36. Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Six

Raevyn

A res continued to watch me, but I don't think it was lustful. It was more like there was something telling me that he knew something that I didn't. I wanted to ask, but that would mean going over there and well… the guy was scary as fuck. All muscles and death glares.

His ridiculously bright green eyes held mine with serious intent. I just couldn't decipher his meaning. Urgh. I was going to have to go over there and ask the guy. Maybe that was what he wanted all along.

The others were captivated by the brutality that was going on in the arena below. Ares had brought us to his suite which had a bird's eye view to the ring below. Apparently, the fight tonight was between a daimon who'd stolen the souls of homeless women and a Vampire who'd killed his donor. I was fascinated for all of ten minutes when the fight started. I'd never seen a vampire up close, and I don't know, I just expected something a little… more. I suppose I did have my own Moroi, and he was more of everything. If it weren't for the Moroi the vampires wouldn't exist. According to legend, the vampires emerged after the Moroi spilled blood onto a battlefield of dead mercenaries. The combination of their potent blood and the savageness of the mercenaries led to the first vampires rising from the dead. I didn't know if any of that were true, but I'd always been fascinated by vampires. Something about the way they moved, the lives they led, I guess it was always down the way they'd been romanticised through culture, but hot damn, they had always set something alight in my blood.

Apparently, the king of the vampires was down there somewhere. I hadn't caught sight of him yet, but Nox said the guy was an arrogant asshat. Couldn't say I expected anything else from a king. I mean, Hades was a king, and he was a dick. But maybe all kings weren't the same and I was being unfair tarring them all with the same brush.

"Ambrosia?"

I flinched as Ares came to stand next to me. For someone so large I thought he'd make more noise.

"Thank you," I said taking the glass from him. I took a sip and let the warm taste fizzle along my tongue. A pleasant little hum left my lips as I swallowed, and something sparked in Ares' green eyes.

"Please, join me." He pointed to the sofa tucked into the shadows and the room and walked away without even waiting for my answer.

I looked at the guys and saw that they were still fascinated by the fight happening in the arena. Korbin cocked his head a little and I knew, by that one tiny movement, that he was keeping an eye on me.

I felt safe here, even though Ares was an unknown, I knew Korbin, Rook, and Nox would protect me. I wasn't sure what had happened to Casimir and Hawk but I could hazard a guess. A smile crept up my face at the thought of them finally giving into all that tension. Sometimes it was so thick you could slice through it with a knife.

I tucked myself into the corner of the sofa next to Ares. He huffed a small laugh as if he found it amusing that I was trying to keep my distance.

"You know, it's rare that I sit and converse with someone like this," he said, his voice soft despite his large size.

"Oh?"

He hummed in response. "Yes. Usually, I'm either killing or fucking someone."

I blanched at his curt words but collected myself quickly. "Well, you won't be doing either of those things with me."

"Says who?"

"Says me." I fixed him with a stern look over the rim of my glass, hoping that I managed to look at least a little bit intimidating.

He laughed again but it was a lot warmer than the previous one. "I like you, little necromancer. You'll definitely go far in this world. I understand you're after a favour that Varujan is keen to call in."

"Varujan?"

"Your Moroi . His name is Varujan Cel Tradat but I always called him Hawk for short."

Huh. Wasn't expecting that. I just thought the guy's name was Hawk. Yes, it was unusual, but so was Raevyn. I wondered just how intimate Hawk and Ares had actually been.

"I can see the cogs turning in your mind, and you are free to ask any question, just don't expect an honest answer."

I scoffed. What a ridiculous thing to say. The more time I spent with actual Gods, the more I was starting to think they were all fucking pricks.

"Look, I just want to know if we can cash in the favour that you owe Hawk."

He tipped his head to one side, his eyes bright with mirth. "Depends on the favour."

Of course it did. Well, here goes…

"We need to get into the Isles of the Blessed."

Ares spat his drink out in shock. "The fuck? What the hell do you want to go there for?"

I inwardly gave myself a high five over the fact that I'd made him lose his cool, even if it was just for a moment and I think it made me like him a little more. That he wasn't quite as infallible as he made himself seem.

"I need to talk to Cronus."

"The Titan?"

"Surely you know who Cronus is?"

"Yes," he snapped, his eyes flashing dangerously. "I'm just confused as to why."

I placed my glass on the table next to me. "You don't need to know why; you just need to tell me if you can get me in there."

He scoffed at my demand. "Of course I can do it."

"Excellent. Now then, if you'll just—"

"Ah ah," he interrupted, "not so fast. It's a pretty big favour you're asking. I can't just give you a day pass so you can go on your merry way."

