Page 37 of Hell Sent

Azreth turned to Raiya. He hadn’t fully appreciated how much he liked being alone with her until the cultists had begun crowding around. Even now, a few of them hovered on the edges of the room, staring.

Raiya noticed him looking at her, and she smiled tiredly, like they were sharing a secret.

He needed to feed. He did not want to ask, but he had completely run out of magic. He’d had to dispel his false arm, which he never did if he had a choice. He had long ago come to terms with his missing limb, but it was still a weakness, and he disliked being reminded of it. Having his deformity on display for all to see shamed him.

He imagined Raiya would grow tired of being put in this position. She must have already suspected he would do nothing to her if she refused him. He could only ask her, and hope her generosity didn’t run out.

He touched her back, indulgently running his fingers up to her exposed neck above her cloak. Her skin was damp and cold.

“I am hungry,” he said, regretful.

To his surprise, her dark eyes got darker. “So am I.” Her smile had quirked up on one side, giving it a sultry edge. She met his gaze and didn’t look away, though her cheeks had grown redder. She was blushing.

Heat gripped him, burning in his chest—a pleasant pain, which was worrying. Pain should never feel pleasant.

She cleared her throat, looking away. “Later,” she promised.

He nodded, mute.

* * *

The moment Raiyaleft his side, cultists rapidly closed in. They caught him in a hallway, blocking his path forward. He didn’t think they meant him harm, but it made him nervous to be so close to so many people, and he suppressed the instinct to beat his way through them.

“Great Servant of Moratha!” said one of them in greeting, bowing low. The others bowed in unison, too. “We are most honored by your presence. The High Priestess tells us a great awakening is coming.”

It was absolutely bizarre seeing mortals so happy to see him. “…Yes,” he said.

The cultist smiled wide. “We are your humble servants. What would you have us do?”

“Help my companion find a way to break the curse on me.”

The cultist dipped his head. “Of course. And after that, Dark One? What does the dark lady wish of us?”

Azreth just stared at him. He had no idea what their goddess wanted, but he couldn’t very well say so.

The cultist took his silence in stride. “Do you require blood sacrifices?”

Against his better judgment, he paused to consider that. It sounded like something he’d like. “Sacrifices?”

“Yes!” The man drew a knife from within his robes and ushered two young female cultists forward to kneel in front of him. “They’re virgins, of course. Or would you prefer the blood of a child? Or a priest of Astra, perhaps?”

Azreth did not completely understand what a virgin was, but he gleaned it was something to do with sex.

He considered the group for a moment. The girls in front of him were stiff, and their eyes darted, avoiding him.

The offer was not tempting.

His life had become so strange. Mortals were throwing themselves at him now, and he didn’t even want them.

“At your word, my lord.” The male cultist raised his knife to the throat of one of the girls in front of him, and Azreth suddenly understood that this “blood sacrifice” involved killing, not merely bleeding. The man was grinning excitedly, but the girl’s fear was filling the hall.

Azreth contemplated demanding the man’s own life instead, just to see if he’d retract his offer. But he wasn’t confident the man wouldn’t joyfully slit his own throat, and Raiya probably wouldn’t like it if she found out he’d made a man kill himself.

“Why would I want that?” Azreth asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “What good does it do me?”

The cultist looked startled. He quickly recovered, sheathing the knife. The girls were visibly relieved.

“They would be honored to serve you in other ways, too, of course,” the man said. “We have many beautiful maidens among us. And if none here take your fancy, we will procure others. Whatever you wish. The town is full of delights of the flesh.”

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