Page 99 of Court of Evil

His eyes narrow, and he rushes me, all fury and hunger.

I duck under his hands, driving the dagger up, but he dances away and backhands me. I spin from the force, and he grabs me, yanking me back, and sharp pain blossoms in my left arm.

His teeth close around the flesh there, and he takes a chunk of it with him, making me roar. I stumble back, covering the wound in disgust as he chews on my skin and muscle and swallows it. “I’m going to eat every inch of you.”

“I’m going to put your head on a pike,” I retort sweetly as I drop my hand and tighten my grip on the dagger. This time, I don’t wait for him, and I dive at him with a flurry of perfectly practiced movements.

I’ve been fighting monsters since I was a child.

I never lose, and I won’t start now.

He might wear a familiar face, but he is just another kill.

His hand hits my thigh as I bring it up in a kick, and it goes dead, but I fight through it, bringing the dagger across like I planned. It slices his cheek, and he falls back. I keep driving him backwards with determination and strength created by his brutality and pain.

He manages to land a few solid blows on my face, bursting my nose and lip too. I know my eyes will swell as well, but I don’t care.

I use the pain as a reminder of what he did to me and the agony he put me through. As I move faster and with more force, I see fear enter his eyes as he realises I won’t be as easy to kill as he thought.

He got lucky last time, but not this time.

My hands seem to move faster than I’ve ever been able to before, as if something is guiding them. Power moves through me like when I use my gift, and when I smash my fist into his face, he staggers, his eyes going far away.

He’s locked in his mind . . . in his past.

His hands come up, clawing at his face as his memories assault him, and my eyes widen. Did I do that? I usually read memories, but did I give them back?

It’s the moment I need though. I kick him, and he hits the metal edge of the door the dumpster doesn’t cover. Just as he shakes his head and seems to come back to himself, I step right in front of him.

“Eat this,” I snarl as I drive the dagger into him. It pierces through his neck and stabs into the door behind him. His eyes widen and his mouth flops open before his face goes blank.

Dead.

Pulling the dagger free with a smirk, I watch his head fall from his body, then step past him, kick the dumpster out of the way, and open the door to see my team there. “It’s done,” I tell them.

They step out, surrounding me.

Putting the scalding dagger away, I flex my palm, feeling the tight skin. I wipe it on my jeans before I see the burn on my hand in the shape of the stones and ornate handle.

As I look at Black, I can’t help but chuckle. “You know, they say revenge doesn’t help, but I sure as shit feel a lot better.” I wipe my face on my sleeve before I pull my phone out and dial Shamus.

“It’s done. Cleanup at my location and also the one I will send you.” I hang up.

“Now what?” Ronan asks as he crouches before Black. “You know, he always seemed bigger. Maybe it’s the missing head.”

“This is just the beginning. They aren’t the only corrupt ones in the guild. It’s time we showed them what being a monster truly is,” I say.

CHAPTER 41

Tate doesn’t seem to want to wait for cleanup, and none of us say anything as she gathers the heads, the dagger on display at her side. “Portal. Drop us right before the entrance of Stalkers’ Rest.”

“Are you sure? It will be morning by the time we are there. Drills—” I start.

She eyes me. “I want everyone there to witness this.”

“Let me heal you,” the fae offers.

She shakes her head, standing tall even while covered in blood and guts. “No, I wear them as a warrior’s badges of honour. Let them see what I’m willing to do and take to prove my point. Portal. Stand behind me. I will not let them touch you, but do not make any moves on hunters. Do you understand?”

---