Page 90 of White Raven

“Why do they hate each other so much?” I asked Bjørn as they circled each other, sweat starting to dampen their skin, the torches burning bright around them as the room’s temperature seemed to skyrocket. All eyes were on them, the room walking a tightrope, ready for the first to fall.

“Stigr was a guard for the king, and it was no secret he was vying for a Night Hunter position. But his ego and anger caused a lot of shit. An all-round bad guy. Onyx had him kicked out completely for his behavior.”

“Oh.” I turned my head back to the men, seeing the resentment now in Stigr’s face.

“Never thought you’d be pussy-whipped over a Day Raven.” Stigr curled his lip in disgust over the last part.

I could feel looks cut over to me. My silver hair, pale skin, and light eyes were a scapegoat for their own biases. Revulsion of what I was stabbed through the air, breaking my skin into a sweat.

“She’s a thrall.” A growl rose from Onyx, the muscle in his jaw contracting, punching out for Stigr. “That’s it.”

Ducking out of the way, Stigr laughed. “That’s not what it looked like to me. You normally fight for a thrall like this?” He swung for Onyx and missed. “Tell me, brother, how tasty is that pussy?”

“Oh no,” Brynn muttered. Bjørn dropped his head, while Renyx pinched his nose, like they all knew what was coming.

A rumble was the only warning he gave, losing whatever mercy he had left. Onyx lunged forward in a blink, his fist slamming into Stigr’s face so hard his head rebounded to the side, his body flying back. Stigr dropped over the chalked line, forcing the crowd to retreat out of the way in a gasp.

Huffing and snarling, Onyx seized Stigr’s legs, dragging him roughly back into the ring. The Northerner’s eyes were pitch black, and I swear I could feel his rage sear through me, burning down my neck and settling on my chest like a heartbeat.

His knuckles struck into Stigr’s face until he went limp, curling up on himself.

“Onyx!” Bjørn called after him, looking at Brynn and Renyx. “Fuck . . . he’s switching over.”

“Switching over?” I puzzled.

Renyx reacted promptly to Bjørn’s words, pushing into the circle, grabbing Onyx’s shoulders. “Back off, brother. You’re gonna kill him.”

Onyx reared back at Renyx like he was the threat, his teeth bared, his shoulders rigid, his irises as black as his pupils.

“It’s me.” Renyx put up his hands, skipping back, like he really was stuck in a cage with a wild beast. “Look at me, brother.” Low and stern, he kept space between them. “Calm down.” It took a few tries before Onyx’s conduct shifted, like he was waking up from a trance. He took a deep breath, letting Renyx get closer, pulling him away.

Stigr lifted his gory face, his mouth parting, red liquid coating his teeth as he spat onto the floor.

“Maybe you’re the pussy.” He laughed, almost choking on his own blood, getting back up to his feet.

Onyx leaped forward, the crush of his fist into Stigr’s face resounded in the room.

Renyx grabbed Onyx, pulling him away again. “He’s not worth it.”

Onyx took deep inhales, his shoulders still tense, but his eyes flickered with more than rage, like he was coming back to himself. He swiped up his shirt, wiping the blood and sweat from his face, tossing it to the side. He strode up to Stigr, gripping Stigr’s tunic tight around his neck, dragging him close to his face.

“Ever call me brother again, I will use your asshole to sharpen my sword.” He bared his teeth. “And you ever challenge me again. They will not be able to stop me. I. Will. Kill. You.” He let go, his aura rolling with aggression. He stepped into the crowd, people parting to get out of his way as he stalked to the door, slamming it behind him.

Instinct turned me toward him.

“No.” Bjørn touched my shoulder. “Better to leave him be when he’s like this.”

“Like this?” I repeated.

“Because.” Bjørn lifted a bushy brow. “His moniker Onyx isn’t for nothing. It was the name given to him, because of how dark he can go.”

CHAPTER 20

Sitting on the bed, I stared at the sputtering fire, the sound soothing, yet neither my mind nor my body could relax. It had been several hours since Onyx disappeared, leaving his friends to settle me into his room and squabble over if they should tie me up or not.

“I don’t think she’ll run.” Bjørn peered at me.

“You trust that she won’t?” Brynn motioned to me, both talking like I wasn’t there.