Page 68 of Wicked Thirst
She hit him like a rugby player would, driving her shoulder into his stomach. They tumbled a few meters away and fell to the ground. The other three who were with Piper hurried to surround Grayson. They moved in closer like they were going to attack. Glittering, golden magic wound around the redhead’s hands. That blue smoke flowed from the blond guy and crept over the ground toward Gray. The elf, Kylian, swung his sword in a loose circle at his side. A manic laugh ripped from Grayson’s throat as red mist exploded out of him and they all froze. The mist spread over them in a thick wave and wrapped tightly around them, holding them in place.
Piper and Atlas wrestled on the ground. That mad laugh escaped Grayson again. I watched his eyes go full black as red veins forked out over his face and down his neck.I glanced to Marius. This was not the ammunition or knowledge he needed right now. It would only add fuel to his fire.
A wide grin spread over his face. “The Prince is crazed.”
Grayson forced the three surrounding him to kneel before him, their bodies quaking with the need to fight. Their muscles twitched and magic seeped from their hands and pooled on the ground around them. Grayson hunched over Kylian and raked a nail over his skin. A drop of blood welled at the base of his neck. Grayson drew back his lips and his fangs extended like he was about to strike.
“NO! Gray, don’t!” Piper called out to him, and he hesitated.
His eyes widened, and he stumbled away from Kylian, shaking his head like he didn't know up from down. He pressed his hands to the sides of his head and hunched over, roaring with anguish. He rocked up and down for what felt like forever but was mere seconds. All at once he straightened his stance and spun to face Atlas and Piper, who were still struggling on the ground. When he glanced at Piper, he hissed, but he took off running in the opposite direction. The others remained frozen with the effects of Grayson’s blood magic. Atlas rose to his feet above Piper, grabbed both of her shoulders, and shoved her to the ground. He turned to follow Grayson, but Piper was scrappy and hooked one arm around his leg and the other around his hip and threw him back to the dirt.
They both scrambled to their feet and drew their swords. They circled one another, and I was shocked how naturally Piper held those swords at her sides. “Atlas, don’t do this.”
“I keep my word,” he growled at her. “I will not fail him!”
He swung his sword. Piper lunged forward and threw her own swords up, blocking his strike. He spun quickly and crouched down and swung his sword at her midsection. At the last second, she jumped back, and the blade missed her by inches.
“He’s in there! You saw it! He hesitated.”
“Take your lies somewhere else,” he said on a snarl.
He swung for her chest, and I sucked in a sharp breath.Piper arched her back and the sword missed her by less than an inch. She turned and leapt forward, jabbing her swords toward him as he spun away. They were going to kill each other, and I had no idea why. They both loved Grayson, yet there they were circling each other, looking for how best to kill one another.
“Enough!” Golden magic wrapped around the two of them like a lasso around their waists. They flew up in the air and were held there.
Red mist seeped from Atlas, and the tattoos on his body rippled as he struggled. “Release me!”
The redhead marched between them and held her hands out. “This is stupid.”
She flicked her wrist and Piper landed on the ground beside her while Atlas soared across the cemetery. He fell to the ground and crashed into a headstone, which crumbled to dust. He lay there motionless for a moment.
Piper rounded on the redhead. “What the hell, Astrid? He’s trying to kill Gray.”
“Yeah, and when you save Grayson is he going to thank you for killing his best friend?” She put her hands on her hips, and though she was smaller than Piper, she stood up to her without hesitation.
Piper’s shoulders sagged, and she shoved the swords back into the holsters at her hips. “If he wants to kill Grayson, then he’s in my way. Don’t stop me again.”
Astrid motioned to the blond guy, and he opened up a portal right in front of her.
Kylian pressed his hand to his neck. “I’m not thanking you for stopping him.”
“I would expect nothing less.” She waved toward the portal. “After you, princess.”
Marius wrapped his hand round my wrist and yanked me to my feet as they walked through the portal and left us. The swirling blue light was gone, and the cemetery was back to being lit only by the moon.
I tried to yank my hand away, but he held on tighter. “What’s this about?”
He jerked me around and pressed my back to his chest. His lips were so close to my ear I could feel his hot breath on my skin. “The castle is weak. The Prince has fallen.”
Before I could react, he reached up and twisted my neck violently. The distinct crack of bone sounded through my head, and my muscles went limp. I fell back against him, begging for my body to move . . . Nothing. He’d snapped my neck in an instant. I couldn’t move.Bastard. I blinked up at him from my place on the cold, frozen grass. He grabbed my foot and dragged me toward where Atlas lay beside the broken headstone. He flung me there next to him. As I lay there unable to move, unable to fight back, hatred for this traitor bloomed in my chest. Marius squatted down next to me, and his face filled my vision.
“You’ll heal from this, but not before he wakes.” He shoved his hair from his face and patted my cheek. My head lulled to the side. He chuckled and adjusted my head so I was looking at him once more. “Remember, Theon, if you’re not with me . . . you’re against me.”
He rose to stand up straight and pressed his lips together as he looked down at me. “We will get past this. In time, I’ll forgive you.”
He turned and walked away from me, his coat billowing around him, and I wanted to rise and kill him then and there. I wanted to lash out and make him feel the panic I now did.
I will NEVER forgive you.
