34. Chapter Thirty-Four

Chapter Thirty-Four

Raevyn

" W here are we going?" I asked Hawk as we strode along a dark alley in the back end of Infernium. It felt like a seedy sort of place. There were people lingering in doorways, donors offering veins to vampires, shady deals and whispered secrets.

"A night club called Bloodsport." Hawk wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side. I had the urge to lean in and press my nose against his skin just to drag his scent deep into my lungs. Wild mountains had never smelt so good.

"Bloodsport?" Didn't sound like a pleasant nightclub.

"Yes," Hawk replied as he leant down, his long hair brushing against my cheek. "It's where criminals have the option to fight for their freedom. If they survive, they go free. If they don't, well…"

I didn't need Hawk to finish his sentence. The implication was pretty clear.

I turned my chin up to look int Hawk's bright eyes. "And how often do they go free?"

His grin was wild and made him look barbaric. "Almost never."

"I love this place," Nox said, twirling his blade between his fingers. "Although, I haven't been for ages. Wonder if Ares still fights in the ring?"

"What's he like?" I knew the legends, of course, but the thought of actually meeting the guy was terrifying. He was the God of War, built like a brick shithouse and had a temper that rivalled Hades'.

"Charming," Hawk said with a chuckle and there was a warmth to the word that suggested an intimacy between the two. "So make sure you don't end up alone with him. You're beautiful and powerful, two things guaranteed to make him interested."

"And you don't like that idea?"

Hawk pulled me to a stop, a slight frown above his eyes. "Raevyn, other than the Revenants, the thought of anyone else touching you makes me want to rip limbs from bodies and crush skulls with my bare hands. It's unreasonable but…" His gaze dipped to my lips and roamed the contours of my face. "Just stay close and don't wander off."

He was gone then, wandering towards the end of the alley to be engulfed by shadows that seemed unnatural.

"He's right," Rook said as he walked next to me. "Stay close. The people in here are the worst sort."

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Casimir beat me to it.

"We know you can handle yourself, but they will outnumber you a hundred to one. Just be sensible. That's all we ask." I could tell Deimos was lurking near the surface, his red eyes bleeding silver streaks. I suddenly wondered what would happen to a room teeming with criminals who were all scared shitless. The thought intrigued more than it probably should have.

I nodded slowly, unable to shake the image from my mind. Casimir's lip curled as if he knew what I was thinking. Or was it Deimos? I couldn't tell.

He stepped closer, his smile widening. "See something, little bird?"

My heart lurched in my chest at the pet name, my mind taking me back to the moment he had me trapped against the door.

His gaze held me captive, the silver overtaking his irises. "Are you ready to run for me?"

"Come on," Nox whined, breaking the hold Casimir had over me. "I want to see some bloodshed."

I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the shadows, following the direction Hawk had gone, putting some distance between Casimir and me. I didn't trust myself around him, or Deimos. It was like the adrenaline spiked with fear was increasing the buzz my desire gave me. I wanted more. Needed more but I didn't know how to go about asking. Maybe I just needed to run and see if he'd chase me.

As soon as I stepped into the unnatural shadows, the outside world disappeared. It was like there was a giant sound bubble blocking everything apart from the booming bass I could hear thundering up through the floor.

"Name."

A giant Minotaur holding a clipboard stood by the entrance to the door. Holy shit! They were legendary. Fuck I had so many questions, but I suddenly couldn't think of a single one.

He looked up from his clipboard and scowled menacingly. "Name."

Oh, shit. "Raevyn Raathmore."

His eyes scanned the list, and he flipped the top sheet over. "Nope. You're not on here."

I turned on my megawatt smile. "Were friends of Hawks's and if you could just let us—"

"Are you fucking serious?" He looked between me and the others. "If you're not on the list, you don't get in."

"My friend literally just walked in," I said with a snap.

He snorted and I had the sudden urge to wipe the smirk off his face. "Don't care, sweet cheeks. No name, no entrance. Now piss off."

"Hey," Nox started, but I held out my hand out, cutting off his words.

I stepped towards the Minotaur, and he stood taller, straightening his back to try and intimidate me. Little did he know that I was done with being intimidated.

I pulled my power to the surface, revelling in the familiarity that was coming with it. I was finding it easier to access it, I just wasn't confident in what I was actually capable of. But I was following advice and just going with the flow.

"We've been invited here to visit Ares. There must be a mistake on your form, and I'd appreciate it if you would check again."

