Chapter 14 #2
“I see now why I was sent for. You are a savage beast without redemption.” Nebet shakes Barnabas, and he howls.
When she backhands him, blood explodes from his nose.
“Stop that awful noise. It appears no one has taught you manners yet. Such a waste when you are so pretty. You would have made a beautiful toy for one of the Fang Born.”
Barnabas growls, kicking her.
Nebet’s ribbons whip out like snakes binding his tail and cruelly wrenching. Tears involuntarily glisten at the corners of his eyes, as he grits his teeth in pain.
“Behave now, Hart,” Nebet commands, “unless you want your father to be demoted from his position as Lord of the Manor, your family exiled from the kingdom, and your sister to take your place here as a Blood Lover.”
Instantly, Barnabas stills. “Please, please, don’t…”
“Better,” Nebet purrs. “It’s a start. Although, both of you are the reject Blood Lovers who I doubt anyone will claim. I never thought that I would see such sacrilege as a Hart refusing to do their duty to their god.”
“You. Are. Not. My. God,” Barnabas replies, slowly and deliberately, despite the pain that is making him shake.
Oh, fuck.
Nebet’s eyes widen.
She’s going to kill him.
My feathers quiver with her intention to kill. I can feel it on my prickling skin.
As a trained assassin, there is a type of stillness just before any killing blow.
It’s not bloody happening to this Omega.
Without even thinking about it, I push on Barnabas’ back hard. It takes Nebet by surprise, unbalancing her. Then I crouch, knocking out both of their legs with a leg sweep.
It’s messy, but I do it without thought.
Anything to stop her killing him.
Nebet shrieks, as the two of them fall in a tangle to the floor. Her ribbons withdraw in a furious, hissing wave around her, as if she can’t work out who has attacked her.
Her mistake for underestimating me.
At least it means that my disguise as Dove has been effective.
Have I just made a bad move? Revealed myself?
Nobody hurts Omegas, however, who feel like they belong to me, or friends and rebels who fight for freedom.
They’re all on the side against the tyranny of these bloody courts.
Barnabas scrambles on his knees to shelter behind me.
The guy is smart. It hasn’t taken him long to realize that I am the power in this room who can save him.
Perhaps, I can even turn this to my advantage and get him to make a deal.
“In the name of the Shadow Devils,” Nebet is breathing hard, trying to control her rage, “what do you think you are doing, fae? How can you fight like that?”
“I was a member of the featherglass,” I reply. “Sin knows that.”
“Does the King know that his sweet pet attacks High Priestesses?” Nebet hisses, prowling closer.
I back up.
Barnabas’ chest is pressed against my wings, as he is crushed against the wall. He still rests his hand reassuringly on my shoulder.
Nebet leans to grip my chin. I glare fiercely back.
“Does your King know that his High Priestess beats his sweet Omega Blood Lovers?” I retort.
Nebet tightens her hold on my chin. “An Unseelie protecting someone else without getting anything out of it. How surprising.”
“I just don’t like bullies.”
Nebet lets go of me with a contemptuous sneer, before taking a shuddering step back. “Stop that nosebleed, Hart. Don’t waste what belongs to your gods.”
I glance over my shoulder at Barnabas, before giving him a wicked grin.
He returns it, before wiping the blood off his nose and then deliberately licking it. “The only one who drinks my blood is me.”
My grin widens.
I turn back to Nebet, in case she attacks again.
Instead, she laughs. “Be defiant then. I am pairing you together, as the two troublemakers. Then you can’t infect any of the other precious Blood Lovers with your heresy. Maybe you can help each other survive.”
My brow furrows. “Survive singing, dancing, and learning to look sexy, aye? Because I already have those covered.”
Nebet bares her long fangs. “Survive the Hunt. I assure you that tomorrow night, your blood will be drunk by the Shadow Vampire who claims you. Call us gods or devils, our fangs will sink into your throats just the same. Good night, my Harts.”
I clench my hands, as she sweeps out of the room.
I barely hear the door slam shut.
Hunt.
Nice and ominous sounding.
Hurriedly, I step forward and turn around to catch Barnabas, who collapses into my arms.
“Fuck that fanged hag.” Barnabas groans, as I lower him to the straw.
“Now, now, is that any way to talk about a god?” I dance out of the way with a laugh, as Barnabas weakly bats at me.
Then I settle on my side next to him, as he tenderly massages his antlers with a grimace. His tail hangs limply between his legs.
“This Hunt, aye?” I fiddle with a piece of straw. “I’m guessing that we’re the prey.”
Barnabas’ shoulders slump. “We’re the Hinds and Harts; the Bloods are the predators.
We’re taught that it’s in both our natures to be that way.
I tried to convince my kingdom that we weren’t born to be no more than…
” He rubs at the smeared blood on his nose.
“I failed with all but my small band, and they…”
He swallows.
By the glassy look in his eyes, his followers’ ghosts shroud us without him needing to tell me that they died for following his dream of freedom.
Just like mine did.
“The Blood Lovers in this Guild are here willingly,” Barnabas admits like it hurts him.
“They wish to be hunted and caught. It is the highest honor to them to serve their dark gods. Omegas in the villages who aren’t selected fucking weep.
Can you believe that? Weep. I warn you, they will use this Hunt as an excuse to execute us both.
What knavish Blood would trust either of us in their nest?
They would be not only foolish but crazy. ”
Why am I thinking of wine-red eyes and a nest that smells of incense?
Lanlin wasn’t a fool or crazy.
He threw me out of his nest because he couldn’t trust me. It tears up my heart, but the fact is, he was right.
I cock my head, catching Barnabas’ gaze.
I force myself to smile, revealing my sharp teeth.
“I’m no prey. So, let’s make a deal. You will teach me tonight everything you know about the Hunt.
You’ve seen how I can fight, and you’ve killed with those antlers.
Then on my side, I swear to stick together with you during the Hunt.
If they plan to use the event as a way to execute us, then they’ll be shocked when we fight back. ”
Barnabas leans closer, resting his forehead against mine. “Never make a deal with a fae…unless times are truly desperate. Deal. Live or die tomorrow, we’ll face the Hunt together.”