Page 107 of Fated In Blood

This fucker. I should have known from the squirrelly way he’d acted back at Crimson House, he would go after Evangeline. I didn’t know why he wanted her, but his reasons didn’t matter, he wasn’t getting his filthy hands on her.

She was ours.Mine.

Laughter skittered through the glade, echoing off the ridged rocks rising up behind us.

I spun around, finding nothing but empty space.

“Come out and play, Malachi. You started this. Don’t tell me you’re afraid to finish it. Be glad Blake’s busy picking off the rest of Silas’s mercenaries, because he’d decapitate first and ask questions later.”

“I saved her life, Rohr.” The words echoed out from every dark shadow. “She owes me a boon, whether you like it or not. And I decide when I call in that favor.”

“Bullshit,” Evie growled from behind me.

Run, Evie, get out of here. He’s fucking dangerous.

Then I’m not leaving you alone with him.

This goddamned girl had a stubborn streak a mile long and she was going to complicate everything. Or worse, get herself killed.

“Blake was right there, waiting for cover so he could free her,” I said loudly, mostly for Evie’s benefit. Malachi loved to plant doubts in one’s head, and he’d use all his tricks to make Blake out to be the villain when my friend was anything but. “You manipulated the situation to your own benefit. As usual.”

“He was taking too long and she was dying.” Draven’s voice came out of the shadows to my right. “But why are we even arguing about this,Rohr? The outcome is the same, since Blake already promised I could have her at the end of all this.” My heart sank at those words, the cold, calculated timing of them and at Evie’s horrified gasp that came right before Malachi’s attack.

“What was it he said, exactly?” I made a slow circle, studying every tree, every rock, every shadow for movement. “Oh, that’s right. She’s his progeny, a total pain in his ass, and he can do whatever he wants with her. How do you like that, Evangeline? Traded away like a book with a broken spine.”

The bastard came out of nowhere, his fist catching me across the chin, my head snapping back into a moss-covered rock. Stars danced in my vision, bile surging up my throat while he grasped my throat and squeezed.

“Iwillhave her, one way or another. And Iwillcollect my favor when the time is right.” Malachi laughed softly. “This way,at least I’m playing by the rules. You, of all vampires, should understand the value ofthe rules, Your Majesty.”

He leaned closer and sniffed, his eyes narrowing. “Interesting. Perhaps the always noble Blake wasn’t the one with the right to trade Evangeline away. Whatever would Tyrell think if he discoveredyouwere her Maker?”

Malachi’s eyes glowed with triumph. “I’ll tell you what he’d do. He’d use that Maker’s bond to bury you both, Riordan.”

I clawed at his hand, managing to peel him off. “Fuck…you.”

“You’re welcome, by the way.” His eyes flicked over my head to where Evie stood wide-eyed and panting. “She’s had two mouthfuls of my blood, and you’re about to have a hellcat on your hands. I hope your cock’s up for the challenge.”

He lifted his head and grinned at Silver. “If the king disappoints, you know where to find me, love.”

Then the bastard disappeared, like fucking chaos impersonated.

***

“Silver.” I held up my hands, switching over to damage control as she stalked toward me. “Malachi excels at playing people against each other to get what he wants. If you let me explain?—”

“It’s too late. I heardeverything, Riordan.” She was coming undone, a smear of red staining one side of her mouth, cheeks flushed pink, her body so ripe with lust she glowed against the forest shadows. “In the kitchen, right before I left. I heard you and Blake talking about how you were only using me.”

“I didn’t mean?—”

“Oh, but you did. I heard every word with my own ears. Or are you telling me I’m wrong?” Evie peered up at me with narrowed eyes. “So let me make sure I get this right…the sex is just a bonus, and this is my favorite part…how you agreed touseme and throw me away—and that is a direct quote—once Tyrell was dead.”

“This bullshit with Malachi just backs all of that up.” She shoved at me, palms slamming into my chest, knocking me back a step. “Unless you’re planning to convince me my ears don’t work?”

I gently caught her wrists, careful not to hurt the newly healed skin. “What you overheard…” Her pulse was pounding, her intoxicating scent so rich I could practically taste her on my tongue. God, I wanted to kiss her, but hurt shone in her eyes brighter than desire, sending a wave of remorse straight through me.

My first instinct was to apologize, to plead with her to see the truth, but I hardened my heart.

Silver was my weapon, nothing more.

---