Page 110 of The Star's Sword

I tried to fight back disgust. “Sure.”

“Aren’t you going to pick a weapon?” Vasara asked, rolling her eyes.

“I have a night sword,” I said. “I’ll use it as needed.”

“What?” Her jaw dropped. “You’re joking. That can’t be allowed.”

I shrugged. “Try and take it from me. There was no rule against it, so here we are.” I took a step closer, making her lean back slightly this time. “I see your intentions with Samael. I know what you did to Simon. Your herd can’t save you this time.” I got in close, reaching up on tiptoes to talk in her ear since she was frozen. “You’re. Going. To. Die. For. Taking. What’s. Mine.”

I stepped back, putting a hand on my sheath. “Bring the night,” I said, as I felt the sheath grow, and saw lightning crackle over the blade as I pulled it out by the hilt. My sword was black, with red energy pulsing over it and lightning moving across the blade.

Vasara took a hesitant step back, looking at the vampires. “Is that? That can’t be a real night sword.”

“The Morningstar should have one,” Samael said, from his place in the cylinder. He was sitting now, looking relaxed.

Vasara glared at him, then turned back to me. “Well, it’s not going to matter, because we’re not going to fight, at least not yet.”

“Tell me the rules,” I said, folding my arms. Just like standing in front of the unicorn, I knew I was going to win no matter what.

Because I had something to fight for, and she had only herself.

Samael for his part didn’t look at all bothered by his captivity. If anything, he seemed happy to have such a close seat.

He and I both knew that the instant Vasara tried to pull him out of that cage, even if she somehow managed to defeat me, all hell would break loose.

“My elder vampires will pick the first trial. Then I will pick the second. Then, either you or your elder vampires pick the next.” She darted her eyes to where Mark was standing with Simon. “Two of them, so sad. Anyway, either you or they can pick one trial.”

I narrowed my eyes. “So you get two picks and we get one?”

She grinned malevolently. “You’re the one who betrayed the vampires. You’re lucky they’re even putting this on, given that they know I’m going to win.” She looked at Samael. “But I’ve always wanted a ninth realm boyfriend.”

Samael’s lip curled at her, and I briefly wondered how long it would take him to disembowel her if she tried to do anything he didn’t want.

“Oh, I see what you’re thinking,” Vasara said. “That I won’t be able to overpower him. But you know, sometimes it’s just about leverage.” She grinned. “Maybe I won’t kill you, and maybe I’ll ask him to show me how incubi feed in exchange for letting you live.” She looked at Simon as I gritted my teeth in rage. “Simon does feel sooo good when he feeds. Or when I bite him. But I hear incubus feeding feels even better.”

I snuck a look at the vampires, who didn’t seem to love the direction this conversation was taking. Probably because it wasn’t about them.

“Avenge us, Vasara!” they yelled. “Miracle! Miracle! Miracle!”

I saw Vasara sneak a small eye roll as the chant began again, giving the vampires a fake smile and wave as she turned back to me.

Odd as it was to me, it seemed she didn’t even like them much at all, despite their support.

But what she’d said about Sam had lit a fire in me.

“Just like I could use those stupid humans to threaten Simon, I can use your worthless skin to get that incubus to feed as long as I want,” she said, licking her lips. “You see, threatening strong people is even easier than threatening weak people, because strong people have people they love, people they will fight for, and if you simply apply the right fear, they will fold.”

I blinked in rage at her sheer evil. I would finish this quick and make sure she never got near one of my friends.

But why was she so in with the vampires if she didn’t even like them? That was what I didn’t get as Vasara walked to face them on the sidelines for a moment, putting up both hands.

“My friends! The time has come for vengeance! No vampire life will go unanswered for!”

“Miracle! Miracle!” the vamps chanted, pumping fists.

“I will be the Morningstar, and the vampires will rule across the land!” Vasara yelled.

“What?” I asked, confused. “The Morningstar doesn’t rule.”

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