Page 93 of Wings of Sacrifice
There was her beautiful face, spoiled by the panic in her gaze.
“You should be asleep, sweetie.” She snapped the notebook closed behind me and ushered me off her chair.
“I was just playing.” She took the crystal letter opener away, and I frowned. “I had a nightmare.”
“Oh, sweetie. Should we read a quick book together?” She placed her hand on my back, guiding me out of her room. Her touch was warm, and her sweet vanilla scent was almost a balm to the ache in my chest. But it was soured by her secrets.
Did she know about the guardian bond?
Did she know what would happen to me?
“Yeah!” past me chirped.
“Lucy!”
Was that Oliver’s voice?
“Lucy. Wake up!”
A poke jabbed into my side, and I opened my eyes to the present day.
“We’re up next. Come on. It’s no time to nap.”
“I wasn’t napping. I was dream-walking,” I whispered.
Oliver’s eyes widened. “My sister?”
“No. My mother. She knew something about the guardian bond.”
“You don’t think she…” Oliver dragged his hand across his wrist as if mimicking carving a rune.
“No, she wouldn’t…” Who was I kidding? My mom told me she had secrets. She told me not to hate her for them. “I have no idea. But we’ll talk about it later.”
We had the fight to focus on.
Fire, vines, flying daggers, and powers I couldn’t name attacked the illusioned demons. Screams and curses, even some cheers, rang throughthe arena. Both groups facing off were vicious. They didn’t hold back; everything but killing was allowed. Scorching skin, drowning, suffocating, stabbing, breaking limbs—all game. It didn’t matter if you were predator or prey; each side used their powers and skills to take down the other. But the demon squad seemed more coordinated, working as a team to corner and bite their prey.
A sharp cry pulled my attention to a demon writhing on the ground, razor wire coiled tight around its body. A warrior with a sleeveless uniform stood over it, the same wire snaking from the silver tattoos on his arms.
“Who do you think is in more pain? The blondie with razor wire coming out of his skin or the one wrapped in it?” Oliver said conspiratorially beside me.
The guy pulled on the wire. Every edge sank into the demon’s skin, and its pained shriek turned into a gurgle. Smirking, he opened his palms and let the wire spool back into the tattoos on his arms before luscelering to the other end of the arena with his squad members, winning the round. Instantly, the illusion over the defeated demons faded and transferred onto the winning team.
“I guess we’re about to find out.”
“Great. I’ve always wanted to be sliced six ways from Sunday,” Oliver groaned.
A Dread dragged the unconscious female off the sand, blood streaking in her wake. Was she even alive?
“Maybe you should sit this one out,” I suggested, completely serious.
“But how else will I see my new paramour if I don’t get at least one slice?” Oliver half-teased.
I shook my head as we met MJ and our squad on the sand, ready to receive her instructions.
Ronen stepped up behind her, and apprehension twisted in my stomach.
Thin shadows wrapped around his muscular neck, attempting to hide within his tattoos. His jaw pulsed, slow and relentless.