"You can't?" Disappointment flared in my chest because that was exactly what I'd been hoping for. That it was literally just as easy as going up to the gates with a ticket.

"Nope," he said popping the ‘p'. "There's a whole ceremony involved and magic and all sorts of other mundane shit. And you're tied to the Underworld. And that makes it even harder."

"So, you, an almighty and powerful God, can't do it?"

"Hey now, don't go questioning my fallibility. What I'm saying is that what you're asking for is more than just a ‘favour'."

"So what do you want in return?"

His smile was instant. "Now that's the question."

For fuck's sake. What the hell was I getting myself into now?

"It just so happens that I need a challenger to take part in the ring this evening."

"And you want me?" I had no idea how to fight and I was still trying to get my magic to cooperate with me. "Why?"

"Because, gorgeous, the king of the vampires wants someone new, and I only have seasoned champions he's seen fight before. And something tells me there's a lot more to you than meets the eye."

"Absolutely not." Hawk materialised out of thin air to stand by my side. "There's no way she's fighting in there."

"With all due respect, Varujan, I didn't ask you." Ares' voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "And besides, it's just one fight. All she'd have to do is survive."

"It's me you owe the favour to. I'll fight," Hawk hissed. "And don't call me that."

Ares rolled his eyes. "Sorry, Hawk . The answer's no. It's Raevyn or no one and no deal."

The God's eyes met mine and something within me snapped into place. I could do this. I didn't know how, didn't really care, but something took up residence in my core and made me believe that I could take on a vampire and win. Maybe it was insanity, or maybe it was me finally believing I was capable of more than I thought possible. Or maybe I just wanted to wipe that smug look off Ares' face. "I'll do it."

" Draguta , you don't have to." Hawk cupped my jaw and tipped my chin up.

"I know. I want to." And I did. I really fucking did.

T he crowd roared around me. It was feral. Boos and cheers and screams echoed in the cavernous space and I suddenly felt very small.

"Remember, vampires are fast. Faster than you can see so don't rely on your eyes," Korbin said as I took off my jacket and top, leaving me in my sports bra, black trousers and combat boots.

"Don't let him bite you," Rook said as he pinned my braid around my head to keep it out of the way. I didn't want anyone but my guys grabbing it.

"No, shit," I said with a snort but Casimir tapped my forehead.

"Not for the chance to feed off you," he said. "They have a potent venom in their fangs that makes you hallucinate under the right circumstances."

"Okay." Note to self. Don't get near his fangs.

Casimir gripped my shoulders tightly. "Don't put yourself in your own way. React. Attack. Don't think."

I nodded and he pressed a kiss to the top of my head before disappearing to his seat. Ares had gifted the guys with front row seats. At least they'd be close to me when I stepped in the ring, a thought which gave me some comfort and also strength.

"Magnus is a formidable opponent. He's ruthless and became King following a massacre of the old ruling family." Korbin took my hand and squeezed it. "I know you can take care of yourself, but don't think it a weakness if you need to tap out."

I squeezed his hand back and pressed my lips to his cheek. "I'll be alright. I know you're all there beside me and—"

"Raevyn?"

I looked over Korbin's shoulder and saw Roux standing there, confusion squishing the space between her brows. "Roux? What are you doing here?"

"Well, King Douche sent me an invite to come and watch the fight, and I must admit, I do like seeing him get his ass whooped. Kind of makes me feel satisfied with life." She flicked her gaze over my outfit, and her frown deepened. "What are you doing here?"

"Hopefully whooping ass."

"Shut the fuck up," she squealed. "Really? Ares' secret underdog is you ?!"

"Apparently so."

"Girl, I'm gonna go and up my bet. I have a good feeling about you." Her red hair disappeared back into the crowd, and I was left pondering what it was she saw in me. I also wanted to ask her about ‘King Douche' but maybe that would be best saved for a night out with cocktails and dancing.

"You've got this, pretty girl," Nox said as he slapped my ass playfully. "I have no doubt you will beat him." Then he grabbed Korbin and Rook and left, leaving Hawk to pass on his words of encouragement.

He stepped forwards, sinking his thumb into one of his fangs. Blood pooled on the tip, dark, almost black, and thicker than normal blood. He brought his thumb to my face and swiped a line across both of my cheeks and from my bottom lip over my chin.

"Beautiful, draguta . You look like a warrior, ready for battle." Hawk hummed in appreciation and flicked his eyes to where Ares stood on his little podium, surveying the room like it was his little kingdom.

The God grinned psychotically, excited by the prospect of bloodshed. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen and all the monsters in between."

The crowd roared and Hawk went to take his seat. This was madness, absolute madness, but I couldn't get past the feeling of familiarity. Something inside me belonged here. Something dark.

And it wanted out.