Page 20 of Trapped By Vengeance

“Run.”

When I unlock my tainted blood magic, there is nodavarprayer for me to pray and harness bloodline magic actually gifted by the Creator. There is only my animalistic instinct and a single statement Pa once gave me echoing in my head as sure as anydavar.

“You were made to be a werwölfe, but you were not meant to be a monster.”

Valda’s eyes widen as I surrender to the beast within. It’s been dormant since the night after the Night of Broken Walls, and I began my revenge.

There’s only a moment of remorse for that bloodshed, though, before I see red again. And it isn’t because one of the twins has taken my moment of distraction to stab my side.

The inner wolf sees red because there will be more bloodshed than just mine.

A howl escapes my throat as my back arches. Claws extend from my fingers and toes, and my clothing tears as my body grows much greater than any mortal— certainly than any mere wolf.

“Werwölfe!”

“Heisa werwölfe!”

“Saints save us from the blood-tainted!”

The mutineers realize what they have summoned and retreat as I arch over and flee. I can run on all fours or upright in this form since my hind legs are still longer than my forelegs. My back is arched strangely by the strange balance, and my ears twitch on my head as they listen for the closest mutineers.

Then I give chase.

A thrill fills me with all-consuming passion and all I want to do is pursue. I know I am mortal, and I know I will regret these coming actions. But it is hard to think past the desire of this moment.

Rather like kissing Valda.

I hesitate as I corner a mutineer whose name I do not recall. He cowers before me, trying to cover his vital organs while also being unable to tear his gaze away from me.

Would Valda still want to kiss me if I ate this man’s face?

He whimpers, his fear feeding the frenzy in my new form. But it doesn’t prevent me from seeing the dinghy halfway between this ship and the island I spotted before. Two females are on the boat. Valda is rowing and angling her body in an attempt to shield the eyes of the other girl aboard.

But Eloise cannot look away.

The wolf in me lowers its ears at the thought of frightening my pup when there are already so many other evils in this world.

Turning back to the cowering man before me, I open my mouth. Then I howl in his face.

He screams, as do several other mutineers, even though I’m not even corneringthem.

None of these cowards will be following us for some time. They aren’t the danger to Eloise. But I will be the monster in her eyes if she witnesses just how brutal I can be.

Pulling away from the man, I jump overboard.

Chapter Ten

Valda

There is a considerable difference between knowing the man who captured you is a werwölfe and seeing him actually transform. Having stolen a sample of his strength is no comfort when I see how muchmorehe has.

I am using all that strength to row as quickly as I can, and it’s not the mutineers I’m fleeing from.

Eloise sits demurely across from me, clutching her satchel and petting her pigeon. Her face is placid, but her pale complexion gives away her fear. I believe her almost yellow-green eyes are also indicative since I have heard that certain magic allows eye color to change with emotions. Though, now that I think about it, that applies to kin magic, which is exclusive to elves . . .

The girl keeps trying to peer over my shoulders while I work despite my attempts to shield her from the carnage. Myvateris the oldest estrie in Constantinium, but he shielded me from the sight of bloodshed until I was of age.

“Oh, good,” Eloise whispers. “He’s not tearing them apart. He got so sick the last time he did that.”

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