Soul-Taker (Monarchs & Monsters #2)

46. Ries

46

Ries

I wish I could say I’m surprised, but nothing in this fucking competition has been easy.

Of course the war god has set everyone’s sights on Kami. Enwiss already started that with the tributes from Lancer.

Cue Gorl and his stupid attempt to eat her.

Although I can understand his and Serl’s fascination. Even though, as a personal preference, I don’t drink blood, Enwiss put a big enough bounty on Kami’s cute little ass that even I’m tempted to try to break her.

I sigh, wishing things didn’t have to be this way. Crash took it personally. So did the dryad. But it couldn’t be helped.

Malkar at least understood. Look, we all have to die someday. But that day is not today. Not for me. I have a fucker of a half-brother to kill.

So living is on my agenda for the foreseeable future.

But I must admit, seeing Kami’s disappointment and the hurt feelings she wears so openly made me feel like a creep.

A creep who will live to fight another day .

“… now. ” Goras Vamyar has just kicked off today’s battle.

I can’t wait to see what shakes free.

A glance around the field shows it’s different than it was for our first battle. There aren’t any trees or boulders, just a vast grassland with small hills. Nothing looks like it can be adapted into a weapon… No, wait.

I see a few blades emerging from the ground on the west side of the field, as if sprouting from seedling daggers.

There’s also a lake growing from a small trickle of water on the opposite side. I flex my fingers, feeling the yawn of magic but am unable to tap into it.

My body yearns for the slick feel of water to cover me, fill me, drown me.

But maybe not until I’ve drowned someone else…

A glance at the stands show Folas talking animatedly with Rilitar. A pair of narcissistic assholes I’m going to end as soon as I survive this trial. And that’s not going to be easy. Even with—especially with—the dickheads I’m now working alongside.

“Yo, Ries, you with us?”

I glance over at the large shifter and nod. He and his buddies have been given some slash-knucklers. One of the ghouls holds a toxic dart. All threats that could easily be defeated if I had my water magic.

Unfortunately, I still can’t do much more than sense water. I have no idea how Rilitar managed it, but he’s fucked us all over.

“Hey, merman. You with us?” the shifter growls.

“I’m with you. But remember, I get to say goodbye to her first.”

“Whatever, Loverboy. I’m not so desperate I need to dip my wick where you fae have.” He’s trying to sound insulting. Because being a monster is so much better than being fae? “Just keep her mostly intact so Serl can drink her down. ”

Serl is the vampire their— our —small group defers to. He’s almost as big a prick as Enwiss and ten times deadlier on his own.

Just our luck we got stuck with a legendary assassin on our side. Terrific.

I see him picking his teeth with a sharp claw, likely edging out the flesh from one of his companions slash meals. The Asrai team is mostly made up of degenerates, psychos, and cannibals.

Not that the Lancer section is that much better, but our little team seemed filled with decent-enough guys. And Kami.

I sigh. So pretty. So weak. A total target for anyone with a dick.

“Gotcha.” I repeat, “Save the blood for Serl.”

“And me,” one of the larger ghouls says. He’s disgusting, and I don’t give a shit about remembering his name. Strong, growly, and odorous. The fucker pissed all over his breakfast before eating it.

“Yeah, sure.” I do my best not to roll my eyes. “You.”

The ghoul grunts and wanders off with a few of his kind.

I glance at the other two leaders who’ve joined their groups to our four-team faction. Each one has at least one monster and one higher fae. I can’t tell if the fae are Lancer spies or just unlucky criminals paired with Asrai assholes.

I’m biased because they traded me to Rilitar in the first place. If only I’d known Folas was near, I would have avoided Sacred Lakes altogether.

Ah, live and learn.

I glance back at my old…friends? Fuckbuddies? What was it Crash called us? Convenient partners?

Remorse fills me, and I angrily shrug it away. I don’t have time for bullshit. Not if I want to survive what’s coming.

Enwiss is bad enough. But Serl confided an unpleasant tidbit that swayed me to their side. Something fun Rilitar has planned for my old companions.

And speaking of which… I glance up at the monarch’s box and see Oz looking as if he belongs up there. That prick.

I might be bad, but it’s coming from a good place. My survival.

What could cause Oz to turn on Kami and the others to protect some orc bitch and a light elf? It’s not like the demon will let anyone hurt his monarch.

Oz is strong, but not that strong.

Instead, he’s abandoned Kami to a fate far worse than death. I know what Enwiss has planned for the dryad.

Poor Kami will only wish she won’t survive it. But she will. And then she’ll be given to sadistic elves who revel in torture, sodomy, and more torture. They won’t let her get off easy and die. Not for a long time.

I can’t imagine a worse fate.

“Don’t fuck up,” Serl warns, appearing in front of me in a flash. As if he teleported.

Damn vampires and their speed.

“Back at you.”

Serl flashes some impressive fangs and darts away.

Just as a pair of werewolves barrel into me with claws at my throat.