best counter
Search
Report & Feedback

Chapter no 17 – HE EARNED IT

A Soul of Ash and Blood (A Blood and Ash Book 5)

Anger somewhat in check, I cut through those crowding the ring where two men duked it out to a bloody and broken finish, and headed for one of the back rooms. None of the working girls made any grabs for us, nor did

anyone attempt to stop us. It couldโ€™ve been the way I walked or the look on Kieranโ€™s face. Whatever it was, everyone gave us a wide berth.

Entering a narrow hall, we passed men drunkenly receiving pleasure they likely wouldnโ€™t remember, rooms with gambling, and chambers where various weapons were sold to those forbidden to carry. Men and women

were given life and death in these back spaces.

I reached a closed door at the end of the corridor, slamming my hand on the center. It swung open, banging off the wall.

Several men immediately jumped from their chairs. I quickly scanned them. The two wolven whoโ€™d traveled with Jericho, one of them the brown- haired Rolf. Two Descenters: a half-Atlantian, and a blond-haired mortal.

My gaze settled on Jericho as Kieran closed the door behind us.

Jericho stood, bare from the waist up. He held a crimson-stained cloth to his side. A half-empty bottle of whiskey and several glasses sat on the table.

Jericho paled as I stalked forward. โ€œCasโ€”โ€

I grabbed his arm, pulling it from his side as I mentally repeated what Kieran had told me outside the Three Jackals. Donโ€™tย killย him. Donโ€™tย murderย him. Donโ€™tย unaliveย him. I gave the ragged wound a brief once-over. My lips twisted into a satisfied smile. Sheย hadย gotten him good, right up under the rib, too. Likely hit an organ. The wound was already healing, though, barely seeping blood at this point.

โ€œYouโ€™ll live,โ€ I bit out, lowering the hood of my cloak. The blond mortal swallowed nervously as he got a look at my face. Lev was his name, I believed.

There seemed to be a collective release of breath from those around the candlelit chamber.

โ€œI will.โ€ Jericho tossed the bloodied rag onto the table. His scruffy chin lifted. โ€œWasnโ€™t expecting her to have a blade on her. A bloodstone dagger with wolven bone, at that.โ€

โ€œI wasnโ€™t expecting you to attempt to take her,โ€ I said, choosing my words carefully.

โ€œI know,โ€ he admitted, at least not attempting to lie. โ€œThere were no other guards close by. I saw an opportunity and acted on it.โ€

My hand curled into a fist, and I forced it open. โ€œI didnโ€™t ask you to look for opportunities.โ€

Jericho nodded, dragging the back of his hand over his mouth. โ€œI fucked up.โ€

โ€œYou did.โ€ Aware of Kieran moving closer to my right, I reached for the bottle of whiskey. โ€œAndโ€ฆyou didnโ€™t. You did what I asked.โ€ I jerked my chin at the chair. โ€œSit.โ€

Jericho was listening to me now, sitting his ass right down.

โ€œYou opened the spot for me.โ€ I poured a shotโ€™s worth of whiskey into a glass. โ€œAnd for that, I am grateful.โ€

The wolven eyed me from behind the lengths of his shaggy hair. Kieran inched even closer.

โ€œYou sure about that?โ€ Jericho asked, resting both of his forearms on the table.

โ€œI am. Now, I will be able to proceed correctly and safely with our plan.โ€ I set the glass in front of him. โ€œDrink. Youโ€™ve earned it.โ€

Relief seeped into his features, easing the tension in the set of his jaw. โ€œThank you,โ€ he said, reaching for the glass.

โ€œOne thing.โ€ I smiled, and he halted. โ€œYouโ€™re right-handed, correct?โ€ โ€œYeah.โ€ Wariness skittered across Jerichoโ€™s features. โ€œWhy?โ€

โ€œJust curious,โ€ I told him, nudging the glass closer to him. โ€œDrink.โ€

I watched him reach for the glass. Kieran realized what I was about a second before I moved. He cursed under his breath, but I was faster.

Reaching inside the cloak, I unsheathed one of the short swords. Jericho hadnโ€™t even picked up the glassโ€”he didnโ€™t see it coming. All he felt was the clean, quick slice ofย myย blade as I brought it down on his left wrist, severing his hand. Blood spurted, spraying across the table.

โ€œHoly fuck,โ€ someone gasped.

Jericho jerked back so quickly he knocked over his chair as he stared at where his hand had once been.

โ€œThe next time, do as I order, not as you see fit. We need the Maiden unscathed whenย Iย take her. Disobey me again, and it will be your head.โ€ I looked around the room, meeting stares. โ€œThat goes for everyone.โ€

There were quick nods of agreement. Jericho began to scream.

Stepping back, I cleaned the blade of my sword on my cloak as Jericho doubled over, pressing his arm to his chest as his howls became pitiful whimpers. I sheathed the sword, then reached for the cloth Jericho had been using. โ€œYouโ€™re going to need this.โ€ I tossed it at him, then turned and left

the room.

Kieran followed, stepping out into the hall. I looked over at him. Heโ€™d stopped, his arms crossed over his chest. โ€œWhat?โ€ I questioned. โ€œI didnโ€™t kill him,ย andย I poured him a drink.โ€

Kieranโ€™s lips twitched.

โ€œI wanted to do much worse,โ€ I reminded him. He sighed. โ€œI know.โ€

โ€œI want him gone from the city,โ€ I said. โ€œSend him to New Haven.โ€

โ€œWill do.โ€ Falling quiet until we reached the outside, Kieran then asked, โ€œHow in the hell did she get her hands on a bloodstone dagger crafted with wolven bone?โ€

โ€œDamn if I know.โ€ I stopped near where the man had been passed out upon our entry, but he was now gone. A heartbeat passed. โ€œShe had it with her the other night at the Red Pearl.โ€

โ€œReally?โ€ He drew out the word.

I nodded. โ€œShocked the piss out of me. She said she knew how to use it.โ€ I tilted my head. โ€œGuess she does to some extent.โ€

Kieran shook his head as he turned his stare to the moon. โ€œA Maiden with a wolven-bone dagger and, at the very least, no fear when it comes to using it?โ€ One side of his lips tipped up. โ€œWhy do I have a feeling we may have underestimated her?โ€

I let out a short, low laugh. โ€œBecause I think we did.โ€

You'll Also Like