Bittersweet Blood (The Order #1)

“So what do you want?” Christian asked.

“You have proved untrustworthy, but the girl has honor. She offered herself tonight so her friends might live. We need a hostage to her good behavior. If she provides that and gives us a blood oath, we will consider it binding.”

…

Tara clung to Christian’s solid body. She burrowed her head against his hard chest and breathed in the scent of him. Warm, musky, he smelt of sweat, blood, and his own wild, masculine flavor.

She had been so sure she was about to die. She could still feel the hand gripping her hair, the icy coldness of the blade at her throat, and tremors ran through her body.

As though from a distance, she heard her name. She looked around, her eyes widening. All about them stood not only the fae, but figures from her nightmares. Some appeared human, others bore little resemblance to anything she had ever before seen, including creatures like Jamie—hellhounds. Their eyes glowed with hunger as they paced among the throng.

Her gaze was drawn to the tall figure standing next to Christian. Knowing who he must be, she looked away. She couldn’t cope right now.

“Are we going to fight?” she asked Christian, pleased that her voice sounded firm. She loosened her grip on him and tested her legs. They’d stopped trembling and she thought they would hold her up. Probably.

“Maybe, maybe not. It depends on you.”

She wasn’t up to making any more decisions tonight. Fighting would be easier than thinking, but who were they going to fight?

The fae? The demons? Everyone? Perhaps the fae and the demons would fight each other and their little group could slip away in the ensuing chaos.

“What does he want?” Her eyes skittered over the tall fae, the Walker and the knife he still clutched in his hand.

“If you give them a blood oath and swear you will never enter the Faelands, they’ll leave.”

She frowned. “It seems a little too easy.”

“Apparently you’ve impressed him.”

“He didn’t act like he was impressed. He acted like he wanted to kill me.” She thought for a minute. “What does a blood oath involve?”

“Blood, obviously,” Piers said.

“How much blood?”

“You’ll live.”

“Well that’s a novel idea, but what exactly do I have to do?”

“You swear on your blood, but they also want a hostage.”

How could she give them a hostage?

The Walker eyed up their small group. His eyes settled on the hellhound who growled softly. The Walker smiled.

“The shifter will come with us. She cares for him. He’ll stand for her good behavior.”

A flare of anger shot through her. “You’re not taking Jamie.”

The Walker shrugged. “Then the deal is off.”

“I guess we’re going to fight, after all.” Piers sounded positively cheerful. Tara cast him a dark look. She slipped her hand into Christian’s and held on. A hollow pit nestled where her stomach should be. If they fought, some of them would die, but she wouldn’t hand over Jamie.

She took a deep breath. “Yes, we fight.”

The night charged with tension. Demons shifted restlessly, eager to begin, and the fae raised their swords. Christian’s hand tightened in hers and he drew her closer into the protection of his body.

The hellhound vanished, and Jamie stood in its place. He blinked, shook off Carl’s restraining hand, and stepped toward her.

“I’ll go with the fae,” he said.

Tara frowned. “You can’t.”

“Why not? It’s not as though they’re planning on doing anything unpleasant to me. At least, I presume they’re not.”

“He’ll be well treated,” The Walker said.

“You don’t need me anymore,” Jamie said. “And Chloe’s gone. It will be good to get away, see something new. I’ve heard the Faelands are very beautiful.”

Tara bit back her tears, but she couldn’t argue with him. She stalked toward her uncle and pushed her finger into his chest.

“Swear to me that you’ll be good to him?”

A flicker of amusement crossed across his features. “It will be part of the oath. As long as you do not enter the Faelands, he will be safe and unharmed.”

“You won’t keep him locked up or anything?”

“No, he’ll be free.”

She returned to Jamie and hugged him. “You’re sure?”

He nodded.

“I’ll never see you again,” she said.

“Never is a long time. Who knows what will happen in the future?”

She tried to hold on to that thought. “Can I see Smokey one last time?”

He smiled and vanished. She scooped up the huge gray cat, burrowing her nose in his soft fur, and listening to the deep, rumbling purr. She squeezed him hard to her, then let him go. He leapt to the ground and padded over to stand beside the Walker.

Tara bit her lip. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Come here.”