Page 146 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
His grip on her face was bruising, and she forced herself not to wince. Not to react. Forced herself to shove down all the emotions and become the same nothing she’d always been because it was the only way to survive.
Valter’s other hand came up, petting down her hair. “The only way to be free of me is by death. Is that what you wish for, my flower? Death?”
Yes. She couldn’t say that, but she would take death a thousand times over before going back to Arius House with him.
He knew though. Even without the bond, she’d shown her hand the day she’d blocked their bond and ran. All her cards were on the table, so what was there to even try to hide now?
That hand on her hair turned into a fist, grasping a handful of strands and yanking hard. “Death would be a kindness, and you have lost any affection I had for you,” he hissed.
Pulling on her hair again, he forced her to her knees. If only this was the worst he would do, she would survive it easily. Cocks and cunts were nothing anymore, but she knew this wouldn’t be it. She would pay for this betrayal for the rest of her immortal years.
A small tendril of green brushed along her thigh, tiny leaves and flowers unfurling from the vine, and it was only then she remembered she was in the woods.
The Dreamlock Woods.
Whipping her head to the side, she saw it. Tall and lithe, her white eyes glowed in the darkening forest. Lanky black hair flowed down her back, tangled in the branches that were part of her. Her gown was decaying leaves, and her fingers were sharpened twigs. A walking spirit of the forest, the Dread-Nymph smiled, all her teeth as sharp and pointed as a Night Child’s fangs.
She hadn’t realized they could ensnare more than one victim at a time. Either that or there were two here. But she couldn’t harm it with her power. The Dread-Nymphs were part of nature. A grotesque anomaly, yes, but part of nature nonetheless. Her power was the earth and plants and everything the Dread-Nymphs were. That was what made them so godsdamn difficult.All Fae gifts were powers of nature. But none of the three of them werejustFae. They all had other blood flowing in them that she had hoped would help.
Foolish.
So godsdamn foolish thinking she could take on the Dreamlock Woods.
And now she stood at an impasse and the creature knew it. Her wicked smile widened, those razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the dying light, ready to devour. And maybe a piece of her was ready to let it.
But not until she saved that child.
She turned on her heel and ran, racing back the way she’d come, praying to anyone but the fucking gods that she was going the right way. The trail of saplings was still there though, and it led her right back to her pack. She frantically dug through it, throwing items to the side without thought until she found the dagger she’d taken from Raven Harbor. Then spun, ready to hunt down the creature, but she didn’t have to. It had followed her.
So had her nightmare.
“You can’t kill me, Eve,” he sighed, reaching for her. “You are mine. My Source of power. Mine to do with whatever I please.” Those long fingers wrapped around her wrist while his other hand reached for the weapon.
But then she cocked her arm back and threw it.
It sank into the Dread-Nymph’s torso, just below her heart. She tipped her head back, a screeching wail coming from her mouth that had Eviana dropping to her knees and clamping her hands over her ears. It did nothing. That piercing cry tore through her, nightmare after nightmare flashing before her eyes.
Mansel at the Villas.
Correction with Valter.
Torturing innocents.
A babe being snatched away from her.
She didn’t know if it was the creature’s wails or her own screams anymore, and gods, it was never going to end.
It felt like hours when it stopped. Her throat was on fire, and she could feel scratches on her face from her own nails. She was curled into a ball on the ground, mud and debris in her hair, and any daylight was long gone. There was no fire. No stars.
Only two glowing feline eyes staring down at her.
Corbin.
With a soft flash of light, he Shifted, thankfully still fully clothed. The male crouched down, arms resting on his bent knees.
“I think you killed it,” he said somberly.
“I think it tried to take me with it,” she bit out, pushing up onto her knees.
