Reaping The Red Heir

22. How Not To Reap

I drew my blade from its sheath.

His eyes briefly flashed with surprise before a wicked glint took over. "Revealing your true colors, Ashforth? Seems I'll be adding a silver braid to my collection after all."

I lunged at him, my poisoned blade aimed for his heart.

Cade dodged with supernatural speed, his laughter echoing through the corridor. "Is that the best you can do?" he taunted, sidestepping my next strike with ease. "I expected more from the infamous Blood Reaper."

"You talk too much," I spat, feinting to the left before slashing to the right.

He narrowly avoided the blade, his grin widening. "Is that anger I sense, Ashforth? Are you finally losing your cool?"

With a swift twist of my wrist, I slashed at his side, the blade grazing his skin. He hissed in pain and surprise, his eyes narrowing dangerously. The poison coursed through his veins, casting a dark shadow beneath his skin. But it wasn't potent enough to claim the life of one born into royalty. I would have to go for the heart.

"As you said, I am my mother's daughter. Has she not ignited the flames of war, fueled by her wrath?"

"Indeed," he sneered, his fingers flexing at his side. "But you're out of your depth here."

"And you're underestimating me," I retorted, bracing myself for his impending assault.

Cade growled, lunging at me with renewed ferocity.

I barely managed to block his attack; his fangs grazed at my forearm, drawing blood. His palm slammed into my chest, sprawling me to the ground. Pain shot through my side as I felt something crack—a rib, maybe.

Despite the throbbing pain, I forced myself upright, my heels faltering slightly under the swift motion.

I gripped my blade tighter, feeling the slick warmth of blood making its way down my forearm, threatening to dislodge the weapon from my hand. Clearly, Cade's fangs had inflicted more than a scratch.

"I couldn't resist trying you, Ashforth," he growled, licking my blood from his lips. "The sweetness of your blood is all the more tantalizing, knowing I savored it before even the beloved prince had his share."

I squared my shoulders with a laugh.

The Shade's eyes locked onto the blood trickling down my arm, his pupils dilating as hunger took over.

I halted any additional strategies of assault.

His nostrils flared, and I could almost see the primal urge consuming him. For a split second, his guard dropped.

He had already sampled my blood, and judging by his reaction, the ashforth nectar coursing through my veins must have been diluted.

I used that assumption to my advantage. I smeared the blood from my wounded forearm across the pulsating vein in my neck.

Cade's lack of control over his blood lust was his first mistake.

His second was assuming I wouldn't capitalize on it.

With a burst of speed, I lunged forward, swiveling to the right. Cade took the bait, his body shifting to counter my anticipated strike. His deadly teeth darted towards my throat, yet with a swift and sudden twist, I avoided it. My heel served as a pivot, allowing me to thrust my dagger upwards, plunging it deep into his chest with a crack of bone.

A grin spread across my face. The thrill of a kill never got old. Ever intoxicating, it coursed through my veins like wildfire.

His eyes widened in shock as the venom began its lethal dance, threading its dark tendrils upwards through his chest.