The Reaper's Wicked Obsession
Chapter 87: Drink & Dine

Chapter 87: Drink & Dine

"How long has it been since we sat like this, hm? To drink and dine." Logi said, raising his horned wooden cup. "We should do this more often."

"I agree," Nyssa said, raising her cup before drinking. "In the name of Alda and Almadra, we’re near the finals."

"Ah yes, the idea of drink and dine during hunt season," Kraven mused.

"Your idea," Rav said with his cup close to his lips, side-eyeing Kraven.

"Ekko! Join us and don’t stay in the dark like a fucking creep!" Logi called to nothing in particular, but he was certain he lurked around somewhere.

"I must decline that offer, Tinker." His voice came through, hushed and barely more than a whisper.

"Hmph, only you use my nickname properly. I’m a child of Visindi, the god of wisdom and knowledge. I should be praised more," he said, spreading his arms. "No one... amounts to me, even if you put two heads together."

Kraven glared at his hand, it’d been a factor since they walked into the Feast Hall but none of them commented.

"You’re more energetic, Logi. Tell me did the gods send a saint to give you grace?" Kraven said breaking the ice, his fingers tapping on the table.

Rav stiffened and Nyssa’s eyes were on Kraven before moving to the center of attention.

"Ha yes! A saint was sent to me indeed, but she was a simple prey, with feisty thorns."

Kraven laughed, relining his back on the chair. "Losing your cool, Logi? I find it hard to think you ever praise anyone aside from yourself."

"She healed a great asset to the Raven Court, she should be praised."

"Are we talking about the stray? I think we should focus more on—"

"She’s not a stray!" Logi and Rav snapped in unison.

This action caught Nyssa off guard as she stared between the two men as if they had sprouted two heads.

Rav stared at Logi, a bit shocked by his own outburst.

Logi cleared his throat to dispel the awkward silence. "You’re right, let us not talk about anything else while we dine." He raised his horned cup. "To the Raven Court!"

But no one appreciated the cheer. "Hmm..." Logi simply just murmured and took his drink.

"I think Isadora should not participate in the finals," Rav began. "Like Logi said she’s an asset... we cannot lose her."

"Oh Rav, you don’t think of her as just an asset do you?" Kraven said, leaning back so that he faced Rav. "And who are you to decide for her? She’s capable of making her own... decisions."

"Decisions?" Rav’s teeth clenched. "You dragged her into this, took an innocent girl, and forced her into the Hunt like an animal for slaughter!"

"Rav..." Nyssa said with a warning tone.

"And you, Nyssara..." he pointed to her, then looked at Logi, and Kraven who stared at him amused, visibly entertained.

"You all want her dead, what has she done to deserve such mistreatment?"

"I told you already that the girl’s fate has been decided," Logi said.

"By who?!" he snapped and glared at Kraven. "You? You can’t play god in her life."

"I am... to her," he replied. "A god does with his creations as he pleases."

Rav growled and took a step forward but Nyssa stopped him, placing a hand on his chest to keep him in place. The Fae was twice her size but that doesn’t stop her.

"This is far more entertaining," Logi murmured, reaching for more ale.

"Rav, stop this!"

Rav pushed Nyssa off him.

"You’re drunk!"

"I’m very sober here."

But his red cheeks and nose told a different story.

Kraven suddenly rose to his feet, grabbing their attention as the air grew tense. He hadn’t moved from his position but it was hard not to see it as a threat.

"Go on then... do what you’re about to do."

"Kraven..."

"Stay out of this, Nyssa," Kraven murmured, as a twisted grin crept on his lips. His eyes gleamed for something wild. "Rav’s been itching to unleash his wrath since the Isle, so let him. Let him throw his little tantrum—if he dares."

That was when Rav lost his restraint and punched Kraven square in the face, the blood splashing on the table and ruining the meal.

"Alda! Don’t get the food involved in this!" Logi yelled.

"She’s not a thing you can bend and break as you please, she’s a human being!"

Kraven turned to him with a dangerous glint in his eyes, swiftly popping a loose muscle around his neck. "Bend, break, call it whatever helps you sleep at night. But in the end, she’ll be beautiful when I’m done."

Rav grabbed his collar and repeatedly punched him.

"RAV!"

But after the fifth punch, Kraven stopped it. He chuckled. "Ahh, that’s the fire I like! But tell me... was that for her or yourself? Did I hit a nerve, Raviel?"

Rav’s ragged breath filled the air, the rage igniting within him and attempting to explode, his body ran hot and burned through his skin, but Kraven didn’t flinch from the heat.

"Come on!" Kraven yelled. "Finish what you started! Or are you afraid?"

Rav shook his head, yanking himself away from him. "You never change, do you? And here I thought you had even a shred of decency left... that you were better than this. You’re just like your father, you ruin everything you touch."

The moment the words came off him, he instantly regretted it.

"Gods, Rav!" Nyssa gasped.

Kraven used his thumb to wipe the blood off his nose. "And? Is that supposed to be an insult? Having expectations of me, Rav? Since when?"

Rav opened his mouth to speak...

"I’M A MADMAN!" he roared, the pressure of it holding an unhinged delight. "And if you think there’s more to me than that... you’re chasing a dream that doesn’t exist."

His silver eyes roamed over others, a slow, and predatory sweep, then he burst into laughter. "And as for the rest of you? Don’t expect anything from me... except our glorious purpose."

"I’ve no expectations from any of you!" he spat, pointing a finger at each of them.

His jaw clenched, his voice dropping low. "But I gave one rule... do not make me destroy what I’ve built." His fingers twitched at his side as if holding back something violent. "That’s why you stand by my side, why I chose you... hold the line!"