"Listen lady, I don't know who the fuck you think you are—"

My hand shot out, power instantly flowing trough my fingertips. The Minotaur clutched at his chest, and I felt his beating heart like it was a visceral thing. I listened to the thud of it and willed it to slow.

I watched and waited, bringing his heart almost to a complete stop. Almost, but not quite.

"That's enough, Raevyn," Korbin said. "You've made your point."

I instantly dropped my hand and a wave of guilt washed over me as the Minotaur sputtered and coughed. I'd been so wrapped up in the feeling of power that I'd almost held him under my spell too long.

Nox grabbed my plait and yanked my head back. The movement was so unexpected that I had to clutch onto him to maintain my balance.

"That was so hot," he said and then slammed his lips to mine. His kiss was merciless, like the man himself. He invaded my mouth with the single goal of claiming it for his own. No part of it was left untouched. He licked, sucked, bit every part he could reach and forced me to take it. He owned me with that kiss, and I was a hundred percent on board with that.

He brought the kiss to an end and his bright blue eyes sparked in the dark with fizzes of lightning. "I love watching you come into your power. Makes me want strip you bare and fuck you till you scream."

Oomf. Yes, please. Now. I wanted it here. Just take me and—

A cough interrupted my spiralling thoughts and broke into the fantasy that was developing in my mind. I turned to find the others watching me with a lustful expression.

"I wish we didn't have to see Ares." Casimir's voice was a deep rasp, and it was strained, as if he was holding himself back from doing exactly what Nox just did.

Silence descended between us all again and the tension became palpable, like a living breathing thing that I could almost choke on.

"What the fuck are you all doing out here?" Hawk growled, snapping the tension. "Why's the Minotaur on the ground? Did I miss something?"

"Just our girl being badass," Rook said with a smirk and my heart warmed at his words. It made me feel like I belonged. Like I had a home, and somebody wanted me around. I'd spent so long being an inconvenience, or being in the way, that I had very little self-worth. Tears bubbled in my eyes as I looked at them all.

"Why are you crying?" Casimir asked, stepping forward and brushing a tear off my cheek.

"You said ‘our girl'."

"And that made you cry?" Casimir frowned, an authentic confused look clouding his face.

I didn't want them to think it was a bad thing that brought tears to my eyes. The way they were looking at me made me feel like they were all one word away from killing someone. "Yes, I've never been anybody's anything and it was nice to feel, for a moment, like I belonged somewhere."

I kept my gaze focused on Casimir, watching as the shades of Deimos bled through his features. They were pissed .

"Raevyn, whatever your life was before your sacrifice, I know I speak for the others, when I categorically say, you belong to us." Casimir's tone was dark and irrefutable, and I felt his words brush against my heart like a visceral thing. They settled in my bones like a brand, and I felt them, a mark upon my soul saying, ‘here is Raevyn, owned and loved'.

I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around Casimir's waist. "Thank you."

His lips pressed against the top of my head, and he pulled me into his chest. He smelled like cinnamon and warm nights by a campfire. "Anytime, little bird."

"Well, this all seems very cosy."

The voice was low and husky, like the owner of it breathed fire. It made me shiver, and not in a good way. Something about the depth of his tone caused fear to traipse up the length of my spine.

I turned towards the owner of the voice and holy shit . The guy was a fucking monster . He was taller than Hawk, with rigid lines of muscles all over his chest. His arms were the size of tree trunks, and his bare chest was smothered in blood.

"Fuck me," I blurted.

Impossibly green eyes met mine and a salacious grin curled his broad mouth. "Only if you ask nicely, gorgeous."

I snorted. "That's not going to happen, buddy."

He hummed and flashed me a cocky grin. "We'll see."

"Back off," Hawk snapped, stepping between the God and me. "She's off limits."

Ares held his hands up placatingly. "I was just being friendly –" he pointed to the Minotaur who'd finally managed to get to his feet – "unlike you."

I shrugged. "He wasn't letting me in. I asked him politely to check his list again and he was a rude asshole. I merely taught him some manners."

"I see," Ares said with a chuckle. "If Jax succumbed to every pretty face at the door to my club, it would be overrun. You must accept his apologies. Please follow me, but be warned, Bloodsport isn't a place for everyone." He brushed his thumb over his bottom lip, drawing my attention to how plump it was. "And pretty faces like yours are a rare sight here, so a word of advice, don't look in the shadows. You might not like what you find."

Then he turned and disappeared into the darkness beyond the door.