Page 104 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

Damn it. The potions must have worn off, the syphoning not having enough energy from me to keep the loop up.

Standing as still as statues, they wait as heavy footsteps move closer and closer.

Alana grips my arm, her nails making me wince as they dig into me. Her fear a palpable thing come to life once again.

Two guards step aside, opening their little barricade and letting their boss in.

On seeing Kaladar, Alana whimpers, digging her nails in harder.

“There you are. I have to say I’m quite impressed you made it this far, but I’m sure you had help. King will be dying to know how you evaded his spells and guards.”

I would never give Jazmyn up or anyone else who aided me. He could go to hell. They all could.

“Ah, I see we’ll have to do this the hard way, then. All the more fun for me.” His smile is cruel and sadistic, the light in his eyes twisted and manic.

No part of this would be fun, but maybe I could distract him long enough to get Alana away from here. She still has enough time to make it to Jazmyn and her sister to remove King’s tag once and for all.

“I’ll get you out of here, don’t worry.” Her eyes fill, giving me a slight nod.

Glancing around quickly, I spot a couple of guards chatting near the back. New blood.

A quick plan forms as I aim my attention on Kaladar.

“If you wanted another round, you could’ve just asked. There was no need to go to all this trouble.”

His answering smile is vicious. “It was no trouble at all. In fact, I’ve enjoyed hunting you down. The reward for catching you, well worth the price.”

The sadistic glint in his eyes grows along with his smile. “Your pain. Your delicious suffering and your blood as it runs free to the cold, hard, ground.”

“That’s if you can… Last time you were kind of… lacking.”

The new blood chuckle behind me, falling into my plan.

Kaladar’s eyes lose focus, rage threatening to take over before he pushes it down, focusing back on me.

“This time, I’m going to strap you down. Nice and tight.”

I hold in the icy shiver at the promise in his words, concentrating only on getting Alana out of here.

Just a little longer.

“So, what you’re telling me is… you’re just a coward. One who can’t even handle a… defenceless girl?” I feign a pitying look as his nostrils flare, staring daggers at me.

The guards snicker again. This time Kaladar catches them. The look he gives them makes them cower in fear as they avert their eyes.

I watch him as he unravels in front of me, the darkness in his eyes spreading out around him.

Walking around as if I’m not surrounded by Kaladar’s bloodthirsty guards, I act flippant as I move back and forth, slowly edging towards my bag.

“You’re trapped. There’s nowhere to go. I will gut you and bleed every drop from your body.”

I wave him off. “Please, like you could do any worse than King himself. There’s a reason they call him King. You’re just his second string, his lackey. Someone he calls to do his dirty work. You’ll never be as powerful as him.”

The crazy look in his eyes grows wild and unfocused as he searches for a target. One of his guards moves slightly to the left, drawing his attention. Aiming his anger towards the poor guard, he snaps a hand out toward him. A bolt of power shoots through him, killing him instantly.

Shaking off the guilt, I get on with my impulsive plan.

While Kaladar is distracted and his men are in shock from the brutal murder, I reach down, pulling out a smoke bomb and throw it near the new blood.

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