She chuckles at the sight of us closing in on her from two sides, backing her into a wall. “You must think you’ll win this little game,” she laughs, panting.
“It looks like I might.” I cock my head at her. “Surrender now, give me Verity, and I won’t hurt you.”
“You think I care about pain?” She tosses her head back, releasing a joyless laugh. Her head snaps towards me again and she bites viciously. “Being a Bloodbane is pain. We embrace pain, we love it, we feed off it. Give me pain and you’ll only see pleasure.”
I twist my lips into a scowl. “I doubt that, Bloodbane.”
Her eyes narrow, her teeth bared towards me. “There are different types of pain. It’s most pleasant when I can hurt others. You understand.”
“I understand,” I murmur, “That you are a sick, evil woman. Release Verity.”
“Do you remember the spy?” She asks. “Do you remember sending Navi, you’re most trusted soldier, to find the spy that was selling out you and your people to Maaz?”
“What of it?” I mutter, glowering at her.
She smiles broadly and tilts her chin towards Navi. “She was in front of you the entire time.”
My gaze slips towards Navi, her face is pale, eyes wide. Nausea sweeps through me and my gut twists. “Is this true?”
“Altair,” Navi stammers.
Verity cackles, cutting her off. “I told you, Navi, we made a good team for a little while. But you’re playing for the wrong side.”
I stride towards Verity with renewed anger, my eyes flashing dangerously. She turns towards me, hand raised. With a shout, she tosses a frigid wind towards me. I dart to the side just in time to avoid the deadly strike of powerful air. Her eyes are wide with panic as I close the distance between us. I wrap my hands around her shoulders painfully as she begins to tremble violently.
Shaking, she tries to wrench free of my grasp. Verity gasps, her face twisted into a pained grimace. And then she collapses into my arms like a deadweight. I catch her, staggering, and lay her gently on the ground. Her eyes are closed, mouth open as she breathes softly. I brush Verity’s pale brown hair away from her face, stroking her cheek gently. I can see the bruises forming from our short battle and my choking earlier.
From the corner of my eye, I see a woman scramble away. Navi cuts her off, her sword ringing. I rise and stride towards the Bloodbane. Her red cloak hangs loosely around her shoulders and she stares defiantly at me with Verity’s pale blue eyes. Her light golden hair shimmers in the candlelight – she’s almost the spitting image of Maaz. But her eyes are sharper, more defiant.
She scowls at me, lips twisted viciously. “Kill me then,” she hisses.
“I don’t think so,” I murmur. “Who are you?”
Her eyes widen, straying towards the balcony behind me. A chill wind howls through the air, and fear trickles down my spine. I turn as Navi’s grip tightens on the Bloodbane. The gardener stands at the balcony door, a frightening smile stretching across his handsome face. Maaz’s red cloak catches my eye and I swallow thickly. This is no ordinary gardener, and never was.
Maaz sweeps around the stranger and perches on the edge of my bed. “What a mess,” she coos. “You really should hire new help, Altair.”
“Maaz,” I snarl. “You’ve brought a guest.”
Maaz sighs contentedly, her blue eyes raking over the stranger’s chest. “I brought my Lord, the Dark One.”
My blood runs cols in my veins, like ice. My jaw twitches as I take in the gardener. But he isn’t a gardener. He’s Sadal Melik. My gut twists as I realize that Sadal Melik was in my home, seducing Verity under my nose. I was so worried about the threat of war, I didn’t notice the battle taking place inside my own house. The battle for Verity’s loyalty. I may have lost it already to the Dark God.
Sadal strides forward, still grinning. “It’s been such a pleasure being hosted by you,” he says smoothly.
I narrow my eyes at him, my gaze darting between him and Verity. “I can assure you the pleasure was all yours,” I say through gritted teeth.
Sadal’s eyes glimmer. “No need to fear. I’ll take excellent care of her.”
I lunge in front of Verity, blocking his view of her. “You will not,” I snarl.
“Won’t I?” He cocks a brow.
Maaz giggles and moves to the balcony, her cloak flapping in the wind. “This was always your problem, Altair – why you could never win against us,” she says lightly, meeting my furious gaze. “You always stood up when you should sit down. You surrendered when you should have fought.”
“Stay away from her,” I growl as Sadal strides towards me.
He shoves me aside, launching me across the room with an icy touch. Pain shoots through my shoulders and ribs as I collide with the wall. Navi stands frozen beside the captured Bloodbane as Sadal slings Verity’s unconscious frame over his shoulders. He grins at me, gloating. Growling, I throw myself at him, arms outstretched, wishing I had a dagger.
Laughing, he lashes out with his foot, kicking me in the chest. I hear a sharp crack and know that my ribs have been broken by the blow. I collapse with a cry as Maaz and Sadal step out onto the balcony. Navi lunges towards me, her watery eyes wide with fear.
“Stop them,” I pant, gripping my ribs. “Stop them.”
She pivots and starts towards them with her sword raised. Her hand is trembling, but she presses forward. Sadal gives me one last dark look before he and Maaz disappear into the shadows of the night. I shout, tears springing to my eyes as
