Page 41 of Blood of Ancients

I’d never told my guys about having to run naked back to my dwelling two weeks ago, arms covering my bits as students laughed at me. It was fucking juvenile—the exact M.O. of my younger half-brother.

Damon tilted his head coyly, a mock expression of innocence on his face that was infuriating. “That sounds miserable, Vini. Nopillow? What heathen would do such—”

“And how about the blood bucket?”

“Theblood bucket?” Eirik murmured to his allies.

“I find it quite a coincidence you wanted to get out the ‘bad blood’ today,brother.”

Damon shrugged it off. “Oh, Vini. You’re seeing shadows where there aren’t any, I’m afraid. Has your time at Vikingrune made you so paranoid?”

This damned gaslighter.It was just like him.

And yet, something had changed about Damon since I’d seen him last. Back then, he’d been a drunkard and a whore. Clearly he already had half of that equation in the bag with Gertrude Lanfen here, but that wasn’t it.

No, it was the glint in his eye that was different. He used to be . . . sloppy. Irritating. Pitiful, honestly.

Now? He seemed more calculating. Put-together. Way more confident than he should have been being surrounded by so many people stronger than him.

I knew whatever revenge scheme he was cooking up was on the horizon, yet I couldn’t place what it might be. Everything he’d done so far had been nothing more than nuisances, minor inconveniences. Though the blood bucket had been gross.Whose blood had it been? A pig’s?

He was being his typical annoying self, but I knew it was leading to something.

“Sister, your face is red. I can practically see the smoke coming out of your ears.” Damon tsked, shaking his head. “You’ve got to lighten up. It’s not good to wrinkle your—”

“Shut up,” I spat, pushing my plate. “Just shut up.”

Damon looked struck, head reeling. “Gods, Vini, that’s no way to break bread. I’m here trying to make good on the fact you knocked me unconscious to get here—”

“No you’re not,” I cut in. He wasn’t smiling anymore, his lips firmed. “You’re trying to rile me up. Trying to make me slip. What is it you want, Damon?”

Eirik said, “Please, Vini, things were going so well . . .”

I elbowed his arm, scowling. “You can shut it too, Eirik. Don’t act like we’re some big happy family.Youwere the one steering the damnedGray Wraith.You left Selby knowing I was on board!”

Eirik’s face darkened.

These two had Fucked Around with me, and now they were in the Find Out stage. I wasn’t going to put up with their bullshit any longer.

My muscles tensed as I leaned forward, closer to Damon. “Why are you here, Damon?”

“Because I deserve to be!” he yelled, slamming his fist on the table, rattling the plates. Students from other tables glanced over. His eyes were only for me, filled with hate and rage. “Andyou don’t, you fucking cheat,” he hissed.

I felt the looming presence of Grim. He’d bolted up from his seat when he noticed things quickly going south.

“Ravinica.” His drawl was a warning tone, not to fall into my brother’s trap, or whatever this was.

But it was too late for me. I couldn’t contain my anger any longer—not when I was staring into eyes that hated me.

“I’m not sorry for what I did,” I told Damon, standing from the table, leaning forward with both hands splayed on it. “You didn’t deserve that spot on theGray Wraith.Call me a cheat all you want. I’ve proven myself worthy at Vikingrune Academy. Can the same be said about you, brother?”

Damon stood, also leaning forward, until our faces were mere inches apart. “I’ve not been idle while you’ve been gone, sister. Why don’t weseewho is worthy and who is not?”

My brow furrowed.He can’t be . . .“Name it,” I spat through gritted teeth. “Name it for all to hear and see.”

He stood straight, shoulders lifted proudly. “I challenge you toholmgang, Ravinica.”

Holmgang.A duel. Single-combat used by our Scandinavian forebears to settle disputes. In the past,holmgangshad been to the death. Over time, it became more symbolic and less deadly.

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