Page 167 of Loreblood

Rirth wheeled around like a ghost, ending up behind Koylen. Vampires watching booed and hissed at the lopsided battle.

The Diplomat spun to try and meet Rirth’s blade—

Too late, as the Grimson plunged his sword into Koylen’s belly and ripped upward. The cracking of ribs and bulge at Koylen’s spine showed he was mere inches from being impaled.

When Rirth pulled his sword free from Koylen’s belly, a shower of blood and entrails spilled out.

Koylen desperately tried to grab at his steaming guts with a shriek, looking up in pale shock as he fell to his knees, then faceplanted onto the metal slats.

Rirth whipped his blade toward the ground, slashing blood off the edge, and sheathed it. He turned, faced me and Skar, and gave a small bow.

Skartovius stood. “You have earned your freedom, Grimson. Court? Bring the dead man to the table.”

Within minutes, Koylen was a splayed, broken-open feast for the vampires. Just like Kemini had been.

I did not look over, and tried not to worry myself with the outcome of the quick match.The Diplomats deserve this. Anyone who willingly associates themselves with Dimmon Plankdeservesthis fate!

I sang the mantra in my mind, even as Antones called forth the second battle. I sensed the vampires hoped for a more competitive outcome.

Not that they cared. Blood was blood, and now they were gorging themselves with slippery sounds and slurping from Koylen’s corpse at the corner table.

Tall, crude Culiar came next into the arena. He was my second champion, and I gave Rirth’s lover and brother-in-arms a tilted smile—a quick flash of acknowledgment—as he drew his sword and waited.

My smile disappeared, features hardening when his opponent came to stand in front of him in the pit, moving languidly and with a sneer on his scarred face.

Peltos of the Diplomats flared his nostrils at the dais, spat on the floor, and drew his sword. “You masked fuckin’ bloodies. And you calluscowards?”

Many vampires voiced their anger, yelling he should be flayed for his disrespect toward Lord Ashfen and the rest of the court.

Skar simply held his hand up to silence the crowd. “Let it be decided in the arena.”

Peltos’ jaw was misshapen from when I’d broken it years ago. I wondered if he was feeling as high and mighty as he had when Garroway and I met him to deliver explosives.

Unlike Koylen, he didn’t look scared—just righteously angry. Championing my rape at Dimmon’s hands; doing the awful deed to a girl before Lukain sent him to his death on the Floorboards.Please finish him fast, Culiar, so I don’t have to look at his ugly,despicable mug ever again. Garroway should have done the honors years ago.

The battle was much more entertaining for our guests than Rirth’s match. Their blades clanged, sparked, and Peltos showed a surprising amount of resilience against the taller, more-skilled Culiar.

Their swords met in an X, faces inches apart, and Culiar reeled back with his longer legs to kick Peltos in the stomach.

I pumped my fist silently against my leg, watching Peltos stumble back. Culiar was on him instantly, giving his older former Holdmate no quarter as he waylaid into Peltos and earned a few deep nicks in the bastard’s arm.

Peltos spun out of the way, brought his sword down toward Culiar’s side, and I gasped—

Before Culiar twisted his body, effortlessly contorting his shape to avoid being skewered, and slapped Peltos’ sword away.

Their back and forth lasted three minutes. The boys grew tired. Peltos had more experience and skill than I’d given him credit for.I forgot he was once a Grimson as well—only a mere gutterboy Diplomat once he had nowhere else to turn.

My anxiety rose. Peltos was clearly tiring faster than Culiar because Cul had frequent training and more experience than his opponent.

A spurt of blood sprayed from Peltos, now a second wound showing on his arm from a quick flick of Culiar’s wrist and sword, to test his mettle. Peltos snarled and provoked Culiar with a gesture of his hand.

Culiar smirked, bent his knees, and lunged forward—

Wincing as his boot slid across a slick of blood on the floor from Koylen’s corpse.

Peltos took his chance, watching Culiar stumble. My former Holdmate and friend tried to correct his footing, aborting his charge—

But Peltos was on him. It sent Culiar sprawling onto his back. He stared up with wide eyes, seeing the blade descending, and rolled away—