Page 92 of Vows Forged in Blood

“What do you want?” I growl through clenched teeth, though I know the answer already. His eyes sparkle with wicked glee, his lips curling back from his fangs.

“Kneel,” he rasps.

Everything in me recoils at the word, sneers at the very thought. But I must. I know that he’s lying about no harm coming to Dahlia, but I have to try. I have to do everything in my power to keep her safe.

“Kneel before me,” he continues, “and surrender.”

“Doona fucking dare, Alaric!!” Dahlia yells, furious and pulling against Kilgren’s vice-like grip. Blood pours down her arm, but she doesn’t seem to notice or care. She meets my gaze and I know she can see it in my eyes because I can feel her utter heartbreak and panic through our bond. She knows what I’m going to do. She knows that I’ll give up everything for her. She shakes her head once and begs in a soft whisper, “no.”

“It will be alright, Keeva. All will be well,” I lie. A single tear streams down her cheek…but then she transforms, her features hardening and that steadfast determination (and stubbornness) that I love so much settling over her. She turns back to face Kilgren. I don’t understand what’s happening and understand even less when her next words echo through the clearing:

“I challenge you!”

Chapter 46

DAHLIA

Fuck. Here we go.

Shock and incredulity and amusement ring out through the Revenants gathered around us. Kilgren stares at me blankly for a moment, as if he doesn’t understand the words I’ve spoken, but soon enough I see the rage begin to roil inside him.

“I challenge you for leadership of the Revenants,” I say again, jutting my chin. I had no idea if this would even work, if a challenge could be issued from someone who isn’t one of their own, but it was the only idea I could come up with that had even a sliver of a chance. And with the way Kilgren is reacting, I’m betting that a challenge fromanyonemust be honored. I barely stop a triumphant smile from spreading across my face.

“You littlebitch,” he spits, eyes blazing and fangs bared.

“Challenge? What are you talking about? Dahlia! What the fuck is happening!?” Alaric roars, still held at bay by Luca’s shield. I ignore him, keeping my focus on Kilgren. This plan is insane, but it’s the only one available to me. It’s the only one that has a chance of keeping Alaric and my friends safe, the only one that has a chance of saving Braxhelm.

“I won’t let you use me to torture him,” I say quietly. “Either way, your plan fails here and now.” I shift my shoulders back. “A fight to the death now, is it not?” I ask, louder, smirking. Surprisingly, I’m not afraid. The fear is locked firmly away in that box and buried deep in the earth. Kilgren growls, a deep, unsettling sound that sends shivers up my spine.

“It’s no matter. Your death will still destroy him. Without him, the army will fall. My forces outnumber his.” He spreads his arm wide to gesture to the thousands of Revenants lined up behind us. It’s true that Alaric’s forces are smaller—I’m assuming he sent most of his men south to spread the word and evacuate civilians, or gave them leave to flee with their families. My heart swells knowing that those who stand beside him came out of loyalty and love for Alaric, but also a bit for me—but I have faith that they will survive long enough to retreat or join the others, and then they will fight back. They will not give up. They will beat back against Kilgren’s forces again. I have to have faith or I can’t do this.

“I will still come out victorious, you stupid little human. Soon, all of Braxhelm will bow to me.” Kilgren leans towards me and adds in a low snarl, “I will still make him suffer, I promise you that.” I grind my teeth and try to pull my arm from his grasp, but his claws have dug in like razors.

“A challenge has been issued,” another Revenant says loudly—Xavier?—and Kilgren’s lip curls in an irritated sneer. “A challenge must be answered.”

Without taking his eyes from me, Kilgren calls out to his men, “I accept the challenge. A fight to the death, as is custom.”

I can hear Alaric yelling, screaming his denial. He might not understand what’s happening, exactly, probably not having any idea about how leadership works with the Revenants, but he surely understands the wordsfight to the death. I want to turn to him so badly, to tell him that everything will be alright oneway or another, but I don’t dare take pull my gaze from Kilgren’s. A rumble cascades from the Revenants all around us, but not a single voice lifts to give objection. These are ancient laws, laws built into their very blood. They are absolute.

One of us will die.

Kilgren bares his fangs and they are most certainly sharper and longer than they’d been a moment ago. I swallow hard but don’t cower.

“I had such plans for you, Dahlia.” His eyes skate over my body and I try not to cringe. “To deny me of them is unforgiveable. But not to worry, I will visit my retribution on all of those that you love. Mark my words, little human: theywillsuffer in your place, in ways you cannot imagine.” I shiver at that, my blood turning to ice at the thought, but I tell myself that it won’t happen, that this will be worth it and everything will turn out alright.

I bare my teeth at him and hiss, “Let’s get on with it then, shall we? I tire of hearing you speak.”

He grins at that and chuckles low. He releases my arm and I take a step back, shifting my stance the way Wesley and Nova taught me.

“Leech!” he calls, “keep that fucking shield in place. Our great High General isn’t going to like what’s about to happen.”

“Dahlia!! Gods damn it, what the fuck are you doing!?” I can hear Alaric screaming, his voice hoarse from it, and beating against the invisible barrier with all his might. All of them are, all of the soldiers that followed Alaric into this valley are shouting and clamoring against the wall, desperate to get to me. My heart surges at that, their strength bolstering mine.

I can do this for them. I take one quick, settling breath, and just hope that he doesn’t take my head off instantly. That will severely derail this plan.

“Let’s be quick about this. I have an army to destroy.” He shifts to the right and follow, keeping him in front of me. He goes back left, stalking me casually like a big cat. “I can smell your fear. It’s mouthwatering,” he taunts.

“Fuck you,” I say through gritted teeth, stepping forward and swinging my right fist towards his face. He grabs my wrist easily and tugs me closer, smiling. He glances down where he clutches me, claws digging into my flesh, and take the momentary distraction to lash out with my left arm. I rake my nails down his cheek, smiling when I see the black blood well. He arches a brow, completely unfazed.

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