Page 99 of Sworn to Revenge
My stomach twists as I catch sight of the gruesome display in the trunk—the severed heads of Christian’s men, stacked in rows like grotesque trophies, mocking him.
“Kill them!” Christian roars, his face contorted with rage and desperation, turning an ugly shade of red. He looks lost, like a fish flopping on dry land—helpless, pathetic.
Alright, Myko. Have at it.The heat in my chest flares, igniting a vibrant purple glow from beneath my hoodie, blinding everyone around me. I think I hear Pedro shouting, but the sound is drowned out by the roaring wind whipping around us.
In seconds, Myko is circling above, casting a dazzling, radiant glow as sunlight reflects off his white, gleaming scales. For the first time, I don’t feel pain—only warmth. He was right all along. I’ve finally let him free, embraced him fully. Watching him now feels like witnessing something extraordinary—almost sacred.
Pedro steps closer, grabbing my hand tightly. “Are you alright? Last time, you screamed so much,” he says, concern etched into his voice, but I smile in relief.
“This time, I was ready,” I whisper, hearing the terrified screams ofChristian’s men in the distance. They fire strange metallic guns, launching silver darts at Myko, but they bounce harmlessly off his scales, which shimmer like impenetrable armor. I grin, satisfied, and I turn my gaze to Christian, whose face has gone pale with terror—his eyes wide and glassy. He looks like he’s wet himself.Gross.
“So… who can kill who?” I taunt, enjoying every second of his suffering. “Myko. Feel free to start with him.”
“No! No, I’ll tell you everything!” Christian pleads, his arrogance gone.
“You didn’t give Miguel the same chance. Why should I?” I seethe, venom in every word.
“Luca, need anything from him?” I ask, but Luca and Mariano’s gazes are still fixed on Myko, their shock so great that I have to call out to Luca a few times before he meets my eyes.
“That’s… that’s the Guardian?” Luca stammers.
“Luca. Breathe. He won’t hurt you. Do you need anything from this piece of trash?” I ask again, and he finally regains his composure, stepping forward. Mariano shakes his head in disbelief but follows.
“Now… who else knows?” Luca demands, grabbing Christian by the throat as his body trembles with fear.
Feast on the rest of them, I command Myko in my mind before turning to Luca and Mariano. “Cover your ears. Hard.”
There’s no need for that.Myko’s voice slithers through my thoughts, cunning and assured.When you aim your screech at me, I absorb it and redirect it to our target.
I exhale in relief. “No need. You’ll be fine,” I assure them before unleashing my screech.Myko devours their souls in one swift motion, leaving their bodies to collapse, lifeless, onto the ground. Our purple and blue lights creating a breathtaking view in the sky now.
Mariano appears next to me, swallowing hard. “That’s… that’s nopetdragon.”
“I’d avoid calling him that when he’s out,” Pedro laughs, now enjoying the show.
“We need to wrap this up and head back to the Coral of Life. You’re coming, right?” I ask Pedro,and he confirms.
“There isn’t a place you’d go, that I won’t follow.”
Pedro
“Myko says he’s lying,” Bay notes casually as we continue interrogating Christian. Her dragon is currently sprawled out across the ash-covered ground, seemingly engaged in a deep, private conversation with her as she observes him closely. Myko’s massive form dwarfs Bay entirely—her whole body isn’t even the size of one of his sharp, menacing fangs.
Behind Christian’s beaten body, Mariano tightens his grip on him while Luca runs his knife slowly along Christian’s cheek, leaving yet another cut, making it at least the tenth now. But who’s counting?
A fresh drop of blood trickles down Christian’s cheek as his breath grows labored from the pain. “Son of a bitch. I told you—everyone knows by now! The rumors spread so far that even the small city cartels are keeping their distance. I wouldn’t be here if my men weren’t still with you!” he rasps, as if he’s had to summon every ounce of strength to get that out.
“Then maybe you’ll be lucky enough to keep breathing,” Luca replies, straightening from his crouched position before Christian, a dangeroussmile twisting his face, sending chills even downmyspine. “Bone Crusher,” he calls out, extending a hand to Mateo, who had delivered the corpses of these rotten fuckers to us earlier. That’s two more of our men who know the secret now.
Within seconds, a pair of massive, gleaming metal pliers—branded “Bone Crushers” for their sheer brutality—clenches in Luca’s hand, and I know exactly where this is heading. I shoot a quick glance back, making sure Bay isn’t watching, then step forward to block her line of sight just in case she looks over. I didn’t expect her to witness those severed heads earlier, and I’m not about to pile more blood and brutality onto her already fragile mind.
A loud, sickening crunch echoes through the air, followed by a guttural scream from Christian as Luca sinks the pliers into one of his legs just below the knee, twisting and crushing with brutal precision. The sound of bone snapping under the pressure is almost too much to bear, but Luca doesn’t stop. With ruthless efficiency, he repeats the act on the other leg, leaving Christian crippled, moaning in agony.
Mariano doesn’t flinch as he steps forward, methodically tearing strips of fabric from Christian’s tattered clothing to tie makeshift tourniquets around both legs, staunching the bleeding. Once he’s done, Christian has already passed out from the pain, but Mariano doesn’t let up. He grabs what little flesh remains attached to the shattered limbs and, with one swift, merciless motion, tosses one leg toward Myko. It doesn’t reach him, but it’s close enough to catch both of their attention—the dragon stirring hungrily, hungry for more.
“Mariano,” I growl. “Not in front of Bay,” I add through gritted teeth, hoping she hasn’t heard.
“She’s already seen enough crap—what exactly are you protecting her from?” he replies coldly, then shouts over his shoulder, completely ignoring my request. “Hey, Bay—does the pet dragon want dinner?”
