Bloodguard

chapter 48

Maeve

Brilliant, flaming plumage of red, yellow, orange, and purple rises, shaking the remains of her nest free from her peacock-like tail and body. A neck stretches and lengthens until a majestic head looms about one hundred feet above us. She spreads her sail-wide wings, stretching them and cawing in a melodious song.

Wheel-sized fathomless black eyes blink back at me behind a hawkish beak, her head tilting from side to side with interest when she sees me.

“By all the glory,” Ugeen says.

I didn’t notice him backing away. He has the option. Still bound tight, I don’t. Pua and Tut did, too, and they appear just as beholden as Ugeen.

For a moment, shock numbs my pain and all rational thought.

Soro flips the dagger over and over, repeatedly catching it by the hilt in his left hand as he closes the small space keeping us apart.

The point of his dagger nicks my chin again. I fight back the urge to cower, even as he glides the sharp tip down my throat. “Your sweet, gentle papa was too weak to do what must be done.” He stops with the point between the swells of my breasts. “But I’m not.”

In a flash, he’s behind Vitor.

His speed too fast to track.

One moment.

And then it’s over.

In horror, I watch helplessly as Soro slashes his father’s throat and shoves Vitor’s limp form toward the phoenix.

In her excitement, the phoenix explodes in light, flames sparking in all directions, burning the walls and ground and ceiling…exactly like she did three years ago.

The epiphany has just begun to bloom when a serpentine tongue shoots from Aurora’s mouth, wrapping around Vitor and pulling him into her open beak.

Except for Soro, the others race away in the direction of the maze. Soro remains still, watching the man whom he loved and simultaneously hated slide down the phoenix’s elongated throat.

“Eat, dear Aurora, eat,” he says. “You belong to me now.”

I take a shuddering breath and close my eyes, opening them again only to see Aurora regurgitate Vitor’s bones. They land in a wet lump, and a sob escapes me.

But the horror show is not over yet. Aurora stretches her neck and frantically laps what I thought was condensation falling from the large “wine”-stained stalactites. As I tilt my head up, moisture splatters my face and shoulders. I stare down at the bloodstains on my chest in horror.

Another sob breaks through my throat for Vitor, for Papa, for Father and Neela and everyone I lost today. And another sob, and another for the knowledge I have gained. My grandmother didn’t make sacrifices to make Arrow great. She offered sacrifices.

Soro saunters forward, wiping Vitor’s blood against his robes, and stops right in front of me.

I look from the pile of Vitor’s bones to the piles of bones that make up the catacombs, then back to the phoenix who quenches her thirst.

With the blood of gladiators.

Drip, drip, drip.

Every droplet hurts me now, knowing it has traveled from the veins of the innocent, through layers of sand and porous stone, and onto me.

Rage and horror join my sorrow, twisting my gut in a painful whirlpool. “Tell me what you want,” I say.

Soro huffs. “Oh, Maeve. Always right to the point.”

Now that Tut and Pua are no longer standing guard over Vitor, they’ve joined Ugeen at the entrance of the maze, where they deem Aurora can’t suck them up and swallow them. This is the first time they’ve seen the phoenix. It’s obvious by the fear and awe marching across their exaggerated features.

“You used the phoenix as a means to stage your coup?” It makes sense. Whoever commands the phoenix commands her power. If this motley crew turned on Vitor, it’s because Soro revealed her existence and convinced them he could control her.

Soro sighs, as if he’s the one who had a rough day. “Aurora is a gift—my gift, now,” he says. “Why wouldn’t I use my gifts to their fullest extent?”

Rage overshadows my grief, singeing my insides to liquid fire. “Well, now that show and tell is complete, I think you should know that I’d rather burn than marry you.”

Soro pushes my soaking hair away from my face. Like a child outlining an image, his fingertip passes along the perimeter of the scars along my jaw. “I gave you every opportunity to help me and yourself. You could have made it easy,” he whispers against my ear. His voice lowers. “You could have made it good . Now, it’s too late.” I curl inward when his lips trail over my skin. “Hear me well. You will do as you’re told. Even if I must break you into a thousand pieces, you will bow to me.” His tone is soft—regal, even—but so full of venom I could die from poisoning on the spot. “Or should I take your lack of respect out on your sister?” He smiles. “Or perhaps your gladiator?”

Despite my fear, I keep my voice even. “Do what you want,” I say. “All he’s good for is making me money.”

Soro nods as he steps away. “I don’t know about that, Maeve, especially not when my own father saw him as a potential king. When you saw him as someone to fuck.” He squares his jaw. “Vitor alluded to what a wonderful couple you’d make. To me , knowing I sought you for my very own.”

Only at his final words do I catch a glimpse of hurt overtaking his solid frame. But like before, that hurt dissipates, leaving only the rage it festered.

“Your gladiator—he won’t win today. Even if he does, I’m certain he won’t walk out of the last trial alive.” He looks to the ogren generals. “In fact, why risk more of his brethren arriving to take his place? Find his family. Kill them. And bring back their heads.”

“They died years ago,” I snap and immediately regret it. Except, if Tut and Pua do send a squad to Siertos, innocent people could get hurt.

“That’s unfortunate,” Soro says, not bothering to pretend to mean it. “I have to admit, your plan to marry a Bloodguard was genius. Everyone else knows better than to screw with me. But… but …” His gaze dances to the arena above us. “He’s up soon. And he’s not a Bloodguard yet.” His attention drops back down to me. “Should I punish him for interfering with what’s mine?”

Soro’s threats slow my beating heart. He will throw everything at Leith just because he almost had what Soro wanted. His attention flits to where Aurora preens herself, each feather she plucks igniting in yellow-and-green flames before dwindling to ash and adding another layer to her nest.

“Yes, I think I will,” Soro says, his demeanor as inviting as a coffin full of vipers. “All of Arrow needs to learn not to touch what’s mine.”

“Free Leith from his obligation to the arena and allow him to live free in Arrow,” I say quickly. “Do this and…and I’ll swear a blood oath to marry you.”

I may run my mouth, but I’m no fool. Soro and his murdering legion killed my family. They’ll kill Leith, too, if he threatens Soro’s title as king. At least this way, Leith will get to live.

Even if it’s without me.

“That sounds reasonable,” Soro agrees, smiling. “Consider it a wedding gift. Now, let’s discuss my terms…”

Pua cuts me loose. I fall forward as the conditions of Leith’s freedom flare against Soro’s arm and form words. I swallow back the blood still pooling in my mouth and everything this day has cost me and take Soro’s hand.

My teeth chatter from my body’s uncontrolled trembling as Soro and I seal our oath. There is one brief moment of peace as the unbreakable bond is made. Leith will live. He’ll never have to fight again.

But then I hear that rising chant above us.

“Bloodguard. Bloodguard . BLOODGUARD! ”

Soro smiles. “Oh no. We’re too late. Your champion is already in the arena…”