Page 91 of Wicked Enemy

“What about that smart-mouthed woman? Eve Sterling, wasn’t it? Maybe I should pay her a visit before I leave.”

Burning rage and icy hatred flashed inside me as I took a threatening step forward.

Holding up his hands, he chuckled while still keeping a mocking grin on his lips. “Oh, I see. Perhaps I should have demandedherblood instead.”

“But you didn’t. You demanded the lives of my three highest ranking dark mages.” Holding his gaze with hard eyes, I stabbed a hand towards the floor again. “And I gave them to you.” Threats dripped from every word as I ground out, “Now, swear the blood oath and then get the fuck out of my city.”

A dangerous glint flashed in his eyes for a second. But then he glanced down at the carnage on the ground between us, and a satisfied smile blew across his face instead. Raising his gaze to mine again, he lifted his broad shoulders in a nonchalant shrug.

“Fine,” he said. “I recognize that you did fulfill your end of the bargain. Both times.”

Saying nothing, I just stood there, staring him down until he at last heaved an annoyed sigh and then unsheathed his knife.

With his eyes locked on mine, he drew the blade across his palm. A thin line of red appeared. Squeezing his hand into a fist, he held it out before him, making a drop of blood fall to join the massive puddle before his feet.

“I swear by my blood and my power that I will leave your people and your city alone from now on,” he said. Then he paused for a second before adding, “As long as you don’t do anything to threaten my position.” Raising his eyebrows, he shot me an expectant look. “Happy?”

What he might consider as threatening his position was of course open to interpretation. But it was as good an oath as I would be able to extract from him, so I jerked my chin down in a nod.

“Excellent.” Another mocking smile stretched his lips. “Then I wish you the best of luck with your reign, metal king of Malgrave.” Chuckling, he flicked a hand towards the dead men on the ground. “Now that your people know what you’re willing to do to your own elite warriors just to get what you want. I smell a mutiny on the horizon, don’t you?”

His stupid laughter echoed between the broken wooden walls as he brushed his palms together. Then he worldwalked out of my city for what was hopefully the last fucking time.

Drawing in a deep breath, I finally released the tight hold I’d kept on my emotions ever since I walked into this building.

For a moment, I just stood there.

Then I looked down at the blood-soaked floor.

And smiled.

The unseeing eyes of Aaron Reyes, Connor Bale, and Wilhelm Stenborg stared back at me. I laughed. It was a disbelieving sound full of relief and smug victory.

Why fight two battles when I could just get my incredibly powerful enemy to kill my three other powerful enemies for me?

Christian White had already broken our deal, so I was under no obligation to keep my word to him. He had asked for three powerful and high-ranking dark mages, and he had gotten it. His problem was of course that he believed that I ruled the entire south side. Since he had spent almost no time at all inside the city walls, he didn’t know that I was at war with other Houses. So he had never even considered that the dark mages I delivered for him to slaughter weren’t actuallymypeople.

As for the gang leaders now lying dead on the floor… They knew that I always kept my word, so they hadn’t been worried about this meeting. Three of them against one of me? I was sure that they had some very creative and very painful plans for me. They had never even been worried about being attacked by someone else. After all, not only was I known for always staying true to my promises, but I had also sworn a blood oath on it.

But they had missed one thing.

BecauseI always kept the promises I made, I had always been very careful with how I worded things.

I had told them that no one except me would walk into the building. And technically no one else hadwalkedinto it. Christian White had justappearedinside the room.

It was a really shitty move, I knew that. But so what? I did have honor and I always held up my end of every bargain, but I was also a dark mage. I did what it took to win, even if it meant twisting the words of a promise so that I wasn’t technically breaking it. It wasn’t my fault that they weren’t sharp enough to realize when they had been outsmarted.

Steel sang into the silent building as I drew the massive sword I kept strapped along my spine.

For a few seconds, I just watched the three of them. Shock still twisted their features. To their credit, they had put up a good fight all these years. Amassing their own power and trying to stop me from taking over more of the city.

But their reign was over now.

Mine, on the other hand, was just beginning.

In a swift strike, I brought my blade down on Connor Bale’s neck.

More blood leaked onto the ruined floorboards as I severed Aaron Reyes and Wilhelm Stenborg’s heads from their shoulders as well.