Page 98 of The Guardian's Curse

“Am I wrong?” Elliott said sharply.

A noisy buzz of conversation rose around them. Shoshanna instinctively squeezed Elliott’s arm. There had to be at least fifty vampires here, all of them watching rapt. As she listened to the men argue, horror dawned on her. Elliott was going to use her as the executioner’s axe, and if it failed, then there would be a whole clan of vampires furious with her. They would tear her to shreds before she could blink an eye. And there wasn’t a damned thing she could do about it, because she had no choice but to follow his orders.

Cristiano Moretti chuckled. He released the wrist of his human meal. “You’ve interrupted my party, boy,” he said, his warm, jovial tone sharpening. “You insult my hospitality. You insult my guests. So I will entertain them by painting the floor with your entrails and mounting your head on my wall. You will have your duel, and I’m sad to say, you won’t be alive long enough to regret it.”

He rose, letting the half-dazed human tumble off his lap unceremoniously. At that, there was a flurry of activity all around them. Furniture scraped over the marble floors, and glasses clinked.

What had been a dance floor only minutes ago, alive with the shimmering movement of dancing and revelry, had became a battle arena. All around was a buzz of excitement, with whispers of not a chance and what’s he thinking?

Elliott gripped her chin, then leaned in to kiss her on the lips. She recoiled, but he held her firm. The taste of his blood spread on her tongue. Hating herself for it, she drew a mouthful, swallowing it like a shot of whiskey. When he broke away, he smiled. “Remember what you have to do.” His eyes flicked to Ruby. “Help her.”

He was careful of his words, knowing that every vampire in the room would hear him. Her eyes widened, as she realized her way out.

“I’m—”

He grabbed her jaw and hissed, “You will not say a word until Ruby gives you permission.”

She mouthed please.

“Soon enough, you’ll be my queen,” he said. Then he shed his jacket and handed it to Shoshanna. He raised his voice. “If you’d prefer, you can hand me your throne and I’ll let you walk away.”

“If you choose to insult my honor further, I’ll make your death take days,” Cristiano growled. “It’s been a long time since I flayed someone.”

A gruff voice with a thick Scottish accent spoke. “In accordance with the laws of the Casteron, any vampire may challenge a Baron for control of their clan, through a trial of their choice. Elliott McAvoy has challenged Baron Cristiano Moretti. The trial will end only when one man is dead. Do you accept?”

Elliott chuckled. “I accept.”

“I accept,” Cristiano said.

“Choose your weapons,” the Scottish man said.

“I choose the hand of my lovely mate,” Elliott said. She cringed at the word mate.

Cristiano laughed. “And I shall choose my own hand. That is all I will need to put you in your place. Vanessa, take note. I will rip out his heart for you, then pull his spine out for a trophy. Mark my words, love.”

Ruby held Shoshanna’s hand and guided her to the edge of the makeshift arena. Her legs were trembling and rubbery. Ruby’s lips pressed close to her ear. “Get ready.”

Elliott’s command was fresh, with the coppery tang of his blood still fresh on her tongue. And so, as she knew that her own life hung in the balance, she closed her eyes to envision the simple geometric sigil of fire, laser-focused and explosive. Her fingers tingled with power, and the taste of blood intensified. Energy crackled down her spine, as if the vampire blood was super-charging her. It would be much more powerful than when she’d used it on Elliott and Alistair. It might even kill him outright.

“Begin!” the gruff voice shouted.

The crowd erupted in jeers and shouts all around them. At once, the cultured, sophisticated crowd was screaming for blood. She heard the thick, meaty sound of fists. One of the men bellowed in pain, and shoes squeaked against the floor. They moved in an impossibly fast blur.

Ruby squeezed her wrist, then suddenly yanked her arm up. “Now,” she snapped. “You have permission.”

“Mettrez à feu,” Shoshanna spat, wishing she could stuff the words back into her mouth. It felt like vomiting, her whole body retching as she spat the words. Fire peeled away from her fingers and coalesced into a flaming arrow. Cristiano let out a piercing shout of pain.

“Cheater!” the woman’s voice screamed. More shouts erupted. “No! Stop him!”

Just feet away, Shoshanna saw Elliott straddling the other man, his hand buried in his chest as Cristiano tried to in vain to fight him off. Smoke curled up from the smoldering ruin of his chest. The stench of burning meat filled the air. She saw a spray of red, then closed her eyes and buried her face in Ruby’s shoulder. There was a loud crack of bone, then a horrific squelch followed by a noisy thump. Her mind painted the grotesque details that her eyes could not.

Stunned silence overtook the crowd. Firm hands grabbed Shoshanna’s shoulders, and voices rang out in a furious cacophony. “Witch! He cheated!”

She shook her head, struggling to get away, but their hands were iron shackles, squeezing tight enough to bruise. Voices snarled around her. They were going to rip her apart.

“Release her!” Elliott bellowed. “The witches are mine.” Still, the furious Casteron vampires closed in, more hands grabbing her. “By our laws, I am your Baron now. And if you do not release her, you will face the fate he did.”

Suddenly, they released her and shoved her forward. Her legs went weak as the crowd parted. Elliott’s figure loomed as he strode toward them. She let her eyes drift up to the few lights so she couldn’t see the hateful stares or Cristiano’s bloody remains. I’m so sorry, she thought desperately.

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