Page 116 of Vengeance Becomes Her

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

The sheer agony of Samara’s screams sent Rhiannon running into the woods blindly. She couldn’t make out a single thing. Her foot caught on a root sending her crashing into the snow and into a rock that knocked her unconscious.

Wet licks brought her back to wakefulness just as much as the echoing screams.

“Don’t.”

The piercing scream stirred Rhiannon back to action. As much as she didn’t want to hear Samara cry out, it was the only way she could navigate the darkness.

“Samara, where are you?” She calledout hopelessly.

“Are you ready to change your mind yet?” The deep voice of the Volskruga was everywhere and nowhere at once.

“Let her go and you can have me.”

The blackness slowly faded and Rhiannon could make out Samara pinned to the Volskruga’s chest. Its hand was wrapped around her throat, and she was covered in hundreds of tiny cuts that had shredded her clothing enough that thin lines of blood seeped out.

Sharp nails extended from its hand that now hovered over her stomach.“Last chance.”

The air left Rhiannon’s lungs before returning in harsh pants. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She couldn’t give herself up after she’d fought so hard to get her back.

“Selfish girl.” It taunted before dropping Samara in the snow. “What about him?” Before Rhiannon’s mind could register the movement, it was on Tristain. The Volskruga’s hand hovered over his chest as Tristain began to writhe in pain. He was only able to hold out a few seconds before a cry escaped his lips.

It cut through her resolve.

“Okay.” Her defeat was a whisper, but she knew it would hear her.

The Volskruga smiled. “That wasn’t so hard, was it? You will see how foolish of you it was to fight it. We were made for one another,you will see.”

It dropped Tristain with a thud in the snow, gliding toward Rhiannon with a quickness.

“Rhiannon, don’t,” Tristain called out. “Don’t do this please.” He choked on a sob as he scrambled toward her slowly on his bad leg.

She blocked out his cries. Silenced Kyra’s screams. Distanced herself from Samara’s pleading. There was no choice. Rhiannon took a settling breath as the Volskruga came before her, but she looked past it, directing her words to Tristain.

“I told you this wouldn’t end well.” Her voice shook despite herself.“Live for me.”

His face fell. Anger and anguish flowing through him in equal measure. She saw the moment the hope that’d always burned bright within him flickered out. The moment her darkness consumed him. She couldn’t help but think that she had changed him. Her grief, her weakness, her love. She hated herself for it, but he would live. She’d ensure that.

“Are you ready?” The Volskruga regained her attention.

“Yes.” She took a steadying breath.

“Open yourself to me. You’ve already halfway there now that you’ve killed Silas. All you need to dois accept me.”

Rhiannon nodded and its shadowy shoulders relaxed. Its distorted tendrils reaching out and sinking into her skin. Her wolf was silent.

Tears welled in her eyes as it filled her up. It was a slow death. When only a wisp of its form was remaining in front of her, she pulled her favorite dagger, pushed up her sleeves, and slashed it down one wrist and the other. She was shaking from the cold and fear as she slashed the blade across her neck.

The freezing air pierced her skin like a thousand needles, burning, stinging, torturing. She could barely make out her friends’ faces through her tears of pain. All she could hear was her own gasping, everything else had faded away. Blackness closed in around her and then she was gone.

Death wasn’t what she expected after her last experience. It was quiet, peaceful. She’d saved her soul. She’d freed Delphine. She’d protected her friends. It wasn’t the end that she’d expected, but it was an end she could accept. It was okay.

Blinding pain lanced through her. First one arm then the other. Next was her throat. The sheer agony thrust her back into the light. The soft haze of dawn greeted her.

She gasped, bringing air into her lungs in heavy draws.No. No. No.Fuck. No.

“You ungrateful fool.” Anger dropped the Volskruga’s voice deeper than she thought possible. It was inside her head. Itwas inside her.

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