by Raven Storm
Benedict’s brother was in the air now, completing the last aerial part of the race. D’Arcy’s son gained on him, but I didn’t see how he could make it up the distance with Benedict’s brother just a few wing flaps from the finish line. D’Arcy’s son drew a claw across his throat and wrists, and suddenly his skin was covered in swirling lines that pulsated light. With a roar he beat his wings harder, and then suddenly was flying twice as fast, his body a turquoise blur as he narrowed the distance between him and Benedict’s brother. Ten feet, then five feet from the finish line, then they both had crossed the line together, flaring their wings to keep from smashing into the stone wall. Behind them the other drakens finished, though a few were in the pit, licking their wounds.
“Who won?” I asked as Benedict stood, drawing the attention of the crowd and competitors.
“It is too close to tell. Both will dine tonight with the female!”
The drakens cheered as D’Arcy’s son thumped Benedict’s brother on the back, but he didn’t look thrilled with having to share his time with another draken. I sighed heavily.
“You will let me meet them first at dinner, won’t you? I also insist on going to the dining hall, instead of in my rooms. I’m tired of looking at those same walls all the time.”
Benedict shot me a look. I sat back down, frowning as I realized who I hadn’t yet seen.
“Where’s Kieran and Ronan? Why aren’t they here?”
Benedict refused to meet my gaze, and anger throbbed through my body.
“What did you do?” I demanded. Benedict grabbed my arm, yanking me close to him.
“Not here.”
I tried in vain to get his scent out of my mind, to quit staring at his muscles as he held me close. I shook my head.
“They almost killed you, Wren. I had to ensure such a mistake wouldn’t happen again.” There was burning fire in his eyes, the kind that dried my mouth and left me gaping at him.
“I...I thought you hated me,” I managed, struggling to keep my voice steady. His mouth opened, then closed again.
“Correction. I hate how helpless and weak you act, when we both know deep down, you’re just like me. You willingly drank my blood, then got turned on by it, so call me intrigued. Why else would you stab me?”
My eyes narrowed.
“I’ll do it again if you piss me off.”
One of his dark eyebrows lifted. “Promise?”
I bent to hide my flaming face, and he laughed. For the first time, it lacked any mocking tone or anger.
“Are they at least alright?”
Something flared in Benedict’s eyes, despite his continual insistence that it wasn’t jealousy.
“I promise that they're fine. I will even take you for a visit later this evening.”
I wrapped my small hand around his forearm.
“Come; I will escort you back so we may change for dinner.”
His offered arm was such a small thing, but it felt as though we’d just climbed a mountain together.
I know you aren’t like that.
Who was he to say what I was like? It was odd, this feeling of someone believing in you.
“Dinner, then my boys.”
He twitched but nodded.
“As you wish.”
I decided to be a bit more daring for dinner, choosing a midnight blue dress that ended right at my knees, but no breeches on underneath. With my leather boots on, I didn’t feel like it was as revealing as it could have been, and I still wore an underskirt to protect my modesty. I would have to ask Benedict about ordering some proper clothes at some point. I wasn’t sure if he was serious about taking me to the dining hall, but an hour later he was waiting patiently in my sitting room, one arm outstretched. I grasped it, looking up at him. His hair was combed and re-braided, and he wore a black leather vest. A golden chain dangled from his chest, pointing to the dark tattoos that snaked along his upper body. His eyes met mine, and for a moment nothing else mattered when he looked at me like that; our eyes locked, and the feel of my fingers tightening around his forearm. Then he looked away, and the moment passed.
We appeared directly on the raised dais in the entrance hall, an incredibly dramatic entrance that ensured everyone stopped what they were doing to look at us. Just like my first night here, tables lined the edges and were laden with food. I ripped my arm from Benedict in embarrassment, and he chuckled darkly.
“Was that necessary?” I hissed at him, annoyed that he wore a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
“Yes,” He replied simply.
