Page 114 of Vengeance Becomes Her

Kyra assessed her wearily, her stare lingering on the unfamiliar green eyes that’d taken the place of her brown ones.

Samara didn’t take her eyes off Silas, avoiding Rhiannon’s gaze as she raised her arrow. “It’s over. You’re outmatched. Four against one. I don’t care what you are now.” She aimed her bow. However, she changed the angle at just the last moment before she loosed the arrow. Silas didn’t anticipate the deception and it caught him in the shoulder.

Rhiannon wanted to share the smug smile Samara had but she wasn’t confident it would have any effect on him. If he were surviving as something close to a walking corpse, she didn’t think an arrow was going to end him. As she feared, he ripped the arrow from his shoulder without a flinch.

“You’ll die first, then.” Both snakes slithered rapidly across the snow hissing and snapping. Samara learned quickly that arrows wouldn’t stop them. Instead, she started climbing the closest tree.

Rhiannon knew it was no use. There was no outrunning the magic. Instead, she created a diversion. While Silas was watching Samara, Rhiannon advanced on him. The shifting shadows of Silas’ form made it difficult to aim but she swung again when he appeared within reach but missed. Tristain was now on the other side of Silas, sword raised.

“How precious. You two do make a beautiful couple. It’s unfortunate neither of you will leave here alive.”

Rhiannon brought her sword down, striking toward his shoulder. One of his snakes struck out, ripping the sword from her hands. It landed too far away in the snow. She pulled her daggers once again. They danced around Silas looking for vulnerabilities. Even in his deteriorated state, his power was still plentiful. For as long as the Volskruga allowed him access at least.

Tristain lunged, striking for Silas’ abdomen. The second snake lashed out. It wrapped tightly up his wounded leg, putting unbearable pressure on it. Tristain dropped to his knees in the snow. The agony was disarming, leaving him vulnerable and breathless as he tried to overcome the pain.

Kyra was instantly on her knees beside him trying uselessly to pry the snakes off of him, her fingers slipping through the shadows. “Do something!” She screamed.

Rhiannon watched as the corners of Silas’ mouth drew up in a wicked smile filled with long sharp fangs. The second snake instantly slithered up and around Tristain’s throat. He was strangling him beforeher very eyes.

Rhiannon sprinted for her sword. The silver metal gleamed like a beacon in thevast whiteness.

As she suspected, Silas sent one of the snakes after her, providing Tristain with a small reprieve. Luckily, Morana was close on her heels and sank her teeth into the snake before it could catch her. She was grateful the kindred magic allowed her wolf to land blows on it when she could not. Morana thrashed the snake until it disappeared in a wisp of mist.

Rhiannon grabbed her sword from the snow and ran back to where the fight was still ensuing. Her wolf was on her heels.

Kyra and Samara were throwing everything they had at Silas, but Tristain was unconscious. Rhiannon dropped to her knees beside him and felt for a pulse. He was alive.

Neither snake was anywhere to be seen. Rhiannon focused on waking Tristain while her wolf stood guard over them.

“Rhiannon?” Tristain’s voice was a shadow of its usual strength.

“You need to leave. You can’t stay here like this, you’re not strong enough. Please, go.” Rhiannon’s voice was shaking with desperation.

“I told you I’m not leaving you.”

“I won’t lose you.” She tried to lift him off the ground, but he was far tooheavy for her.

“Rhiannon, behind you.” Samara’s voicewas pure fear.

She didn’t have time to react when she turned to see what was coming for her. Silas’ taloned fist was in her hair. He pulled her head back, forcing her to look him in those disturbing red eyes.

“Did you think you and your friends,” he spat the word distastefully. “Would be able to stop me?”

She didn’t answer, defiance stilling her tongue. He spun her around, pinning her back to a tree with a hand around her throat. His eyes immediately gravitated to his old dagger that was tucked in her harness. “How poetic. This will do just fine. I’m tired of these games. It’s time that I disposed of you once and for all.”He snatched the dagger from her side, placing it over her heart. “The only question is whether I do it with magic or my own weapon. Both would be so satisfying.” Rhiannon thrashed against him, but it did no good. He was far stronger than she’d ever be.

Her eyes widened when her wolf lunged at Silas, sinking its long teeth into his leg.

“Fucking beast,” Silas growled before he kicked Morana several feet. Blood leaked from his leg, confirming whatshe suspected.

The distraction gave her the perfect opportunity. She forced Silas’ blade up and back, shoving it into his heart with all the strength she could muster.

His mouth gaped open as he looked at the dagger in his chest. His hand released her, and she slid down the tree trunk gasping for air.

“You stabbed me.” Silas staggered back giving Rhiannonroom to stand.

She shoved her other dagger into his stomach. Once. Twice. Three times. Her boot met his abdomen sending him landing on his back. She straddled him. Pure excitement thrummed through her as she raised her blade again but halted before she made contact with his chest.

Silas flinched.

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