Page 33 of The Blood Moon Oath

For the first time, the sharp edge of her defiance softens, replaced by something rawer—remorse. It tugs at something in me, something I didn’t even know was there, but I shake it off and lean forward.

“It didn’t, necessarily,” I say, my tone even. “We don’thaveto fight. You could go through the Trials alone. All three fights.Plenty of challengers have had to do it that way when no one agreed to be their champions. You’d fight the first, win or lose, then go straight into the second, and then—if you’re still standing—you’d face Rothgar.”

Her eyes lift to meet mine, wide and uncertain. “So, you’re saying I could?—”

“Stop right there,” I interrupt, my voice firm. “I’m not saying we’d let that happen. You’re not going through this alone, kitten. Not a chance.”

She blinks at me, confusion flickering across her face. “But... why? Why would you put yourselves at risk? Why would you fight for me?”

I lean back, letting the grin spread across my face again, wide and wicked. “Because you’re ours now, that’s why. Bound to Kael, tethered to this fight, part of the madness whether you like it or not.”

She still looks unsure, so I stand and cross to her, crouching so I’m level with her on the bed. “And because, Sable,” I say, my voice dropping low, “I want to see you burn the world down. I want to see the fire in you take Rothgar apart piece by piece. And I want to be standing beside you when it happens.”

Her lips part slightly, her breath hitching as she stares at me. The room feels tighter, like the air itself is pressing in, charged with something neither of us can name. “You’re insane,” she whispers, but there’s no venom in it. If anything, she sounds... almost amused.

I grin wider, unrepentant. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” I straighten, my gaze never leaving hers. “So, no more of this guilt. We’ll fight for you because you’re worth it, and you’ll fight with us because we’ll make damn sure you’re ready.”

Her shoulders loosen slightly, and for the first time since I walked in, I see a flicker of hope in her eyes. It’s enough to make me stay closer, to push just a little more. “You’re not alone in this, kitten,” I say softly, the grin fading just a little. “Not anymore.”

A small, tentative smile tugs at her lips, and it’s enough to send a rush of heat straight through me. I shift in my chair, my blood humming with want. “You know,” I murmur, my voice dipping lower, “you smile like that again, and it’s going to make me hard.”

Her eyes widen, and a deep blush spreads across her cheeks. I can’t help but laugh, leaning closer. “Oh, come on, don’t blush now. Why does that embarrass you, huh?”

She fumbles for words, her gaze darting everywhere but at me. “I—I?—”

I press closer, dropping my voice to a near-whisper. “What’s got you so flustered, kitten? Tell me.”

Her breath hitches, and she finally exhales shakily, her voice barely audible. “I’ve never been with anyone before.”

I blink, caught off guard for half a second. “Never?”

She shifts uncomfortably. “Well... except for what happened with Kael earlier today,” she mutters, her voice tinged with something I can’t quite place. “And I don’t know how to feel about that.”

A slow, wicked grin spreads across my face as I stand, looming over her. “Even better,” I say. “Because now, we’re going to have so much fun. I’ll teach you everything, kitten. Not just how to win the Trials—but how toreallyenjoy yourself.”

Her blush deepens, and I feel the thrill of it, the delicious tension crackling between us. She doesn’t push me away, and that’s all the invitation I need.

Chapter

Twenty

SABLE

Torin starts to move closer. “Now I get to teach you things.”

My mind goes wild with all the dark possibilities. “What exactly are you going to teach me?”

His smile is pure sin. “You did things with Kael, and I’m wondering why he gets to do it, but I don’t.”

My eyes go wide. “I...”

“Don’t get shy now, kitten.”

I’m not shy, just panicked. “But Kael...”

“I know what he did with you,” Torin says. “He rubbed your clit over your pants until you came, then dry humped you until he came on your ass.”

His words are almost as good as a physical touch. Heat flushes up my neck and into my face, but instead of looking away, I watch Torin. “How do you know that?”

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