Page 166 of Her Blood Revenge

‘You swore to return my coven! You promised me my sisters!’

I take hit after hit, unable to focus on both stopping her and keeping Hel from reclaiming my body. The gate is close.

I have to get beyond it.

Neve gets hit with a lump of horse shit slapping her on the side of her face. She looks back over her shoulder, more out of annoyance than anything else.

Thalia stands there, shaking from head to toe.

A perfect distraction. I call on the roots below and send one around both Neve’s and my waist. It tosses us through the air, straight to the gate.

She screams in sheer rage, and I scrunch my eyes closed.

We go through the gate together, soaking ourselves in blood before we land on the beach.

The sight of the sea of blood flowing into the gate is chilling and grotesque. But not as much as the sight of the souls of the blood witches as they melt into the blood slowly, becoming one with its destructive power.

All that blood. Every drop used by blood magic.

Neve is up. We face one another.

‘Daughter.’ She grips Shaw’s sword in her hand.

‘Mother.’

‘You will bring back my magic. You will free my sisters.’

‘No. I will not. And you will never leave here.’

She strikes first, bringing down Shaw’s sword on me.

I throw myself out of the way. I don’t dare use my blood magic. Hel’s soul is still inside, screaming for freedom as I keep her buried.

So I take control of the black sand and knock the sword from her grip.

I wrap my hand around her throat and lift.

She’s so light.

This darkness is intoxicating. It always was, but now… my gods, now… it’s what I think consuming the heavens would feel like.

Nothing can stop me.

No man. No witch.

Not even the blood queen.

I pull her down to me and sink my teeth into her neck, and I rip. I tear. I drink, and I drink deep, consuming her life’s source for my own.

When I drop her, she’s limp. Her heart beats slowly. I hear it strain against the lack of blood. Her eyes flutter as they stare up at me.

I take Shaw’s sword and stand over her.

‘Goodbye.’

I raise it high and slam it down, severing her head from her body. Her blood spray hits me, stirring the godwithin.

I drop the sword and focus all I have to keep Hel contained for just a few more minutes.

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