Page 50 of The Succubus's Song

The magic in the air cleared, and there was Mara, holding a dagger to her mother’s neck. Mara’s sisters started to hiss and shriek while Katerina struggled, letting out a string of curses as she realized who was holding her.

“Mara! You rotten bitch, I swear—”

All the pain in Finley’s body evaporated at the very sight of Mara. Even in her bloodlust, Mara had never looked as savage as she did there in the great hall.

She was like a living flame, her eyes and hair glowing her signature bright shade, her body poised to strike as it reverberated with the restraint it took to contain her power.

Alice shrieked from the crowd, pushing past her sisters, slinging curses at them as she leaped to pull Katerina from Mara’s hold.

Then all hell broke loose.

Calum and Emmett started rounding up the sisters like sheep, using their presence on horseback to push the other baobhan sith together in a tight circle. They kept their blades and axes aimed at the sisters, swinging whenever one of them got too close.

Finley desperately tried to get a better look through the crowd at Katerina and Mara. Instead, in the very center of the chaos, he recognized Pippa.

Pippa’s hair was loose and wild as it whipped around her shoulders. She was slinging stiletto blades into the crowd with such a deadly accuracy, it almost looked random. She was laughing loudly, clearly enjoying a good fight, and finally set her sights on Alice.

“I call dibs on your other eye, you foul bitch,” Pippa cried, her voice full of excitement like it was Christmas morning.

Finley watched in awe as a furious Alice launched herself at Pippa. For a few perilous seconds, Finley didn’t breathe, unable to make anything out from the tangle of limbs, teeth, and claws.

There was a sudden, desperate shriek that rang out through the hall. Everyone froze in place as the noise broke through the din, and in the center of the melee, was Pippa standing over Alice’s body with a dagger in one hand and…an eye in the other.

Oh, fuck me. Finley’s stomach turned as he tried to not look away, desperately searching for Mara.

A hole in the crowd appeared, and Finley locked eyes with Katerina. Her eyes had turned entirely black, and she snarled like a beast, her gaze dead set on Finley. Katerina snarled and spun on her heel, knocking the blade out of Mara’s hand.

As soon as she was free from Mara’s hold, Katerina made a mad dash for Finley. He backed up as quickly as he could, unable to stand, until he hit the stone wall. Katerina was almost upon him, and he screwed his eyes shut, preparing himself for a killing blow.

It never came.

Mara was right on Katerina’s tail, shrieking like a banshee. Mara tackled Katerina to the ground right as she was prepared to strike Finley. They rolled for a few feet until Mara ended up on top.

She leaned down, all sense of humanity gone from her features, and growled.

“Mine.”

Mara ripped out her mother’s throat and snarled until her body turned to ash and vanished beneath her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The last of Finley’s strength left his body as he sagged against the wall in relief. The chaos of the fighting died down around them. Mara was emotionless, staring at the streaks of ash on the velvet carpet—all that remained of her mother and her reign of terror.

Finley forced himself to look away and saw Pippa escorting Alice, blind and bound in chains, outside. Emmett was commanding the other baobhan sith to do the same. Finley was surprised to see that their demeanors seemed calmer.

I wonder if it was all Katerina’s influence? If she kept them suspended in states of bloodlust? Finley shook away the thoughts; it was Calum’s problem now.

Finley stood on shaky legs, taking a second to get his bearings, grunting in pain.

“Finley!” Calum called out to him, dismounting from his horse and jogging towards the dais. As Calum approached Finley, Mara sprang to life, jumping to her feet with a predator’s speed and launching herself between Calum and Finley.

“Mine,” Mara growled again. The sound made all the hair on the back of Finley’s neck stand up.

Finley could hardly recognize Mara—she had completely given herself over to her baobhan sith form, in a way that he’d never seen before. Her hair and eyes still glowed a bright blood red, and her talons were out. She sneered at Calum, unable to recognize friend from foe, and her fangs were fully extended.

“Mara,” Calum held out a hand in front of him, like he was talking to a spooked horse, “it’s me. You need to let me see Finley, okay?” Calum tried taking a step forward, but Mara hissed viciously again.

“Calum, it’s fine,” Finley croaked, shaking his head. “You should go. I’ll handle this.”

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