Page 78 of Vengeance Becomes Her

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The morning sunlight was blinding through the window in their room when Rhiannon finally woke. While her actions yesterday had taken a toll on her—she felt no remorse for killing Samara’s father—she did have a fitful sleep. She was worried about how the other woman was faring. She had never intended to add to her trauma, but she did what she had to do. She could only hope that their plan worked.

She let the worry drive her through the hurried motions of getting ready for the day. There was no way she could stick to the original plan of waiting for her to meet them, she would go to her.

It only dawned on her as she was stepping into the brisk cold of the busy street that Tristain was already gone. She assumed he had some personal business to take care of, but it was odd he hadn’t woken her. She had more important things to focus on for now, though.

It was growing colder by the day, clouds of hot air billowed around everyone as they walked. She tucked her cloak tightly around her and walked quickly to keep warm. As she neared the edge of the town center, she couldn’t ignore the prickling at her back that someone was following her. She focused in on the sound of too-close footsteps that matched her pace. When she approached the next alley, she ducked in, reaching out just in time to grab the wrist of her pursuer.

Rhiannon rolled them so their body was pressed between the wall and her. Her blade pressed under their chin while her other arm held one arm behind their back. Her knee was shoved between their legs keeping the suspicious stranger from running.

“What do you want?”

They struggled against her but didn’t speak.

“Remove your hood or you’ll find this dagger is as sharp as it looks.”

There was only a grunt as the stranger yanked back their hood to reveal long black hair that was braided to just past her jawline and then hung in free waves to the woman’s waist.

“Who are you and why are you following me?” Rhiannon asked impatiently.

The woman’s cheek pressed into the wall of the alley, forcing her to grit out her words. “I have a message for you.”

Rhiannon felt every muscle in her body stiffen as a thread of fear and suspicion rocked through her.

“Tell me then.” She forced the words out against her suddenly constricted throat.

She whipped the woman around, wanting to see her face while she delivered the message. She took in the woman’s features. Dark brown skin, warm amber brown eyes, and high cheekbones. She was strikingly beautiful.

The woman licked her lips. “Stop pursuing him.”

Rhiannon felt like someone had punched the air from her lungs. She removed her knife, which proved to be a mistake. While the woman was slight, she was apparently much stronger than Rhiannon had assumed because she forced her back to the other side of the alley, pulling two swords.

“I can’t,” Rhiannon forced out.

“You can and you will. If you continue, you will be personally responsible for the deaths of many. I’m warning you now, stop or I will be forced to stop you.” The woman pressed the tip of one sword into Rhiannon’s flesh, adding emphasis to her point, while the other pressed against her chest.

They stared at one another, a silent battle of wills ensuing as they sized each other up. The other woman seemed equally unsure of her.

She searched the woman’s face for some idea of how she was linked to Silas. She didn’t think he would be working with anyone. He was far too arrogant. Far too powerful to need that. But then she had to wonder why he’d send someone to find her if he wasn’t vulnerable.

“I appreciate the warning.” Rhiannon kicked out making contact right above her knee. The woman was taken by surprise as she fell back flat on her ass and her swords skidded out of reach. Rhiannon scrambled over her, using her own blade to subdue her on the cold, hard ground of the alley. “I won’t stop. So, either you give me the answers I want and leave, or I will be forced to hurt you which I don’t want to do.”

The woman groaned in fury, trying to buck Rhiannon off to no avail—she was easily double her weight.

“How do you know Silas?” Rhiannon sank herself down. She used her knees to pin the woman’s arms, making it clear she had no intention of letting her go until she complied.

“It doesn’t matter.” The woman’s fists banged against the ground. “All you need to know is that if you don’t stop, others will suffer.” Tears began to wellup in her eyes.

“Who did he threaten to hurt?” Rhiannon was beginning to put the pieces together as she looked more closely at the woman. Dark circles and a haunted look filled her eyes. She leaned back in disbelief. “You know what he’s capable of and you’d still ask me to stop?”

“I have people to protect.”

“And so do I,” Rhiannon shot back.

“You don’t understand, Silas will kill my family. I can’t lose them.”

“You won’t have to because I’m going to kill him. He won’t hurt anyone else ever again if I have anything to say about it.”

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