Page 111 of Vengeance Becomes Her

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

They took their steps in unison. The wolf never left her side as they walked toward the danger that waited for them.

Rhiannon kept her eyes set on the woods and it was as if she could see straight through the vast darkness and into that cottage where she knew they waited for them.

With Morana by her side, she was no longer afraid. She let their power flow through her, let the wolf’s predatory nature take over.

Between that and the fireale that still warmed her blood, she was wild and out of control. Within moments, she was burning high from the pent-up anger and despair of the last few months. She allowed it to flood every inch of her. She was more rage than blood now. She was like those fires that burned entire country sides as far as the eye could see. The kind people ran from, barely daring to look back. The heat nipping the back of their heels in warning. Daring them to move against her. Flee or burn. That was her message now. She tried patience. She tried teamwork. Now it was her way.

Silas was but a man. She knew he’d been all but abandoned by the entity that now served as his life force. She’d spill his blood, smile down at her reflection in the gleaming red-black surface, and then pick her sword right back up again. It would be the moment of revenge she’d been chasing for far too long. The villain of her story slain.

But unlike the stories, it wasn’t that black and white. There was no doubt that Silas was the villain she knew him to be. However, there was something much bigger than both of them that drove them to this point. A truly sinister force that must be dealt with. There was no cutting blow she could land, no defensive maneuver she could use against it. No. This would be a battle of wills. And for all her weakness and terrible choices, Rhiannon had survived thislong on sheer will alone. A will to get her revenge. It was what she’d lived for, and it was what she’d diefor if need be.

She was no hero. She wouldn’t lie to herself, pretending this was for the good of the world. Of course, she wanted to prevent others from befalling her fate, but more than anything, this was personal.

This thing had sought her out. Preyed on her. Found her greatest vulnerability and used it to suck her dry. And now it thought it was going to do it again. It thought she was stupid enough, vain enough to take the bait. Submission for power. It was simple enough. But she knew now that things were not always as they seemed. She wouldn’t be a vessel for its destruction. She was already her own and she’d never belong to anyone else.

If she was sure of one thing heading out into the woods tonight, she knew she would die before she allowed that to happen. Her wolf howled in response.

They were two of a kind and they were out for blood tonight.

Rhiannon could feel her heart pumping hard in her chest. It was exhilaration. It was anticipation.

Instinctively, they dropped their speed as they approached the clearing where the cottage sat. It was as if the structure itself had long limbs extending out into the woods combing through them for her. She could feel its presence as surely as she could feel Morana beside her. Rhiannon crouched low as the low-lit windows came into view.

She noted that the cover became increasingly scarce as they approached it. The skeletal trees seemed to shy away from the rotted magic that resided there. Their scrawny trunks wouldn’t provide enough coverage for her. There would be no hiding, although the fact that they both blended in with the black of night served to their advantage. Still, she worried that darkness wasn’t the same challenge to an ancient entity. But maybe it would be for Silas.

She slowed her breathing as she stood there taking in the stillness that surrounded the cottage. Her body shook with anticipation as she surveyed the area one last time, readying herself to jump quickly into action.

A stick cracked behind her. Her wolf immediately advanced on the approaching shadows stretching out from behind them.

Rhiannon ducked lower, running forward. She would rather not draw attention if there wasan altercation.

She looked back to the cottage before standing. Morana was no longer growling, understanding who was approaching.

As they came into view, Tristain’s horse reared back, letting out a shrill whinny at the sight of the wolf.

Rhiannon’s heart stopped. Suddenly the frigid air was a million pinpricks on her skin. She ducked instinctively but her friends were all sitting ducks. There was nowhere for them to go so they all remained silent.

Nothing.

Still Rhiannon dared not move for another minute, straining all of her senses to determine whether they’d been discovered.

Still nothing.

Morana sat back on her haunches and the horses seemed to relax. She assumed they must have communicated in the way that animals do. It seemed all wasclear. For now.

She allowed herself a deep breath. “What are you doing here,” she hissed.

Tristain’s jaw was tight, and his brows were furrowed. “You left boot prints in the snow that were easy enough to track. Did you honestly think that a single wound would stop me from coming after you?”

Samara jumped from her horse and shoved Rhiannon so hard she flew back into the snow. The force of it shocked her but the tears welling in her friend’s eyes chased away anger before it could rise within her. “How could you? Do you have a death wish?”

“Keep your voice down,” Rhiannon said from the ground. Fear was flowing through her with their arrival. They were further back from the cottage now, but she wasn’t sure what supernatural abilities Silas and the Volskruga were capable of. She’d rather not be caught offguard by them.

“Are we not going to talk about what the hell that is?” Kyra jabbed a finger at the wolf. Her eyes were wide with concern. “Please tell me you haven’t accepted a favor fromthe Volskruga.”

“I haven’t.”

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