Page 32 of The Fate of Eternity

“We’re leaving now,” Cassian states, his voice calm and unfazed, a complete contrast to moments ago.

The withering glare from Kenner confirms his next words before his lips part. “You’re going nowhere.”

Cassian pinches his nose, exhaling harshly as he tries to rid the agitation from his bones. “We can’t keep doing this.”

“You’re right,” Kenner states, making us pause as we stare at him.

That’s a surprise.

“Good,” Cassian breathes, uncertainty still clinging to him, which is completely valid when his father speaks again.

“Trinity.” He calls out the name, and in a flash, the sound of more racing hearts rings in my ear. My senses are overwhelmed as more wolves appear. One, then another, and another, until there’s a mini army of them surrounding the unit.

“What is this?” I ask, finally finding my tongue, and his devilish eyes land on mine for a brief moment before he spins on the spot, addressing the new arrivals along with me.

“This is a duel under the blood moon.”

Cassian’s sharp intake of breath sets panic in my veins. “Father.”

“Say it, Trinity,” Kenner insists, nudging a girl forward a step.

Her wild eyes find mine before searching Cassian’s, but all too quickly, she latches back on to me. She clears her throat, taking a step toward us, and this time the confidence drifts off her in waves.

I know what she’s going to say before her lips part. They’re words I’ve heard before, too many times for my preference, but words I’m all too familiar with now. I thought I was done after the first duel. I thought I was done when Cassian dueled. I thought we were past all this shit.

I thought wrong.

“I challenge you, Adrianna Reagan. I challenge you to a blood moon duel for Cassian Kenner.”

16

ADRIANNA

This motherfucker is never going to relent. Ever. I’m all for showing resilience, but damn, I’m tired of this man.

“No one is dueling anyone under the blood moon,” Cassian snarls, his eyes practically black as he stares his father down.

My lips twist as I take him in, his words swirling around in my head. The way he says it makes me feel like there’s more to it than usual. A kind of more that I’m not going to like the sound of.

“My challenge says otherwise,” Trinity sings, her voice tainted with vengeance, and I can’t help but wonder what the fuck I’ve done to this girl, what I’ve done to any of the girls that have challenged me to a duel. My lack of answer makes me feel like it’s more because I’m simply breathing and it’s inconveniencing them. “Now, stand there and watch as I take down this bitch to claim you for myself,” she adds, making my head rear back in surprise.

“Don’t you think it’s weird that you’re trying to fight me for him, yet you show him no respect at all? He’s not just a piece ofmeat, you know. There’s more to him than whatever title you’re seeking,” I bite out through clenched teeth.

“Fuck off, fae,” she snaps back, but before I can even react, Kenner’s all-out belly laugh echoes around us.

“Ah, but that’s not the case, is it, Adrianna?”

My gaze whips to his, my chest tightening with nerves as realization washes over me.

Fuck

I sense my mother’s eyes on me, but I don’t pull away from Kenner’s stare. I’m frozen to the bone. “What don’t I know, Kenner?” Her voice is riddled with a tinge of nerves and uncertainty, and I see the amusement in Kenner’s darkening eyes.

“I’ll let your daughter fill you in. It’s quite fantastic if you ask me,” Kenner muses, making my nostrils flare with agitation.

“Addi.” Concern fills my mother’s voice, and I can see her shifting from foot to foot as she waits for my response, but I can’t tear my eyes from Kenner.

“Don’t speak to her. Crawl back under the rock where you came from, and you, fuck off,” Cassian roars, jabbing his finger in both my mother’s and his father’s direction.

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