Page 98 of A Heart Of Bitter Poison
The first of the hybrids break through the trees. It’s apick your own freakshow, inbred carnivalkind of situation. Some are in their human-slash-vampire form, which isn’t so bad. Some run on all fours like a wolf, but with humanlike aspects too, like patches of missing fur where human skin shines through or blended facial features. They are straight-up hideous. Regardless of where they lean on the yuck spectrum, all of them set their sights on me, and it’s not giving me loads of confidence about thiscompleting the transformationbusiness.
I’m massively outnumbered.
I’m betting on a plan that might turn me into a freak.
I’m definitely super fucked.
Just as I’m about to rush at Semyon in some final Hail Mary play for the Alpha, a whirling blade misses my face and lodges into one of the werewolves dancing around my sword.
I glance to my right. It’s a member of Ember’s Mean Girl demon club. He meets my eyes, and I’m not sure if he meant to hit me or the wolf.
Fuck it,I think.I’m already up shit creek.
“Don’t let them bite you!” I yell to the unfamiliar Reaper as three more join behind him. “Their venom is Angelwing!”
He narrows his glare at me before he throws another blade, hitting a hybrid in the eye as it starts the rush across the field. It doesn’t bring the beast down, but it slows it a little. I watch as the hybrid claws the knife from its eye and I’d be willing to bet that shit’s going to heal itself.
I cringe. They are definitely tougher than werewolves. This is super not good.
I refocus on my goal and cut down the next werewolf that stands between me and my target, glaring at Semyon as he draws a silver longsword from beneath his coat. More werewolves pour toward me and I cut them down as the Reapers meet the first of the hybrids in the snow.
A glittering black orb of magic cuts through the wind and strikes down one of the wolves in my path. Another hits a hybrid in the distance. Cole bursts out of the woods with Ediye on his heels and they rush into the battle.
When I look back at Semyon, he raises his sword. But I see a flash of fear in his eyes. His body can’t hide it from me.
And finally there’s a clear break between us. It’s like a single shaft of sunlight that cuts through the clouds.
I run toward him as fast as I can. His hand tightens around his sword. He’ll hit me hard if I make it there first. I already know how much strength he has in his human form. I saw it in the brickworks.
But what he doesn’t have is a demon mate with the element of surprise.
Ashen lodges his blade into Semyon’s spine, just high enough to paralyze his limbs but not high enough to risk instant death. He holds onto Semyon’s arm as the Alpha’s legs go limp and lowers him to the ground. Semyon’s eyes are wide with shock and it sends the wolves and hybrids into a frenzy of howling and whining and growling.
“What is it your girlfriend so eloquently said in Sanford right before I ripped out her fucking throat?” I ask with a smile of fangs as I squat down next to him. “Ah, right. I remember.Distraction yields destruction.I’m assuming that was your girlfriend, anyway. The one with the obsidian blade, high ranking pack member, kinda pretentious like you? Am I right?”
Semyon glares back at me as Ashen hands me the vials of serum and I draw a syringe from my back pocket.
I take the first serum and uncap the needle, drawing out enough liquid that I can smell it. I toss it behind me. “Nope, already had that.”
Semyon glares at me before spitting in the snow next to my knees. “Fuckingkoroleva piyavok.”
“So gross,” I say as I withdraw golden serum from another vial and then bring the scent to my nose. “You know what else is gross? Angel blood. And thisdefinitelysmells like angel blood. So I’ll take a pass. It probably wouldn’t sit well in my system anyway, considering my latest relationship status.”
I smash the vial on top of Semyon’s head. The golden liquid drips down his skin as the Alpha swears in Russian. His eyes are filled with fury as he homes his glare on me. I give him a sad pout.
“Oh no. It was the only one I saw like it on the shelves. That wasn’t limited edition, was it? My bad. Now hold this, would you?” I stab the empty syringe into Semyon’s paralyzed leg and take out a fresh one, drawing enough liquid from the next vial to smell it. “Ah, nowthisis the one.”
“What are you doing?” Semyon asks through panting breaths as he watches me. That fear is back in his eyes. Ashen cuts down a werewolf that tries to attack from behind us, the dog’s head rolling past us on the snow.
“I guess you could say I’m finishing what you started, except I’m choosing sides.Mine. But timing is everything, don’t you think?” I fill the syringe and pocket the vial, then press the plunger enough to rid the fluid of bubbles. Ashen kills another wolf as I lean in close to Semyon’s ear. “Now hold still, little pup. Let thiskoroleva piyavokshow you how it’s done.”
I tear into the Alpha’s throat and my venom floods his veins as I pull and pulland pullin the blood. It tastes like werewolf blood always does to me. Smoky. Musty. But I know he’s ancient, and powerful. I taste that there too.
Semyon’s heart slows. His breathing shallows beneath my palm. I feel his jaw slacken next to my face. In the moments before his death, I draw my fangs away.
I look up at Ashen.
“I love you,” I say.
