Page 9 of The Blood Moon Oath

It’s torture.

The Trials are on hold because of some “respect” for the blood moon. Fucking ridiculous. If anything, this is the perfect time for a real challenge. We’re all at our peak, brimming with raw power, and we’re supposed to just sit here and... wait? It’s enough to drive me insane.

I slice through another training dummy, its straw innards spilling out onto the snow. The sound of the impact makes my blood sing, but it’s not enough. It never is.

I think about the little kitten. Her scent, her defiance, theway her thumb pressed into my wrist and made my magic flicker like a fucking candle in a storm. That was new. That was... interesting. Most people scream and cry when I get my hands on them. She didn’t. She fought.

And now she’s under Finn’s watch. In his fucking quarters.

I swing the sword harder, imagining her pinned beneath me, struggling, cursing, maybe even biting. That thought alone makes my cock twitch in my trousers. She’d put up a real fight in bed, and I’d love every second of breaking her. But no. She’s locked away, and I’m stuck here, hacking at straw men like some damn novice.

The sword crashes down, cleaving another dummy clean in half. I step back, panting, sweat dripping from my temples and sliding down my chest despite the cold. My breath fogs the air, mingling with the steam rising off my overheated skin. I’m not wearing a shirt—haven’t been all night—but who needs one? The bite of the cold barely registers when you’re burning from the inside out.

“Torin!” a voice calls, and I glance over to see Finn and Kael approaching. Finn’s got that smug look on his face, his hand idly rolling one of his damn silver rings between his fingers. Kael is as composed as ever, his sharp suit somehow immaculate despite the snow. Always so fucking put-together.

Finn stops a few paces away, his gaze flicking to the ruined practice ring. “Looks like someone’s been busy,” he says, letting out a low whistle. He glances at Kael. “Might need to set up stronger defenses around here.”

I follow his gaze and realize I’ve done more than destroy a few dummies. The entire ring is in shambles—ropes sliced clean through, the posts splintered and half-toppled. I shrug, sheathing my sword with a sharpclick.

“I’ll fix it later,” I say. “Weapons deserve more respect than that.” I give the hilt a quick pat, a rare moment of reverence.Weapons are the only things that ever saved me, the only things that’ve never let me down.

“Good to know you’ve got priorities,” Finn says dryly. He rolls his eyes but turns his attention back to Kael. “She’s awake.”

Something tightens in my chest at those words. Awake. My little kitten is awake.

“Finally,” I mutter, falling in step behind them as we head back toward the keep. My boots crunch against the snow, the cold biting at my back as the heat from earlier simmers in my veins. I don’t know why she’s in Finn’s quarters or why we’re keeping her at all, but at least I’ll get to see her again. Maybe even... play.

We reach the door, and Finn pushes it open with a smirk. “Looks like someone’s awake,” he says, stepping aside to let us in.

I don’t wait. I shove past him, eager, my eyes locking onto her immediately. She’s standing by the bed, her eyes wide and wary, her body tense like a cornered animal.

“Finally,” I say, my voice low and rough. “Time for us to play.”

Her lips part slightly, and the fear that flickers across her face sends a jolt straight to my groin. Fuck, she’s even prettier like this—defiant, trembling, and yet still standing tall.

“Not yet,” Kael says firmly, his tone cutting through my thoughts. He steps forward, his presence commanding as ever. “We’re not playing with her, Torin. Not yet.”

I scowl, clenching my fists at my sides. “I don’t understand why we’re wasting time,” I snap. “There are way more fun things we could be doing right now.”

Her fear deepens, and I bite back a groan. She’s intoxicating, like a drug I didn’t know I needed until now.

“In time,” Kael says, his gaze steady on me. Kael neverbreaks his word, and that’s the only thing that keeps me from snapping right then and there. For now.

I walk to the bed and sit down heavily, leaning back against the pillows. Her scent lingers on the sheets, soft and sweet and maddening. My eyes slide shut for a moment as I take it in, the fire in my veins burning hotter with every breath.

Kael starts talking, his tone calm but firm as he explains the situation to her. “You will remain here,” he says. “We have questions, and you will answer them. If you don’t, there will be consequences.”

His voice hardens. “And the consequences are Torin.”

My grin stretches wider, slow and sharp, as I open my eyes to see her reaction. Her jaw tightens, her lips pressing into a thin line, but I catch it—the flicker of fear behind her defiance. The little spark of panic that sets my blood on fire.

Oh, she feels it. She knows.

Pushing myself off the bed, I stand and roll my shoulders, the tension humming through me like a live wire. I start to circle her, each step slow, deliberate, predatory. Her body tenses, her eyes darting to follow me, but she doesn’t move. Brave little kitten.

“Do you know what they call me?” I ask, my voice low and rasping. “Reaper.” I chuckle, dark and throaty. “Not because I’m subtle. No, sweetheart. It’s because I don’t leave much behind.”

Her shoulders straighten, but I see the way her breathing picks up, shallow and quick. I take another step, brushing just close enough to make her flinch, and fuck if that doesn’t send a bolt straight to my cock.

---