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The ghoul’s neck snapped with a sound that shushed every voice in the stadium.
Cat gripped Grendel’s head tighter and sprang off the floor as if it were a trampoline. For a second, all Bones could see was her legs as she fell backward after she landed…but then Grendel’s body pitched forward, and Cat sat up with the ghoul’s detached head still gripped to her torso.
“You forgot…to kick me…when I was down,” she gasped out.
Relief flooded him. She hadn’t needed to doanyof that, but by God, she’d done it, and no one here would forget it. Certainly not Ian, whose face reflected sheer disbelief.
“Lower…the cage,” Cat got out next.
Ian gave a curt nod to one of his flunkies. Noah’s cage began rattling as it was lowered. By the time it reached the ground, Cat was on her feet. One of Ian’s vampires let Noah out, and he looked at Grendel’s head and screamed.
Bones sighed. He’d told Noah not to talk, but he’d neglected to tell him not to dothat.
“Someone shut him up,” Ian snapped.
Charles jumped into the arena. One flash of his gaze later, and Noah was silent. Charles then took Noah’s arm and led him out of the stadium.
Ian stood and began to applaud. “Well done,Red Reaper.No one will scoff at that name for you now. You’ve proven to be resourceful, strong, and ruthless. Congratulations, you’ve won one of your men back. However, I still have three more. How much are their lives worth to you? Swear your loyalty and join my line, and I’ll let them go. Come now,” he added as Cat’s expression hardened. “It will hardly be unpleasant. In fact, there any many perks, as you’ll soon discover.”
Before Cat could suggest another duel, Bones stood. “I’ve seen enough, Ian. I’m leaving.”
“But this is the best part,” Ian said with a wink at Cat.
She held up her middle finger.
Ian only laughed. “Now you’re reading my mind, poppet.”
Bones descended the aisle. As soon as he did, his people began to leave, too. Cat stared at the scores of vampires, her eyes widening. Wait until she found out that this was hardly his entire line. These were only the first-generation vampires that could make it here on such short notice.
“I bid you good night, Ian,” Bones said, and then paused once he reached the level just above the arena. “Though I think I’ll pay my respects to your guest of honor before I leave.”
Ian laughed. “Be careful, Crispin. You might end up headless next to Grendel.”
Bones flashed a grin at Ian as he jumped down into the arena. “I always did like to live dangerously.”
Cat straightened as much as her broken ribs allowed. Her breathing was better, though, which meant the blood he’d given her last night was accelerating her healing. It hadn’t finished the job, though. She’d need more for that.
“Congratulations on a magnificent display of unsportsmanlike conduct,” Bones said while a smile tugged at his lips. “What a dirty fighter you are. Someonereallyskilled must have trained you.”
Her laughter was genuine, albeit with a distinct wheeze from her injuries. “Yeah. An arrogant bastard.”
Bones wagged a finger at her. “You know what they say about sticks and stones, luv. Come now, how’s about a farewell kiss for old time’s sake?”
Her brow arched. “Want a kiss? Come and get it.”
“She’s biting him forcertain,” Ian said with a laugh.
Bones ignored that and came toward Cat. Then, as he’d longed to do all night, he took her in his arms. Her mouth met his halfway, and she moaned as she sucked the blood off his tongue after he sliced it open with a fang.
“What in theliteralhell?” Ian shouted. “That’s enough, Crispin! Cat is mine, so remove your hands and get out!”
Bones stopped kissing her, but he didn’t let her go. “’Fraid I have to refuse, Ian. I like my hands where they are.”
Shock scalded Bones as Ian’s walls dropped and he felt his sire’s emotions. Then, those walls snapped shut, and Ian jumped into the arena.
“Have you gone mad, Crispin? You dare to antagonize me over a woman you barely tolerate, and haven’t even seen in years? That’s hardly the behavior a new leader shows his people, unless this is your excuse to start a war with me?”
“I’m not trying to start a war,” Bones said with complete honesty. “But if you start one, I’ll finish it. It’s very simple, Ian. I won’t let you force her to do anything against her will, but if she fancies you, I’ll walk away. So, luv,” he tilted Cat’s face up. “Who would you rather be with? Me or Ian?”
