Page 24 of Hopeless Sacrifice
“We actually have rather important things to be doing in the mortal realm. If we could just move along with the day’sfestivities.”My hands plant firmly on my hips.
“Oh, I do like your enthusiasm.” He nods a manic shake of his head. “This morning, I thought I’d go a little easy on you. Give some of you a break.”
With a wave of his wrist the three men at my side disappear. I gasp, hating how this god has the ability to rip away the only happiness I have in my life.
Yells coast through the air and I know what’s happening before I see it. Daxdyn, Darrio and Ryder land in pile within the stadium of the colosseum. An older woman gasps at the sight of the men lying at her feet. Her lip curls as if they’re pigeon droppings instead of a mound of sexy fae men.
With annoyed looks lining their faces, they stand. Ryder brushes off his jeans and I see Dax mumble something but they’re too far away from me to hear.
“Your men are impressive. The finest ones you could have chosen. But we all know you are the one holding this war together. If you want help from the gods, you must earn it yourself.” His eyes narrow on me and before I can even reply, he’s gone. The wind sweeps him away. I turn, searching the seats for the tormenting god.
He stands with a pleased smile pressed to his lips, right next to Darrio, Daxdyn, and Ryder.
Darrio stares hard at the side of Loki’s face. I can see it in his stormy eyes; he’s plotting the god’s death.
If anyone possessed the rage to murder a god, it’d probably be Darrio.
The doors at the far end of the gate are still closed. Gods and goddesses continue to take their seats. I have five minutes at least.
Small puffs of dirt billow up from my stalking steps as I make my way over to the three men watching me intently.
“You’re going to do fine,” Ryder says with assuredness. He leans against the edge of the brick, his arms folding as he stares down at me in my little shit hole pit.
“I know. I’ll be fine.”
Daxdyn looks less convinced. Honestly if he just pretended to believe in me, it’d really help.
“Thanks for the burst of confidence, Dax.” I glare up at him, the sun hitting my eyes and shadowing his smooth features.
“You’ll do fine,” he echoes in a quiet voice. He looks like he wants to wrap me up in a safety blanket and never let me go.
“Thanks.” I shake my head at him and just as I’m about to walk away a deep rumbling voice pulls at my attention.
“Whatever comes out of that gate isn’t a match for my fucking human.”
My head tips up to starry eyes. Darrio’s gaze skims to my lips before trailing to the scar against my neck.
I know he’s just saying it to boost my confidence, but he also knows I’m not the headstrong, breakable human I was just a few weeks ago.
I might be immortal for all we know.
And I guess we’re about to find out.
The walls shake as the gate at the far end of the arena opens. It pulls back like the mouth to hell. The simple sight of it makes my heartbeat kick up into an impossible speed. Magic swarms my veins, prepared for whatever horde of creatures Loki has prepared today.
My fingers wrap one by one around the hilt of my sword. With swift movements, I pull the blade from my belt. My spine stiffens as my eyes lock onto the open space within the walls.
I search every inch of the shadows for what lies beyond.
Nothing.
Nothing is there.
No rushing creatures scurry from the darkness to attack me.
My sword lowers and I take a single step forward.
When his massive bare foot hits the dirt, dread sinks through me. It’s nearly the size of my arm. An odd coloring clings to his flesh, like blood is laying forgotten and thick just beneath his dry skin.
