Page 115 of Vengeance Becomes Her

“I have a question for you.”

“What?” He choked on the blood that was drowning him. The Volskruga was letting him die.

“How many now?”

“What?” His voice was barely a whisper.

She leaned closer to his mangled face. “How many women have you killed now?”

“Seven.”

Her smile beamed. She’d stopped him before he killed anyone else. That was all she needed to know.

“Goodbye, Silas.” She drew her blade across his throat in a slow, satisfying motion. The emeralds gleamed in approval.

As soon as it had stilled, Silas’ body started convulsing. Heavy black smoke and shadow emerged from his mouth. So much so that his jaw cracked and popped to accommodate the growing mass.

Morana howled, shaking Rhiannon out of her stupor. She scrambled back to where Tristain and the others watched in shock and horror.

The blackness grew and grew, writhing and pulsing in the air. Tendrils crept toward them, sending Rhiannon’s heart into a gallop. The rumble that erupted from her wolf told her she had reasonto be worried.

She gripped Samara by the shoulders. “Go and don’t turn back. This is your last chance.”

She turned to Kyra, grabbing her hand. “Help him. He won’t be able to get back on his horse, it’ll take the both of you.”

“I—” Kyra’s words died on her lips. Her finger pointing past Rhiannon’s shoulder.

“Rhiannon.” The deep voice swam through her, running her blood cold. She turned slowly to face it.

The Volskruga stood before her in its final form. Its shadows had rearranged themselves into the shape of a man. It loomed over her, its shadows billowing in every direction and bottomless black eyes holding her in fear.

“Enough!” The Volskruga’svoice bellowed.

Everything went silent. Her wolf wasn’t growling. Not a sound echoed in the woods.

“Rhiannon, you know the choice you have.” Its voice was calm, as if it wasn’t asking her to relinquish her body and soul. “Silas was but a vessel, an arrogant one at that. With your bloodlust and my power, you would thrive. You could have everything you crave and more. We both know Silas was right, you won’t be satisfied with just his death. You’ve had a taste for blood. For justice. It’s not that easy to walk away. But you already know that.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about. Silas didn’t know me and neither do you.”

Its voice was a hiss that only she could hear. “Liar.”

She shook her head, trying to dislodge the words from her mind. “I won’t do it. There is nothing you can say to convince me. Kill me now if you have to.”

“But what if I showed you?” It hovered in front of her.

The Volskruga didn’t give her a chance to answer.

It pressed a finger to her forehead, forcing unwanted visions before her eyes.

Shadows draped around her like the finest silk gown twisting and dancing around her figure. She glowed with power. She looked like a goddess.

Flashes of violence pounded through her in succession. Men dangling in midair, her shadows wrapped tight squeezing the life out of them. Her dagger sinking into another’s gut. Her wolf tearing into the throat of another. So much death. So much vengeance. There was no stopping her from doing exactly as she wanted. Taking her revenge on every man who deserved his wretched death and more for the pain they’d caused.

As the visions faded away and the woods returned, its voice wormed its way into her ears. “Do you see what we could do together? What you could be?” The Volskruga sighed reverently.

Her heart betrayed her as it raced with adrenaline at the visions she’d witnessed. She was disgusted with herself for being tempted.

“I don’t belong to anyone but myself. You can’t have me,” she gritted out, standing her ground as the Volskruga leered over her.

“Then I will have to come up with a more convincing argument.”

Pure blackness descended upon them.

She tried to hear over the heartbeat in her ears but there was nothing.

Her breath froze in her chest at the first scream.

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