Blood Solace (Blood Grace Book 2) by Vela Roth

Author:Vela Roth [Roth, Vela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy romance
Publisher: Five Thorns
Published: 2018-10-31T05:00:00+00:00

Blizzard Wraiths

Battle commands ran through Cassia’s mind, but none were any use against a bolt to the heart. Except one.

“Het baat,” she said.

Knight growled again, but he obeyed the finality in her tone and went into a down-stay.

She put up her hands for whomever stood on the other end of that crossbow. “My hound is worth more to you alive. He deserves better than a bolt in his side after he managed not to go down fighting.”

“He’s worth more than you,” said the voice behind the weapon. “In fact, he’s our payment.”

The crossbow came nearer, and the fog wafted away. She saw the white-gloved hand that held the weapon, then an arm clad in white, threadbare wool. Then a broad chest wrapped in white fur, crossed by a white leather bandolier. A rough-hewn light stone was strapped there, illuminating blades, bolts and pouches full of who knew what.

From one buckle on that bandolier hung a pair of long, sharp canines tied on a string. Their roots, not their tips, were bloodied.

Had a Hesperine once smiled at her with those fangs?

Was she looking at the fate of the embassy’s escort?

There had been so many horns… Only a powerful force could defeat a group of Hesperines. She didn’t know how long she had been trapped in the snow… Long enough for the heart hunters to collect trophies.

She didn’t know if Lio had been in the escort.

Had he once feasted on her with those fangs?

Cassia longed to shut her eyes at the sight, but she dare not. A dozen heart hunters appeared around her like spirits out of the storm. But their crossbows and clubs, swords and daggers were all too corporeal. Even the snowshoes strapped to their heavy boots had bladed, upturned tips.

“We do exactly what the king wants,” the lead crossbowman ordered. “That fat rat in the palace is fickle as they come, and I don’t want to give him any excuse to keep the dog and the gold after all. If we keep the boss happy, he’ll see to it the king lines our pockets.”

One of the men lifted a reed pipe to his lips. When not a note, but a dart flew from the end of it, Cassia jumped. When the dart struck Knight’s shoulder, she gasped.

“You said he would live!”

“He’ll wake up after it’s all over,” the piper said. “Too bad you can’t have one of my darts too, little bitch. You have to stay awake.”

Knight let out a groan, looking up at Cassia. She could not bear the confusion in his eyes. She held him, murmuring reassurance after reassurance to him as he finally closed his eyes.

“Get him back to camp right away and see to his wounds,” the leader ordered. “We’ll follow with the girl.”

The piper and another heart hunter closed in. Their leader gestured with his crossbow, and only that threat was enough to make Cassia let go of Knight and move aside.

She watched them tie her hound to a litter and exchange their snow shoes for the skis strapped to their backs.

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