symphony to my ears, his death spasms a macabre dance.

I stared at him, watching the life drain out of him.

With shuddering breaths, I rose off his limp body.

I stumbled back from the sight of the dead Pater, trying to focus on what to do next. All I wanted to do was kill again, but that wasn’t part of my greater plan.

The question was, should I free Maelor now?

I turned away from the Pater and took long strides toward the door—

“Serpent’s whore.” The rasping voice came from behind me.

I whirled, my heart racing.

The Pater stood by the altar, his body glowing. In the torchlight, he cast a long shadow over the floor.

My breath went still in my lungs. I’d just watched him die…I had killed him. How was he now standing by the altar?

His gray hair hung in front of his face, but his skin looked clear of the toxins. He peered at me through his lank hair. “Did you really think the Archon would let me die? Me, his chosen one?”

I reached for my sword, and he shook his head. “It’s no good. I always come back. The Archon protects me.”

Behind me, the door creaked open, and I turned to see Sion stalking in. My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t breathe. Blood poured down his chest, and his clothes gaped open where I’d stabbed him. But he was very much alive, graceful as ever.

His black eyes took me in, brushing up and down my body. “So, your pretty lover told you how to kill a vampire. Except it seems he forgot to mention what sort of wood to use, didn’t he? Not very useful. Seems like he doesn’t really trust you at all.” A note of mockery rang in his deep voice.

“What is this? How are you standing?” shouted the Pater. “My Magister Solaris…”

Sion’s dark gaze slid to the Pater. “Do you think I’m yours? Have you never noticed that I’m smarter than you, faster than you, stronger than you? That I’m better in every way?” He sighed. “I suppose you wouldn’t have.”

All the color drained from the Pater’s face. “But you have served me so loyally.”

A wicked smile curled Sion’s lips, and he glided closer to the Pater, his movements fluid. “I haven’t.” He moved in a blur of shadows, then reached for the Pater’s throat. Sion lifted him into the air. “I’m here to figure out how to kill you. Except our little Mistress of Death over there fucked up my plans.” His tone was calm, casual, even as he threatened the Pater.

Sion dropped him onto the floor and knelt on his chest. He lifted the Pater’s head by the hair, then slammed his skull down on the flagstones.

The Magister glanced back at me, and his black eyes flicked up to meet mine. “Here’s a skill I feel you’re lacking, witch. You just go for the kill, and you don’t toy with your prey. You’re a hunter. Act like it.” He smashed the Pater’s head one more time. “But you do have to be careful. Because mortals are so very, very delicate, and they really do die so quickly sometimes.” He let out a long sigh. “You know what that’s like.”

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