“Ah good, you got her to a dinner! Excellent!” D’Arcy was next to us in a whirl of his silver tunic, bowing to me. He put his hand out towards mine but withdrew when Benedict growled at him. I turned towards him, exasperated.
“How am I to mingle if you bite everyone who comes near me?” I pointed out.
“You don’t need to mingle with my uncle.” I whipped back to stare at D’Arcy, remembering how Benedict had mentioned he was his remaining few blood relatives. It made sense physically: they both shared the same dark, purple coloring, though Benedict’s was on his upper body, and D’Arcy’s on his lower. I also knew D’Arcy could move through the shadows like Benedict. Didn’t he say it was a blood talent? D’Arcy leaned forward again, offering his hand.
“Come my dear, your winners await your presence.”
I allowed myself to be led away, even though it was obvious Benedict let me go against his will. D’Arcy steered me to one of many long tables lining the edges of the room, set with food and small benches. We headed straight for two drakens, who immediately dropped their food when they saw me approaching, one even tripping over his stool in his haste. I fought to keep a straight face as D’Arcy snarled at him.
“Sabien, Bair, may I present Wren?”
I bowed my head, as each of them took my hand and kissed it reverently. Sabien was the spitting image of D’Arcy, from his lanky build and scale coloring to the long, blonde hair. His eyes were different though; instead of D’Arcy’s cornflower blue, they were the same dazzling turquoise of his wings.
“Sabien is my son, of course. Bair is Benedict’s younger brother.” Sabien practically fell over himself in his effort to charm me, though Bair’s dark gaze watched me with more caution. My eyes widened; Benedict had a brother? It was easy to see the resemblance; Bair shared Benedict’s dark coloring and build, though he wasn’t as large as his older brother. Instead of the bright purple of Benedict’s eyes, Bair’s were more of a mix between indigo and dark blue.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I began. “May I sit with you?” They nodded, and I allowed D’Arcy to assist me onto the bench.
After he left, I turned conspiratorially towards Sabien.
“It’s a bit unfair, having your father use an advantage like that,” I said, and Sabien blushed while Bair smirked. It was so much like Benedict’s I almost laughed.
“D’Arcy has always been that way. Ignore him; I usually do.” Bair offered me the breadbasket, and I gratefully took a roll, groaning as I bit into its warmth.
“You made an impressive comeback, though it shouldn’t have been necessary to begin with.” I shot Bair a glare, but he laughed it off.
“Anything to get to you,” he leered, and I frowned. Sabien leaned forward.
“Is it true then? Has Benedict claimed a human, and given up on finding the lost daughter?”
I paused, my mouth full of bread. I swallowed carefully, keeping my face blank so I wouldn’t blush. It was still odd to me how brazenly drakens spoke of love and...other things.
“I don’t see why it’s any of your business.”
Bair’s eyes darkened, even as Sabien kicked him under the table. “It’s our business if he took the Overlord’s bloody deal, and sentenced us to an eternity under this—"
“Bair! Not here!” Worry broke out on Sabien’s face, but Bair shoved him off.
“Everyone should know, shouldn’t they? Isn’t it the right of the people to
know why they’re imprisoned and what keeps them here?” He turned to me, nonchalantly spearing a hunk of meat on the end of his dagger and tearing into it with his teeth. He waved the dagger at me as he chewed.
“What do you think? Surely you have an opinion, stuck here with us.”
What did I think? Well, that was a quandary. When was the last time anyone had even bothered to ask my opinion on anything? It was novel, really. I looked up at him, noticing the keen interest in his face. I felt myself warming up to him.
“I... I think the others should know,” I managed.
“AH HA!” Bair shouted, even as Sabien hissed at him. Bair lowered his voice, but his face was triumphant. “I knew you wouldn’t let him walk all over you, the way everyone else lets him. I heard—” he lowered his voice at a pointed glare from Sabien. “I heard he has made a deal with the Demon Overlord, a deal to keep us trapped here.”
