Page 92 of Marked By Night

“What happened to you, Tyler?” I ask as I circle him, toying with him. “I don’t understand why you’ve chosen to become this—this monster,” I spit. Even my voice no longer sounds like my own.

His fear is quickly replaced by anger as he comes at me with my own damn switchblade. I sidestep him easily, predicting his move to come straight for my throat. Right now, he feels like child’s play compared to what I know I’m capable of.

“Tsk, tsk, Tyler,” I say with a tinkling laugh. “I gave you the opportunity to speak and to explain your actions, yet you try to kill me instead. Such a pity, but I’ll enjoy killing you.”

Then I raise my voice, projecting out for all to hear, because I know the Elders are somehow listening in on our battle. “Let this be a lesson tonight. Anyone who fucks with me, comes after me, my family, or my mates, will die.”

“You’re not capable of that you stupid bitch. I’ll never understand why Mick—”

“No more games, Tyler,” I interrupt, sideswiping his feet out from under him in a movement so fast even I can’t track it. He bounces as his back hits the ground from the force. He grunts but doesn’t cry out much to my disappointment.

“I wonder, will you beg for your life?” I ask, landing on top of him. My hand snakes out, wrapping around his throat and I squeeze.

With a burst of strength I’m not expecting, Tyler manages to throw me off and I go flying across the clearing. I dig my heels into the dirt and come to a stop right before a tree.

“Impressive, but it won’t happen again.”

“You like that, did you?” he says, circling me. I don’t take my eyes off him. “The Elders gave me a power boost and all I had to do was come after you. Something I was already planning on. The stupid bastards.”

A part of me feels like I should keep him talking, try to get more information out of him, but the raging part of me demands his blood and something tells me it won’t go away until I crush him in my palms.

Tyler rushes in to greet me with his fist and I sidestep it, ducking underneath his arm to go in for a throat jab. It connects and he goes waddling back, clutching at his throat as he struggles to breathe. I don’t give him any leeway. I slam him against a tree, making sure his head takes the brunt of the force.

Still, he doesn’t cry out, but he does manage to throw me off.

I grit my teeth together as we circle each other once more.

“Time to end this,” he says.

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Pushing all of the extra strength into my limbs I rush toward him again. In a sneaky turn of events, he uppercuts me making blood fill my mouth as I bite my tongue, but I barely register the pain. I catch him in the gut with my fist, and he wraps his arms around me, bringing me to the ground. We wrestle for control and for a moment I’m terrified he’s going to end up on top, then it’d be over.

Fuck that.

I use the shadows to my advantage, giving me a burst of air that allows me to flip our positions. The first thing I do is knock him square in the nose, breaking it for a second time. Seems fitting, I think.

Tyler grips my thighs and rises with me wrapped around his body. He tries to throw my back into a tree, but I climb his ass like a damn jungle gym and end up on his back. I let the rage consume me, to fill my every pore. The shadows follow my emotions like a tidal wave and come surging into me. For some reason, a set of words pop into my mind and I instinctively know I’m supposed to say them.

“Tyler Scott Maynard, tonight you will die. In the name of the Night Goddess, the God of Dawn, the God of Dusk, and the God of Light, I hereby sentence you to death. May you pay for your sins in the afterlife.” Again, my words don’t sound like my own.

His eyes are wide with fear. “Please. I’m sorry,” he begs.

So, he will beg after all. Men, such weak-willed creatures.

“You are not forgiven, and you were never worthy of me. May the Night Goddess have mercy on your soul, because I will not.” The swirling darkness around me snaps his neck, and I feel a tug in my chest as the shadows consume his soul.

Then it’s over and I let his lifeless body slump to the ground next to my feet with a thud.

36

Sadie

Even with Tyler lifeless at my feet, I know this night is far from over. The sense of dread and foreboding still surrounds me like a dark cloak of grief. I shove my feelings down and rush over to Hemsworth. The slight rise and fall of his chest makes my heart soar with joy. I reach out to pet him and as soon as my hand connects with his fur, my magic surges out of me in a rush, healing him. He jolts awake.

“Thank the Goddess you’re okay!” I cry, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“I’m sorry I failed you, Sadie,” he whimpers softly, licking my cheek.

---