Valkyrie's Sacrifice (Academy of Immortals 3)

He makes no effort to count out the coins, and takes a step closer. I can see his crooked teeth and stringy hair. “I don’t think you’ve got enough to cover the tax, sweetheart, but I know a way for you to work it off, isn’t that right, Rolf?”

Rolf chuckles behind me, and it seems this tactic is pretty standard. Money isn’t enough, they want more.

I try to calculate my way out of this, but the walls are too narrow and my dress too heavy. The sound of metal clinking behind me makes my skin crawl—it’s a belt—Rolf’s belt. My stomach rolls. The man in front of me grabs me by the arm and breathes in my ear. “He’s going to fuck you and I’m going to watch. After that I’m going to fuck you twice as hard. After that, we’ll see if you’re paid up."

My hand balls into a fist and I punch him hard in the balls, while lifting my foot and managing to get at least part of Rolf’s toes. The soldier doubles over, anger lighting his eyes, but I’ve already jabbed Rolf in the ribs with my elbow. I dart around them, looking for an escape, but I’m yanked backward by the folds of my dress.

“Ah!” I cry, my body flinging against the wall. My face cracks against the brick, making my brain swirl. I lift myself up, but not fast enough. One of the two men grabs me from behind and bends me over a porch rail. The other pushes at my skirts, lifting them. I feel the cool air hit my backside and shudder at when one of their dirty hands touches my skin. My head aches from where it got hit, and I feel woozy. “Hold on tight, sweetheart, this is going to hurt.”

I brace myself and close my eyes. There’s a chance none of this is real. It’s one of the circles, and like the arena maybe it’s fake. Maybe this is my test? The sound of my underpants ripping off my body shatters that illusion.

“Well, well, well…what do we have here?” a voice says, smooth as silk.

“S-s-she—she—didn’t have the full tax,” Rolf says with a noticeable stutter.

“Ah, I see. And you thought you’d take the extra payment out yourself. The payment owed to me.”

“We were taking her to you, my Lord, but she fought back. Thought the wench deserved a lesson.”

“Did you now?” The voice is coated in honey. The next thing I hear is the metal scraping across leather. A waft of breeze crosses my neck, followed by a thud. I look down and see Rolf’s decapitated head, blood oozing from where it had been cut clean through. His eyes are wide, frozen in fear. I hear the sound of coins clinking to the ground, spilling across the cobblestone. My other attacker winces and moves quickly away. Terror is etched on his face. “Get the fuck out of here and don’t you ever touch my spoils again.”

It’s when he says the word ‘spoils’ that it clicks. I don’t have a chance to react, because gentle hands are behind me, pushing down my skirts.

“There,” he says, like he’s a godsdamned saint, “all straight.”

Slowly I turn and see the disheveled blonde hair and the roguish grin. The perfect lips and sharp cheekbones. A well-used sword dangles from his long fingertips. I’d come here on my own, to get away from the Immortals, yet now I stand inches away from one.

One I don’t trust.

I shouldn’t be surprised. He always wanted more. Wanted what didn’t belong to him. He spent years pillaging, stealing, hoarding. He’s greedy.

He is greed.

And right now, he eyes me like a prize to add to his collection.

Anger boils in my veins. Once again, Marshal has found me in a compromising, humiliating situation. Once again, he’s saved me, except this time there isn’t a hint of recognition in his devilish eyes.

I didn’t come here to find him, but I prayed to the gods to show me a path—and this is where it led me. Straight to the fourth circle. Straight to Marshal.

He sheaths his sword and smirks at my gaping. “The words you’re looking for are, 'Thank you.'”

My mouth is dry. I can turn away now and pretend this never happened. I can walk.

Except…

Except that electricity that has always existed between me and the knight is still there. And the ring on my finger vibrates like the thumping in my chest. Over and over we’re tossed in one another’s paths.

“Thank you,” I whisper, the words painful on my tongue, “for saving me.”

“You’re welcome.” His eyes sweep over me, pupils dilating. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows, reaching out and touching my injured face. “Did they do this to you?”

He told me once that he never had to force himself on anyone. I wasn’t sure if I believed him, other than the fact I knew he’d never had to force himself on me.

I brush my hair out of my eyes. “I fell.”

His e

yes snap to my hand and he grabs it with this gloved hand, twisting my fingers so he can see my rings.