The King Of Warriors novel (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 5238

Inside the shattered throne hall of Blackshade Demon Palace the metallic smell of blood still clung to the stone like sweat to a dying man. Varek surveyed the sprawled bodies, then let his gaze drift toward the side-chamber where Jared had vanished; the politeness that had painted his features earlier was gone, replaced by a vulture’s chill watchfulness. He straightened. Beneath the folds of his black cloak his fists whitened, and the supplicant who had bent his back before Jared only hours ago seemed to have never existed.

“Father...” Lunaria edged forward, her voice scarcely louder than a sigh, skirt still stained with drying filth. She kept her chin down, unwilling—perhaps unable—to meet her father’s simmering eyes.

Varek whirled. The crimson glare that leapt from his pupils made Lunaria flinch. He lunged, clamping a bruising grip around her wrist. “Failure!” he hissed, each word ground through clenched teeth. “A century of Blackshade pride, ruined, because I was too weak to stop that lecherous old ghoul—”

“Please, do not torture yourself,” Lunaria murmured, suddenly calm. She raised her head; an unsettling flush colored her cheeks. “That scar-faced codger may be ancient, but he surpasses your disciples in every way. Besides...”—her smile curved with dangerous delight—"he taught me sensations I never knew existed.”

“You—” Speech died in Varek’s throat as the wanton gleam in her eyes mocked him harder than any blade. He released her and turned to the storm-dark window. Between clenched teeth escaped a vow as bitter as nightfall: “Jared Chance... Flaxseed... this blood debt will never be forgiven.”

Lunaria smoothed her disheveled robe and stepped beside him, voice now colder than the clouds churning outside. “Empty curses are useless. Jared has Kishor guarding him. Level four holds no refuge for us anymore.”

“I know,” Varek breathed, eyes sharpening. “He thinks sparing me lets him pull every string? He underestimates me. Jared is at odds with Malevolent Path Hall—so we join them.”

Lunaria’s eyes lit like twin lanterns. “You mean Uncle Dioz?”

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