Viktor loved Marcus’s brutality–as long as he was the one wielding it.
Knowing he had our uncle's favor just made Marcus more dangerous. His smile rarely reached his eyes and when it did, it was usually at someone else’s expense.
Like mine, right now.
Beside me, I felt Theo tense, shrinking into himself. He hated Marcus. I didn’t blame him.
Marcus swaggered down the step and slid into our row, forcing me over.
“Well, well,” he drawled, his eyes moving to the screen. “Your little dragon rider’s doing better than I would have expected, brother. Must be a lot of work keeping those two ladies in line outside of the Games though. You ever need any advice on how to manage them both, you know where to find me.”
I kept my eyes forward.
But Marcus didn’t do well with being ignored.
“What’s up with Theo? He looks as if he’s seen a ghost. What’s got you so nervous, cuz?” Marcus leaned around me to ruffle Theo's hair like he was a child.
Theo flinched but didn’t say a word.
“Leave him alone, Marcus,” I growled.
Marcus smirked. “Relax. I’m just having fun. We’re family for fuck’s sake. Theo knows I’m only playing, don’t you, cousin?” He lowered his voice and leaned closer. “It’s funny though. I’ve always thought it’s pathetic how soft you are with him. You think you’re really doing him a favor by coddling him?”
My fists clenched, but Marcus wasn’t through. His gaze shifted to the veil projection where Pendragon’s figure was moving swiftly through the island terrain.
He whistled, long and low. “Pretty thing, isn’t she? Those long legs. That tight ass. I can see why you’ve bailed on Regan. Really, I can.”
My head snapped towards my brother. I glared at him.
Marcus grinned, clearly relishing my reaction. “Careful, little brother,” he drawled. “She might not stay yours for very long. Uncle Viktor has his eyes on her. Hell, I might just take a liking to her myself. You know I've been looking for a replacement for Allessandra.”
I tried to control my breathing. “You still have Amaris.”
Marcus scowled. “She’s no good by herself. She’s gotten boring.”
I didn’t point out that this was probably because Marcus had killed her twin sister.
There was no way my brother was getting within an inch of Pendragon. I’d fucking die before I let that happen.
Marcus tilted his head towards mine. “I’m sure I could make her scream in a whole new way,” he said, his voice dipping suggestively.
My restraint shattered. I shot to my feet, my muscles coiled. Theo looked up at me in a silent plea for me to stay calm, but I ignored him.
“You think you could handle her, Marcus?” I hissed, my voice low and deadly. “She’s stronger than she looks. You’re not taking anything from me. Especially not Pendragon. Our bond’s nearly complete, and you know what that means.”
My older brother’s grin faltered, a hint of uncertainty betraying his bullshit bravado. “Is that so?” he asked, trying to sound nonchalant. “Uncle Viktor didn’t think you’d gotten far.”
“I was planning on surprising him with the news,” I lied. “He told me to keep her controlled and soon she’ll be mine. Fully bonded. And there won't be anything you or Viktor or anyone else can do about it.”
Marcus's lips curled in annoyance. “We’ll see about that,” he said, rising to his feet, his playful tone gone.
I stabbed him in the chest with my finger. “Why don’t you scurry back to Uncle Viktor like a good little fucking lap dog and tell him I have everything under control?”
Marcus’s body went tense. If we weren't in the middle of a crowd of people, I knew he’d have decked me one.
“This isn’t over, little brother,” he muttered, as he moved into the aisle.
I sat back down, trying to calm the fire inside of me.
“You shouldn’t have said that,” Theo groaned. “Now he’ll come after her for sure.”
I knew Theo was right. Still, “Let them try,” I muttered.
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CHAPTER 53 - MEDRA
Instinct kicked in. Highblood instinct. Blake’s instinct.
Before I even had time to think my hand had shot out and with a sharp, audible snap, I caught the arrow mid-flight.
I stared down at it in disbelief, my palm wrapped around the shaft.
Above me, Quinn froze, her eyes wide.
For a long moment, we simply stared at each other.
Then something stirred inside me. A savage urge rising to the surface, too powerful to resist.
Blake’s blood had flipped a switch in me, igniting something dark and wild.
My muscles tensed with inhuman power, Blake’s blood and my rider’s body meshing together in a ferocious combination.
I lunged towards the tree and before Quinn could even blink, I’d scaled the trunk, clambering from branch to branch with skill not fully my own.
I landed beside Quinn on the tree limb where she sat, my feet hardly making a sound.
She let out a strangled gasp and scrambled backwards.
But there was nowhere she could go.
I moved towards her and this time, I didn’t stop. I didn’t hold back.
I drove the arrow into her side, ignoring the sickening sound of flesh tearing. Quinn gasped, her eyes widening with shock as the force of the strike pushed her out of the tree.
Her body crashed through the branches as it plummeted down before hitting the ground with a thud.
I dropped down to the forest floor beside her, landing lightly on my feet.
For a moment, I stood there, looking at my fallen opponents.
Regan’s unconscious body was still sprawled in the dirt. Now Quinn lay gasping in pain beside her.
I felt nothing. Certainly not guilt.
I turned and walked out of the clearing, Blake’s blood still pulsing in my ears.
I stood at the top of a hill, looking down at the scene in front of me.
A domed stone building lay in the distance, silhouetted against the sea. A dock lay behind it with small boats tied up. I assumed this was how they were getting us home. Those of us who made it that far, anyhow.
Below, I could see Visha and Evander waiting near the entrance. They weren’t alone. There was a line of other consorts ahead of them. All anxiously awaiting their turn.
As I came down the hill, Visha rushed up. “Have you seen Regan?”
I blinked. “You told me to avoid her.”
Still, the guilt must have shown on my face.
Visha’s eyes narrowed. “But you didn’t, did you?”
“I had no choice,” I admitted. “She ambushed me. Gretchen and Quinn were with her.”
The hint of a smile crossed Visha’s face. “Gretchen limped down here a while ago, looking a little worse for wear. Her consort is furious at her.” She tilted her head. “But Regan? You didn’t kill her, did you? I sure hope not, because you're going to need her.”
My eyes widened. “What? Please tell me you’re joking. I thought you said you or Evander would help me.”
“Is she dead or not?”
“No, but I knocked her out. I left her back there.” I gestured to the forest behind me. “Way back there.”
Visha cast a quick glance at the line of consorts. “Well, you’d better go get her. You need your consort for the next test and a substitute won’t cut it. Both of you need to spill a drop of blood into some bowl before you’re allowed to enter the dome. And once you enter, you don’t come out again. If you can’t find Regan, you’re both going to be screwed. Evander and I can’t help you." She had the decency to look sympathetic but that wasn’t much consolation.
“Fuck,” I swore. “I can’t believe this.”
Visha chewed her lip. “I’d help you go and get her if I could. But Evander...”
The tall, silver-haired boy was standing at the end of the line, watching Visha and I.
I nodded. “I understand. It’s not fair to him.” Just like being paired with Regan had never been fair to me. I glanced over at the domed building. “What’s waiting for us in there anyhow?”
