Page 145 of The Blood Witch

Flash.

A Shifter she’d never known, never recognized. Starving to death on the streets. Eyes vacant and hollow, flies crawling over his flesh.

Flash.

She and Jayce, barely more than kids, running from three men, knowing they were going to die. Her standing above those same men, holding their lives in her hands with this new, glorious power.

Flash.

Vee had shifted again, without realizing. She huddled on the ground, her hands gripping her head.

“Stop it,” she pleaded. “Stop doing that.”

Flash.

Kellos, struggling against the hold she had on him. Kellos, jumping toward his sister, blood on his paws. Kellos, who had felt so scared under her control. So… sad.

Flash.

The Vampire. He fought so hard against her. His thoughts were full of thoughts of his son. Full of horror. Full of pain.

Full of noble sacrifice.

Flash

Amalia.

“No,” Vee sobbed.

Amalia.

Amalia the first time she’d ever seen her, in that ridiculous red dress, lost and alone in the city.

Amalia smiling at her.

Amalia spinning in her new outfit, her power growing. Growing every day since Vee had met her, with no sign of stopping.

Amalia’s face crumbling.

Amalia crying.

“Stop,” Vee pleaded, her entire body shaking. “Please stop.”

“You have suffered,” the voice said. “And you have caused so much suffering. Was it worth it?”

Flash.

Her mother’s face.

Flash.

Amalia’s face.

Flash.

Flash.

Flash.

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