Page 122 of Dance With Death

I scoff. “You don't know my mother.”

“Sweet Eloise, the woman who weakened your fathers? Who forces Dorian to hold back his natural-born instincts, all because she doesn’t like people getting hurt?” he mocks. “The man had no chance of shaping you into his weapon.”

“I am not his weapon!” I shout.

But what am I? Daughter of Dorian, the golden child created to be the Dominion’s weapon years ago. Despite Eloise, Ethan, and Zeke’s work on teaching me to stay calm and disconnected, Dorian would spend time doing the opposite.

He’d urge me to stay in touch with what lies within my heart and soul because rejecting that completely goes against my nature. I am Dorian Blackwood’s daughter, and people should fear me. I’ve always been self-assured in my magical powers but never had the chance to practice the one thing central to Dorian’s influence. Killing.

“You’re Dorian Blackwood’s last and best hope in creating a legacy,” whispers Viktor. “Because his rule will be over soon, and so will all of you.”

The fog across my vision from the encroaching hybrid becomes a red mist as I seize Viktor by the neck and slam him against the nearest tree. He grunts at the force, choking as I squeeze his throat. Image after image floods my mind—all the ways I could end his life—multiplied as the witch still smirks at me.

“You can’t do it. That’s why I didn’t need to bring anybody to help.”

My fingers press further into his windpipe, a nail close enough to his jugular that I could slash it open in a heartbeat. Viktor’s face reddens, eyes bulging at the pressure, but unlike the last time, the guy shows no fear.

He’s completely convinced that I’d place Holly’s life above every loyalty I should have.

Holly’s pleas echo at the edge of the hybrid awareness, where Dashiell shouts that I’m killing Holly. I stagger backwards, fighting against continuing, and Viktor steadies himself on the trunk.

Slash his throat. Eviscerate him. Tear his heart out.

But every second closer to his death would be one closer to Holly’s.

“Dashiell,” he says to me hoarsely. “Kill him. Then I’ll leave you alone, if you leave me alone.”

“As if you would,” I spit. “Tell me who you work with.”

He rasps a laugh and rubs his neck. “No.”

“Your father?”

“Which father? I don't have one. Never knew him.”

Air slams from Viktor’s lungs as I shove him to the ground. “Is Cornelius Whitegrove involved? We know Josef is because he killed the witch Grant at the factory warehouse. The other witch who accompanied him said Josef had double-crossed them. They’re necromancers. You’re all connected somehow.”

“Ah. Josef. How’s Sarah?” He coughs. “And her son… Kai, isn't it?”

I pause, reeling at his subject change. “You do know her! How is Sarah involved?”

“Sarah screwed with my life; I’m screwing with hers.” He gestures. “Kill the shifter, or I’ll destroy Holly’s mind.”

“What is this? Throw information at me and hope it’ll delay your death?” I snap. “How about you tell me where Madison’s body is? Get everything off your chest before I smash my hand through it.”

“Same place as Sarah’s brother. Look.” He lifts an arm and points behind me. “Holly really isn't feeling well. Kill the shifter and be done with this.”

Has this witch deluded himself that he’ll walk away from our meeting?

There’s a solution. Somewhere. Unless I end that witch’s presence in the world, nobody I love is safe. Holly’s screams have weakened as her body has, and I’m transported back to the moment I found her in this clearing the first time.

That night changed me.

Everything I witnessed in this spot ran over me like a tidal wave, shattering the last part of the barrier I’d held against emotion and empathy for others. But that isn’t all that changed the night I found Holly bleeding toward death. The melting permafrost around my soul that held back Dorian’s influence finally evaporated in the heat of my fury.

I warned everybody what would happen—that the bond with Rowan opened Eloise’s side but also freed my father’s furious and impulsive death dealing. The two parts of who I am fully unleashed that night, and those sides don’t balance.

Nothing can touch my mind when I’m him.

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