Page 54 of The Salvation

I shove him, but it’s like trying to shove back the ocean. It just keeps coming.

“Stop it, Merikh! He made me drink his blood. I’m tied to him now as much as Aislynn.” When he narrows his eyes to near slits, I know I’ve revealed something he didn’t know. He thought he stopped when he attacked Reaver in the court. Heaving a sigh, I arch my neck and press against him. “We don’t know what else he can do. He has the mark of Kronos. Have you even uncovered his power? For all we know, he could be a blood-binder. He could channel that into his own blood and torture himself just so he can torture us.”

“Clever girl.”

I jump at the familiar voice, full of pride and cunning. Growling low, Merikh covers me with his wings while raising me at the same time. But I turn away from Reaver, reviled at the very sight of the asshole. He’s already donned regal robes, the ones Merikh wore that first time—robes meant for the Lord of the Court of Hollows.

“You should listen to her, Merikh,” he advises.

“Why the hell are you here, Reaver?”

Reaver makes a casual sucking noise with his teeth. “Oh, just to see how our little queen was fairing after her ordeal. I’ll give her credit for not passing out, but we both know you were responsible for that, don’t we, old friend?”

“Because she told me to, you spawn of shit.” Merikh tightens his hold upon me.

“My, my, I’ll give her points for balls.”

“Bigger than your pathetic ones,” I give a feminine snarl, only for Merikh to clasp my throat and shake his head at me. I read between the lines—Reaver isn’t worth my words or attention.

A dark chuckle rumbles behind me. “As for the other matter, I had my suspicions because I know you, Merikh. You were Malachor’s favorite because you were always a sly son of a bitch who never stopped warring with him, unlike the rest of us, who became his unworthy bootlickers. Not such a harsh fate to lick the boots of the God of Blood...especially when they had human flesh and blood coating them.”

“I’m this close to cutting out your flapping tongue, Reaver,” Merikh threatens. “Get to the point.”

“My point? Oh, yes, got lost in the moment. We really must catch up and reminisce on old times soon. But to answer your question, I also came to eradicate any thoughts or plans you had to smuggle your pretty little queen and her child far away from here. We know it’s one thing you’re very good at.”

Reaver chuckles with some inside knowledge unknown to me. The vein in Merikh’s brow throbs while his throat muscles grow taut. I’m more curious than ever regarding his history.

“In any case, the little darling is correct. Kronos is ever so fastidious, isn’t he?” My spine tightens, along with Merikh’s wings at the name. “You wish to know my power? He may have given me a taste of his blood essence. A morsel of a scrap, as it were. While I cannot devour souls as he does, nor destroy them,let’s just say if I am blood-tied to such a soul, there are a great many things I can do. For example...”

The pain lashes through me. Sharp and burning. It’s deep, deeper than blood. It attacks my scars, my tattoos, and claws the tattered fabric of my half soul.

I buckle, but the second Merikh growls the bastard’s name, the pain disappears—vanishes without a trace. The second I look up at the vampire I love, I find defeat in his eyes, shriveling his resolve. Hopelessness is not an uncommon emotion for me. But I’ve never seen it so dark or deep in his eyes.

“What was that other thing?” Reaver snaps his fingers, pacing out of the corner of my eye while Merikh presses his lips into a thin seam, as agitated as I am by the asshole. Reaver is playing with his food, taunting his trapped prey. “Oh, yes, for the next three nights until half-Hollow night, yourqueenwill wear the finest attire the Court of Hollows has to offer. And she will sup with me, seated next to my throne.”

Cold needles drag over my flesh. Merikh’s wings close around me harder, more possessive than ever.

“Why?” he barks.

“Hmm?” Reaver lilts, coming within my line of sight, though he leers at Merikh and not at me. “Why, Merikh, you should know. As the new Lord of your Court, I will be reinstating the Blood Games. And your sweet Quintessa will play a significant role in the spectacle.”

19

"I had it crafted especially for you, my Merry Howle..."

MERIKH

The Blood Games.

Damn. There is nothing Reaver will not pollute, will not poison.

“What are the Blood Games?” Quintessa wonders after I’ve bathed her in the sea, altering the water to be fresh and warm.

I’m surprised she’s held in the question this long.

“Nothing good, I imagine,” she says softly, lowering her chin while I carry her into my suite.

Mayce and Drago will join us soon because she needs rest. Whatever Reaver has planned, however he will involve her, it’s nothing good. And with the revelation of his power, he can tamper with any soul, which means he could use her as bait for mere sport—but still prevent any vampire from reaching her. I already know why. Inevitable. Obvious.

---