He speared another piece of meat, his eyes trained expectantly on me. He leaned in closer, and I couldn’t help but notice how he smelled of cedarwood and sage. I busied myself by taking another piece of bread, breaking it into smaller pieces.
“I don’t know anything about a deal,” I admitted, remembering the despondent look in Benedict’s eyes when he said the last female was lost to him. Bair’s gaze sharpened, reevaluating every inch of me. I didn’t like it, yet at the same time...I wondered if he would kiss like his brother.
“Allow me to lie with you tonight, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know about Benedict.”
I blinked at him. It wasn’t the deal itself that was offensive, but the self-assured way he had proposed it, as if my agreement were already assumed. I narrowed my eyes.
“I hardly need your help.”
Bair raised an eyebrow, and it was eerily reminiscent of his brother. What Bair lacked in Benedict’s strength and figure, he made up for with subterfuge and flattery. I wasn’t sure that I preferred it. Bair lowered his voice further, whispering gently into my ear so Sabien wouldn’t hear.
“Choose me and I’ll take you outside the mountain.”
I popped the last bit of bread into my mouth, grabbing a few grapes and rolling them between my fingers anxiously.
“I thought you’re all trapped here.”
Bair set down his dagger and wiped his mouth. “Think of it more as a... loophole.”
“Won’t Benedict find out?”
Bair grinned nastily. “He can’t be everywhere at once.”
I threw down my napkin, quite done with both of them.
“Thank you for dinner, but I have some business which requires immediate attention.”
Bair stood; his hands splayed on the table as Sabien bowed.
“What about my offer?”
I growled.
“Fine. I’ll think about it.” Bair gave me a salute with his dagger, grinning widely. Sabien shook his head and turned his attention back to his meal. I stalked back up the dais, where Benedict was leaning against the wall, half of his body in the shadows. Did he ever eat, himself? His hobbies seemed to be primarily composed of stalking and creeping.
I only made it halfway before a group of three drakens stepped in my path, bowing. I impatiently nodded my head, but the look in their eyes was serious.
“May we have a moment of your time?”
His scales were navy blue, while the rest of him was silver: his eyes, his hair, his wings and upper body.
“I apologize, but perhaps tomorrow before the Games? I have some urgent business with Benedict.” The draken nodded, and the three of them stepped out of my path. I hurried over to Benedict, who didn’t bother glancing up at me.
“I would like to go see them now, please.”
Benedict’s eyes flashed.
“I’m not your servant.”
I put the back of my hand dramatically to my forehead.
“I suppose I’ll have to wander the fortress aimlessly then, hoping to bump into them. I hope I don’t run into any bloodthirsty, hormonally-deprived drakens on the way.”
A puff of air exhaled from his nose.
“Fine. You’re like an annoying, little pet.”
I could have winced, knowing his joke was in particularly bad taste. Demons frequently kept humans as pets. Instead, I tried something different.
“Careful, I might bite.”
I grinned in victory, turning quickly so my hair flew in his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off from over my shoulder. “And you may stay and watch if you’re so concerned about my safety.”
I held my hand out imperiously, and he reluctantly took it, his warm fingers sliding up the palm of my hand.
TEN
We appeared in a dimly lit sitting room, like mine but smaller, decorated sparsely but comfortably with two leather backed chairs in front of a happily crackling fire. Kieran and Ronan jumped up from them as soon as we appeared, though slowly and with more care than they usually did. I shot Benedict a filthy look as I hurried to Kieran, my hand tucking his hair out of his eyes to see his face better. Large bruises and cuts marred his face, even as he gently pushed my hands away.
“Are you alright?”
I turned towards Ronan, who didn’t look any better.
“Don’t waste your breath,” Kieran began, wincing as he took a step towards me. “it’s our own fault for letting it get out of hand. We should have had D’Arcy or Benedict with us to train you.”
His left eye was black, and his lip split open.
“This will help remind us to have better control.” He limped heavily on one side of his body, and his normally carefree grin was more of a grimace.
