Anathema (The Eating Woods, #1)

by Keri Lake

A cold, wet hand pressed to my mouth, and a scream ripped from my throat as I stared up at the horrid creature standing over my bed, whose pale, gaunt face carried a shadow of terror. The man from The Banishing, earlier. He

Do you not see him? I wanted to say, but I couldn’t summon a single word.

While the sablefyre contained within the vein had the power to transform flesh into bloodstones in a matter of seconds, it took approximately seven years for a corpse to phase into the much-needed nutrient that was then harvested from the rock.

For centuries, the highblood immortals had relied on the sickly nilivir and spindlings to ensure a long and successful bloodline.

For the client, he could do whatever he wanted and manipulate their blood magic for as long as the high lasted.

Wthellyyyy????

“What brings you here, Brother?” “I’m taking you home.”

Who did this?”

“If whoever did this returns, you will let me know.”

“My dreams never showed me scorpions.” Zevander let out a mirthless laugh. “Are you implying I’m your great villain now? That I will bring about this end of days? You are mad.”

“The seventh stone has always been a source of speculation, one the magehood has argued over since the Age of Renewal. For centuries, it remained a mystery.”

Is she the sevenfth stone ?.....

“The silver markings on that stone are unique to the Corvikae, who were known to worship the Goddess of Death. The very ichor that ran through her veins, ran through the veins of the Corvi people.”

“If my vision is correct, the mortal I sent you after may be the first, or the last, of the Corvikae bloodline. She may carry the blood of the death goddess. And while I may be many things to many people, I am not the vehicle for mortalicide.”

“I certainly don’t want to fuck with the daughter of ...

Jk lol

“I don’t give a damn about her sister.” He poured a drink and tipped it back, the burn of the liquor warming his tense muscles. “She should be grateful I bothered to bring her here, at all. When I found her, she had three Imperial Guards and a prisoner ready to tear into her.”

Rykaia slid her wine onto the desk, as though no longer interested in it. “Tell me you punished them for that.” “Every one of them burned.”

“It’s called empathy. Something you lack entirely.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows against his muscled thighs. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten the three men who tried to violate you. I’m the fucking empath who killed those men. For you

Eeeeeee

“Beg all you like.” He let out a sardonic chuckle. “I’d quite like to see you on your knees.”

“I don’t house prisoners, Lunamiszka

It irritated me, the way he consumed my attention.

With an expectant arch of his brow, he tipped his head. “Now.”

My ovariesssss

“That was Osflagulle!”

“No mage in all of Aethyria, not even the Magelord himself, possesses that particular glyph.”

“It’s a bone whip. A very powerful one, if the scrolls I’ve been reading are anything to go by. One strike could shatter the bones of your opponents.”

“You will repeat this move until I find it satisfactory. Now, raise your palm.”

Hehehe

“Again! Now!” Ice rushed through my veins. “I will not!” “Then, I am wasting my time with you!”

I could only just make out what looked like black veins across the part of his cheek I could see. The half of his profile that he’d tried to hide.

Zevander. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to … whatever that was.” “Never apologize for incapacitating your enemy.” “You’re not my enemy, though.” “Aren’t I?” “I mean, you are rude, sometimes. And grouchy. And extremely impatient.” I smiled when he frowned back at me. “But you’re a good teacher. I’ll give you that.”

When I stood before him, he continued to hold my hand, staring down at it.

I glanced down to our clasped hands and, for the first time, noticed the thick scars beneath the bands that circled his wrists. Horrific scars, as though something had seared itself into his flesh. “What are they?”

“All followers of Cadavros and those who’d struck bargains with him were swiftly executed by King Sagaerin. However, due to her bloodline, Lady Rydainn had always had a good relationship with the king, and as such, he spared Zevander’s and his father’s life, by imprisoning them instead.”

“And the Solassions let Zevander go?” “Not exactly. For reasons that don’t entirely make sense to me, King Sagaerin himself bought Zevander and three other Solassion prisoners. I believe you met Ravezio earlier. There’s also Torryn and Kazhimyr. He had them trained to be his personal assassins.”

“So, you’re saying the king imprisoned him and his father, then handed them over to the Solassions, who then sold Zevander back to the king?”

“Yes. The Solassions are a brutal lot. They executed his father in front of him, as I understand, and sent young Zevander to work the mines.”

“Zevander! Come! It’s Maevyth!” “What’s wrong?” Strange, the way every muscle locked up right then.

It was then it occurred to him that something else pulsed through his veins, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what had him feeling so unsettled. Beyond jealousy. Something deeper. Darker. Possessive. Seeing Branimir lying in her lap had scrambled his thoughts to an irritating muddle of anger and resentment.

“I’m sorry if I sounded like I was accusing.” Gaze lowered, she nibbled on her bottom

lip, insufferably beautiful with her annoying little habits that seized his attention and left him wondering what she tasted like. If her lips were sweet, like berries, or bitter, like his liquor. “I thought–” “I know what

She was beautiful. No, beautiful was too weak a word. She was intoxicating. Exquisitely divine.

“Goodnight.” “Goodnight, Lunamiszka.” “Do I still annoy you?” she asked. “Endlessly.”

“Yes, given how dangerous I am, it was probably foolish to assign me this room. I might just be ambitious enough to leap over to your balcony one night and hold a blade to your throat while you sleep.”

“Perhaps I should lock my door. I wouldn’t want you thinking I was eager to test your stalking skills.” “Nor would I want to give you the impression my visit was anything but lethal.”

“Careful now,” he said, looking out over the dark landscape. “I consider threats to my life an invitation.”

“Should you decide to carry through with your threat, I’ll leave my balcony door unlocked.”

“She’ll be fine.” Higher, her dress lifted, until her bare thighs were exposed, and Zevander felt the first twinge of need shoot straight to his groin. Alongside him, Ravezio licked his lips, and the sight of his arousal for her had Zevander’s hands curling into tight fists at his sides. “Merciful gods, let me give her relief, if you refuse.” “She’s mortal. Aren’t you afraid of whatever diseases she harbors?” he asked in a mocking tone. “No.” Zevander frowned back at him. “You so much as breathe across her neck, and I will take pleasure in skewering your skull before I set it aflame.”

“Da’haj mihirit voluptasz.” Give me pleasure

“Revelah’ret te mej.” Reveal yourself to me

He watched in rapt fascination as the flame dissipated to smoke and traveled across her arm as a pulsing onyx vein to her hands, turning her fingertips black. No one had ever been capable enough to snatch his power that way

“Da’haj mihirit voluptasz et da’minha vitatej.” Give me pleasure and I will give you life

Zevander felt the glide of

warm silk across his own fingertips, as if he were touching her himself.

Mate behavior