Chapter 18
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Rolf stared at the mess on the ground. Bloode and guts, shards of bone, and vampires dancing around, playing with death. A good time for one and all until one of the Butchers had gone a little too far and grabbed Syl.
She’d been doing a fantastic job electrocuting and making trouble with her charming ax.
The asshole grabbed Syl and—
Rolf sank to the ground in abject misery, pain throbbing throughout his entire body.
“What’s wrong, boy? Afraid?” Hades mocked while Caliban taunted Rolf by running a sword through his limbs one slow stroke at a time.
The amount of his bloode pouring onto the sand wasn’t good. Especially because instead of freaking out over it, the strigoi twins regained their composure and played to the crowd.
Rolf couldn’t see Loki or Apollo’s reactions, but the sight of Sylvara on her back, suddenly unmoving, shocked him into action.
He pushed through his pain and raced toward her, only to be yanked back by Caliban.
“Where are you going, little puppy?” The strigoi laughed and backhanded him, breaking Rolf’s jaw.
Fuck, that hurt.
But Syl wasn’t moving. And Caturix crouched next to her, studying her before lifting his sword high then plunging it into her belly.
Rolf shivered, a need to protect working past the pain that came in waves, making his senses blur. The urge to destroy everyone but his female coiled inside him, growing stronger as he called on his magic to help him block the excruciating agony.
Even for a draugr used to such extremes, he was nearly undone. He blinked his eyes open and saw Syl reach for Caturix, stroking his arm. Would her awful desire make her open to the strigoi’s attention? She would hate that. He hated that.
Rage had him growling, a fiery need for destruction beyond what he could control. Not good. Not at all.
A scratching from the dimensional portal he kept on him, a whine from his little buddy who really needed to stay hidden. Especially now.
“Oh, what’s that?” Caliban cocked his head. “A friend of yours?”
But Rolf was fixated on his female touching another male, inviting him closer. She moaned, and even Caliban paused to look over at her.
Caturix froze for a moment before he attacked Syl with a punishing kiss.
“Oh, ho.” Hades laughed. “The battle has clearly turned in another direction!”
Glee surged from the crowd, along with slurs and jeers.
Rolf shoved past his pain and rushed toward her. But before he could reach her, Caliban pierced him with another blade, pinning him to the ground.
The rage built. He felt himself begin to change, calling on the fury of the wolf.
A valkyrie’s scream echoed across the arena, and he couldn’t help cringing as he stared in shock at Caturix flying across the sands.
“Hot damn. That is one fine female,” Caliban muttered and left Rolf, stalking toward Syl with predatory intent.
Syl had removed the blade from her belly, rolled to her stomach, and was trying to pull herself toward Rolf, crawling over the sand. She looked tortured, her body leaving a red stain across the floor of the arena while the crowd sang new praises for the “hottie valk.”
Rolf had reached his limit.
Before Caliban reached her, Rolf let his wolf ascend and pushed past the weapons holding his frail mortal flesh to the ground.
Instead, a monstrous wolf the size of a small SUV grew past the pain, feeding on it as he galloped toward his valkyrie.
He passed the threshold of where the punishing spell ended and moved faster when the pain stopped impeding his movement. He leaped at Caliban, who’d been waiting and had turned with his blade ready, his smile a clear testament to his enjoyment with the battle.
But before he could plunge the weapon up into Rolf’s belly, Syl yanked the bastard back by the ankle, and he fell. Under Rolf.
Rolf howled and snarled as he bit into the tender flesh of his enemy, pushing his claws into the strigoi, who’d managed to roll onto his back. But Rolf wouldn’t let him rise. They ripped at each other, Rolf clearly winning, digging at the strigoi’s organs, seeking the sweetness of his heart.
The cacophony of cheers and shouts around him faded until a familiar touch stopped his frenzy.
“Uh, Rolf?”
He glanced down at the mush under his paws then over at Caturix, who had been cut nearly in half. Rolf woofed in question.
“My strike, his sword.” She lifted the blade, coated in a white energy, her eyes sparking with the same lightning coating the weapon.
Rolf felt the sparks of her magic standing his fur on end. But instead of a threat, the warmth of her presence made him want to howl with joy.
