40. Riggs
RIGGS
No way in hell am I going to let these gypsy bitches take Esemeray from me.
Riggs' heart thundered as he watched Reginah stalk toward him with a feral grin. He unsheathed a dagger and bared his teeth. “Walk away or I will throw through your pretty face.”
Reginah’s gaze skimmed over his blade, her lips thinning as she met his gaze. “Watch your tongue, boy, or I will take that dagger from you and cut it out.”
Riggs huffed a laugh, flipping the weapon effortlessly in his hand. “You think you’re cute, don’t you?”
“Think? Oh, you have a lot to learn in this life, boy.” Reginah stared at Esemeray with hungry eyes.
“We had a deal. Now, be a good bird and fly to me. Save your friends while you’re ahead.
” She outstretched her arm and waited mere moments before she viciously flicked her gaze to Riggs, and seethed. “Give her to me!”
“Her?” Killian’s brows furrowed. “Tell me it’s not who I think it is.”
Riggs whispered to Esemeray, “Don’t get involved, please. Fly north. I will find you.” Esemeray squawked loudly and took to the skies.
“What have you done?!” Reginah’s eyes swirled with darkness.
“You will regret that.” She extended her hand in the sky, curling her long fingers into a tight, shaking fist, and within moments, all six women dismounted their camels and approached, surrounding Reginah and dropping into a fighting stance.
Riggs clicked his tongue. Dramatic.
Riggs leapt off Storm, walking toward Reginah with a swagger and a playful grin. “Sorry, you can never be too sure with birds.” He gripped his dagger, ready to throw. “They are flighty little things.”
“A deal is a deal.” She hissed, “You will pay for this insult.”
“Calm down… I didn’t break anything, darling.” Riggs jerked his chin toward Killian. “You made the deal with him.” He met her fiery gaze. “Not me.”
Reginah fumed. “How did you get the bird?”
“What can I say?” A lazy smirk played on Riggs' lips. “Things like to come to me.”
Reginah’s eye twitched. “You do not fool me, boy. I know what she is.”
Killian threw his hands in the air. “Can somebody tell me what the fuck is going on?”
Riggs ignored Killian, a slow smile spreading across his face. “Me too. An endangered species. The rarest of its kind.”
She bared her teeth and Riggs paled. A thousand tiny fangs emerged from her gums. The other six ripped off their veils and followed her lead, hissing as their nails grew into claws, and not just any land creature claws—ones that only exist under the sea.
They were indeed sirens. It appeared the story was true after all.
Poor fishies. They long to swim.
What a punishment.
Reginah licked her lips, the point of her tongue blue. “It’s been a long while since I’ve tasted male blood.”
Riggs gripped his dagger and unsheathed another one, sliding into a fighting stance. “Thirsty? I got some water if you want.” He pouted. “Only, I forgot to pack salt.” Out of the corner of Riggs' eye, Killian freed his sword.
“You mock me,” Reginah spat.
He tapped his neck with the tip of his blade. “Come and get me.” Riggs winked. “I know you fish like to play with your food.” His voice was a low rasp.
Killian wiped sweat off his forehead. “You had to open your big fat fucking mouth, huh, Riggs?”
Reginah swiped her nails toward Riggs' chest, forcing him to leap back. Unable to help himself, he taunted, “Missed.”
Reginah scowled. “I want the man, not the boy.” The women charged at Riggs with lethality while Reginah stalked toward Killian.
“Get ’em Kills! Knock ’em dead!” Riggs shouted, running backward as he flicked both wrists toward the nearest sirens.
Both daggers found their mark, embedding deep in the arms of two redheads.
They shrieked loudly and slowed their pace.
With rapid speed, Riggs palmed another two and chucked them toward the wicked, long-haired brunette.
The blades drove right in her thigh. She went down, gripping the sand and screaming into the ground. “That’s going to leave a nasty scar.”
He slid his hand along his belt and unsheathed another, aiming toward the green-eyed predator.
She was a feral, running toward him like a hungry shark.
The tip of the blade logged into her throat, and she fell face-first. She gripped her neck, blood pumping through her fingers as she choked. Guilt swirled low in his gut.
It was a fair fight.
Right?
“Fuck!” Killian’s scream ripped through the desert, forcing Riggs' gaze on his brother.
Riggs' breath faltered. Killian was on his knees, pleading for mercy, his sword knocked out of his hand. With one lethal slam of Reginah’s boot, she had Killian on his back. Riggs squinted his face. Ouch.
Shit! Fire spread across Riggs' forearm.
His gaze tore away from his brother, and to the brutal slice running down his arm.
Bitch nicked me with my own blade. Riggs angled his head, reaching for the hilt of his dagger near his boot.
Fuck. He side stepped, avoiding his other dagger now being chucked at him.
“Terrible aim.” Riggs clicked his tongue. “What a shame.”
The two redheads shrieked like angry whales, sprinting toward him, their calves turning into scales, fins flapping behind them.
Riggs' face paled. Oh, shit. Quickly grabbing his blades, Riggs threw them, aiming for their necks. The tips sticking, blood spraying and spluttering out of their mouths.
Riggs whistled. “Close one.”
The last two halted, their fangs and claws disappearing as they hovered over the fallen females. Riggs halted too, his cheeks slackening at the sight of the mourning women. Ahem. Sirens.
Reginah screamed at the top of her lungs with a pitch so high Riggs collapsed to his knees and slammed his palms over his ears to stop the building pressure in his head. Blood leaked from his nose, streaming down his face.
Shit, I pissed her off.
Reginah yanked Riggs off the ground and threw him on his back, driving the air from his lungs. She hovered over him, flashing her fangs, and hissed, “You fool. You brought this agony onto yourself.” She slashed her claws across his chest.
Riggs grimaced, breathing through the pain. “This tunic was one of a kind.” He glanced down at the blood splattered across the ripped fabric. “Now it’s stained. Dammit.”
Reginah’s face morphed in front of Riggs' eyes. Riggs froze. Her chin grew slender, cheeks widening, fangs growing. “You are pathetic,” she screeched, swiping her tongue over her canines, pinning him to the sand with her powerful thighs.
“Let’s see if you taste as good as your brother.”
Brother! Riggs looked toward Killian, his vision stolen as sharp nails gripped his chin, slamming his head to the sand.
“You know what they say about aged wine,” Riggs grunted, attempting to roll her off. “I may be a tad premature. Killian’s got nine years on me.”
Riggs reached for his two last daggers, halting as dark shadows wrapped around Reginah’s throat. She stumbled off him, gasping for air.
With shaky limbs, Riggs pushed himself up, swaying across the sand.
Reginah dropped to her knees, clawing at the shadows around her neck, nails raking at her skin as if she could tear the darkness away.
But they did not falter, the shadows only tightened.
Her eyes burned with fear, an ancient, stark fear.
She choked. Her face paled, her sparkling, wicked eyes turning blank.
The shadows disappeared faster than they appeared, and Reginah fell lifeless to the sand.
Brows bunched, Riggs turned toward Killian, who stared out into the expanse with a bloody neck and wide eyes. Breathing heavy, Riggs trailed Killian’s gaze, and his heart tumbled into his stomach.
Esemeray stood there naked, hair wild around her, shadows curling around her shoulders.