Page 166 of Blackheart

The false doctor jerked his knife upward.

“Do not let our bloodline end here!”

Their spirits fueling me, I sat up fast, my teeth reaching the false healer's neck before he had the chance to move. Following the advice I’d received from a child, I bit down as hard as I could, ripping the artery from his neck. His knife fell to the table, just in front of my boot as he grabbed at his neck.

It was mere seconds before he was cyanotic, blood pouring out of him. He tried to make it to the door, but failed, his pale body falling to the floor.

“Riven,” I whimpered. I kicked the knife towards him, the pain of the first cut settling in. It was the worst thing I’d ever felt, sending contractions through my abdomen and lightning pain in my back.

He caught the knife between his knees and raised it to his mouth.

Ansel stretched his long legs toward the false healer’s boots.

I panted, my head spinning.

Ansel used nothing but his legs to drag the lifeless man’s body closer. When his jacket pocket was within reach, Riven leaned forward, using the knife clenched between his teeth to knock the set of keys free.

Ansel groaned as he twisted his body just enough to grab them with his restrained hand. Fingertips grasping the keys, he slid them along the side of his cuff. The restraints released.

I’d never seen a key like it, nor did I care to question it. Ansel jumped up, crossing the length of the room in two strides and sliding the key along each of my restraints.

He looked me over, both of us aware of the pooling blood.

“She needs a healer,” Riven snarled. “Not a Dreamsoul.”

I’d never witnessed such anger from Riven, violence radiating through his eyes.

“Get his restraints off,” I said.

Ansel seemed ready to leave Riven to his fate, but with a reluctant sigh, he stepped over and released him.

Riven stood and brushed his hands off, all before drawing his fist back and punching Ansel in the jaw.

“Riven!” I yelled.

Ansel smiled as he kicked Riven in the chest, knocking him to the floor.

Riven grabbed the knife that had been used to cut my insides, and hopped to his feet.

“Enough!” I snapped.

Riven glanced at me, then at the blood dripping from the table. He threw the knife to the corner of the room, then pulled his black shirt over his head and brought it to me.

“This might help with the bleeding,” he said.

I sighed, shoving the shirt between my legs.

“But I’m still not done with you,” Riven snarled as he snatched the knife back off the ground and pointed it at Ansel.

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I cursed.

Ansel stepped forward. “Try it,runt.”

“What did you just call me?”

Ansel swirled a small bolt of lightning on his finger. “Are you as deaf as you are dull?” he taunted.

Amzee came bursting through the door, with Beck shadowing in behind her.