Hades was laughing and cheering with the crowd. “Nicely done. Now off, both of you.” The god snapped his fingers, and Rolf and Sylvara reappeared in the middle of the arena.
Rolf looked around, but the sands were empty, no bodies left.
Then Hades appeared directly in front of them.
Syl automatically responded to his sudden arrival with a bolt of lightning.
Hades waved it away as if swatting a fly.
Hmm. Maybe Syl had a point about not offending Hades in his own territory. The guy was a god, and here, he probably wouldn’t be able to be killed.
Said god waited, staring at him expectantly.
Syl elbowed him, and Rolf rubbed his chest, annoyed.
She bowed her head to Hades.
With a sigh, Rolf gave the god a slight bow. “Apologies for any offense, Hades. None was intended.” Oh, totally intended. And they both knew it.
Hades smirked.
Syl straightened, staring at Hades with wide eyes. “Sorry for staring, but you are seriously good looking.”
Hades preened and winked at her. He turned to Rolf. “Apology accepted, young draugr. It’s obvious you’re not in control of yourself. But who could blame you with such a sweet temptation by your side? One who has a keen sense of beauty and divinity.”
“I mean, like, so hot. Persephone should keep you locked up.” Syl smiled at Hades, making Rolf growl all over again. He sure hoped she was sucking up to get them the hell out of there and for no other reason.
Hades chuckled. “I like you, valkyrie. I’ll give you both a pass. Now, get lost.” He stared up at the stands and projected with godly power, “We have bets to make and fights to watch. Do we not?”
The crowd screamed, “Hades. Hades. Hades.”
He waved at everyone then appeared once again in his booth overlooking the arena.
Syl grabbed Rolf by the arm and dragged him toward Loki, who now stood by an exit to the arena. “Keep moving before he changes his mind.” She rubbed her stomach, and he wondered if she felt residual pain, the way he suddenly did. Perhaps their wounds hadn’t been truly healed after all.
Hades was such a dick.
Rolf and she joined Loki and walked quickly out of the arena and into a private side chamber.
Loki closed the door just as Apollo arrived in a brilliant spot of light.
A cushiony couch and pillows centered around a small table filled with food and pitchers of wine and water.
Syl shot to the couch, sat, and started eating, not pausing while they all watched her.
“Sorry, I’m famished,” she said between bites of roasted meat, sweet vegetables, and bits of cheese and bread. “Gotta rebuild my energy.” Her eyes glowed, and an all-over shine covered her body, giving her the healing she no doubt needed.
Courtesy of Apollo, whose eyes glowed. He smiled at Rolf, as if expecting thanks.
Rolf glared. He could have used some blood, but he didn’t see anyone volunteering, so he kept his complaint quiet. He’d sip from his fiancée later, he thought with satisfaction. Right after they discussed her embarrassing tendency to flatter Hades.
Loki watched her with approval. “Heal, valkyrie. We need have words with your vampire.” He waved his hand, and Rolf felt a spell come between him and Syl. Before he could protest, Loki said, “This won’t trigger the spell binding you. It’s just a noise barrier. She won’t be able to hear us.”
She stared at them while she drank and mouthed, “I can’t hear you. But I’m good.”
Rolf couldn’t help growling, “Fine. Loki, why are you here? Why are we here? Where is your son? Are we done yet?” Before Apollo could chime in, he added, “And why did you bring twinkle toes with you?”
Apollo scowled. “I can kill you with a thought.”
Rolf smiled through his teeth. “You can try.”
He turned when he felt a banging against the invisible barrier Loki had erected. Syl pounded on it and exaggerated her mouth’s movements so he couldn’t mistake her meaning. “Be. Nice.” Then she dragged her finger across her throat and glared extra hard at Rolf before returning to her meal.
Wow. The woman could really put it away.
But she’d made her point. They had shit to do, and annoying the gods, though fun, wasn’t helping them.
With a put-upon sigh, he turned back to them. “Okay. What do you want?”
Apollo grinned and opened his arms. “Come give Daddy a hug.”
Loki snickered. Behind him, Syl’s eyes widened as Apollo embraced Rolf, taking him off his feet.
Rolf groaned. “I really hate all of you.” So, so much.