Page 190 of Dance of Deception

He looks like he’s about to shit himself when he truly sees me.

The fire roars behind me like a demon from hell as we square off, my blood pumping, my body ready.

The need for violence consuming me.

Arkadi whirls, looking in bewilderment at the inferno slowly wrapping around the clearing and trapping us in its deathly embrace.

His breath becomes shaky. Uneven.

"What have you done?" he chokes.

He stumbles back, smoke curling around him, flames reflected in his wild, bloodshot eyes. His chest rises and falls rapidly, his fingers twitching at his sides, like he’s trying to find a way out. A last move. But there isn’t one. Not for him.

I advance on him slowly and methodically, my face devoid of emotion.

“So,” he sneers, his hoarse and mocking tone masking his fear, “are you going to take me to your little underground club now? Make me stand trial?” He flashes a taunting grin. “What is it, again?Fight or flight?”

I level my gaze at him, my chest rising and falling with slow, controlled breaths. I take one step forward. Then a second.

“You could stand trial for your crimes,” I murmur, voice like steel. My fingers flex at my sides, my body thrumming.

Another step.

“But I’m not here for those.”

I keep moving, slowly, deliberately. Every step is a verdict. A final nail in his fucking coffin.

Arkadi’s sneer falters, just slightly.

“I’m here because you laid hands on and hurtmy wife.” My voice doesn’t raise, but there’s pure lethality in it.

I watch his throat bob. Good, good. Let him feel it. Let him see the end coming.

Another step, closer now.

Arkadi licks his lips, his eyes flicking to the fire. Looking for escape that isn't there.

“No, Arkadi.” I shake my head slowly. “When you get to hell, you can ask whoever the fuck you meet there if they want to play fight or flight, I don’t really give a fuck.” My voice drops lower, steady and absolute. “But in this world, up here?”

I pull the knife—his own knife—from my waistband, the blade gleaming in the firelight as I smile coldly at him.

“Up here, I’ve already found you guilty of the most egregious crime I know.” My grip tightens. My pulse stays even. “Hurting what’smine.”

Arkadi’s teeth bare. "You're a monster, just like me," he snarls.

I tilt my head. Then, slowly, I smile.

“No.” My voice is almost amused as I shake my head. “I’mfarworse.”

Before he can react, I explode forward.

The knife rams into his stomach in an instant, deep and brutal.

Arkadi chokes on blood as I yank the blade free, twisting it in my grip. He stumbles, clutching at his gut, his eyes wide, disbelieving.

His lips part, but I don’t let him speak.

I drive the blade up through his jaw with a sickening crunch. Arkadi jerks violently, his body spasming, then he goes still.

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