“I’m sorry, Wren. I... lost myself.” If Kieran was upset, Ronan was downright miserable. My gaze flitted between them and Benedict’s unflinching expression. I licked my lips, remembering how Benedict had healed himself using my blood. Making a quick decision, I tossed my nose into the air.
“Let’s go into one of your private rooms. You can wait out here.” I stuck one finger in Benedict’s hard chest, even as his eyes narrowed in suspicion and a low growl rumbled in his chest. Kieran and Ronan didn’t bother looking at the larger, angry draken; Kieran opened the first door on the left, and we entered. A modest room with a medium-sized bed took up most of the space, with a small chest at the foot of the bed. I shut the door behind us, and Kieran wrung his hands nervously.
“I don’t think this is a good idea. What if—"
“You won’t hurt me,” I insisted, tossing my hair behind my shoulders.
“In fact, I dare you not to hurt me. If it gets out of hand, I simply scream for help, and Benedict beats the shit out of you. Again. You wouldn’t want that now, would you?”
They both cringed and shook their heads. I crossed the small space and sat on the bed, sliding my boots off as I went. They stared at my bare legs as I patted the spot next to me. I tried to act with more confidence than I felt; this new version of myself would need some more practice, but there was no time like the present.
With every fight with Benedict, or new trick with my knife, I felt more of the old, scared girl inside of me dying. I wasn’t going to mourn her.
“Come here.” I gestured to both with two fingers.
Ronan moved first, with Kieran just behind him. They sat on either side of me, stiff as boards. I reached up and ran my hands through Kieran’s red hair, mindful of a large cut on his forehead. I’d never seen red hair before meeting him, so I took my time admiring it as Kieran sighed, relaxing against my shoulder. Each strand looked like liquid fire as I twined it through my fingers.
I shifted and gestured for Ronan to lay his head in my lap, and my free hand went to work on his hair. Slowly, their muscles relaxed, and their eyes drifted closed. When I deemed them suitably relaxed, I pulled Kieran close to me, my voice no louder than a whisper so Benedict wouldn’t overhear.
“I want to heal both of you.”
Kieran’s pulse quickened, and Ronan jerked from my lap.
&nb
sp; “You can’t heal us.”
I bent my head back, exposing my throat to Kieran as I dragged my wrist across Ronan’s lips, tempting him. Kieran’s fingers ran a path down my neck, nearly vibrating with anticipation.
“Well, it worked for Benedict. Take it or leave it.”
Ronan didn’t hesitate, both of his hands seizing my wrist as one fang delicately cut along a vein. He stifled a quick moan as hot blood trickled in his mouth, his skin shimmering as the wounds twisted and began to fade away. Kieran growled slightly but lost his battle of wills, his fangs sinking into my offered throat a moment later. I tensed as there was a split second of pain, but it was quickly overcome by a wave of pleasure. Arousal curled itself around me, lazily spreading throughout my body. I drifted on a hazy cloud as they drank from me, their lips gliding across my skin with an agonizing gentleness, juxtaposed to the sharpness of their fangs. They drank greedily, their mouths and tongues feasting on my body like starving men. I felt light-headed but was too drugged out of my mind to care.
“Stop. Ronan, stop.”
Kieran’s voice was raspy above me; his lips tinged red as he snatched my wrist away from Ronan. The other draken growled, then shook his head when Kieran smacked him in the face. They stared at each other.
I wondered when they would shut up already and pay attention to me instead. I stubbornly tugged Kieran’s head down and he chuckled, returning to lick my neck as Ronan did the same to my wrist. The small cuts healed over, and they glanced down at me, exchanging dark looks.
“Her skin is too pale, and her heart rate too slow.”
“We took too much. We’ll have to give some back.”
Ronan shot a slightly awed gaze at me.
“I don’t think that will be a problem.”
My eyes snapped open, and my first thought was how loud Kieran’s blood was, pumping through his veins the way it was. Surely, he wouldn’t miss a little—