Page 90 of Vengeance Becomes Her

Samara’s hair tumbled through the wind in messy golden waves as she stared at Rhiannon unexpectedly, a whisper of mischief in her slate blue gaze. A soft dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks brought a note of playfulness to her otherworldly beauty, a combination that was distinctly her. “Get distracted, take a hit. Those are the rules” She arched a brow in challenge as Rhiannonset her stance.

“I see how it is.” She shook out her limbs as she eyed her opponent. Samara was petite and agile where Rhiannon was a large moving target. However, what she lacked for in speed, she made up in strength and power thanks to the intensive training she and Tristain had put in over all these months.

She motioned for Samara to come at her and she did with everything she had. Like the sun, she could radiate warmth and joy, or become utterly deadly under the right circumstances. And she saw that now. She couldn’t believe she ever thought her weak when she was now struggling to keep her back. She had a ferocity to her that Rhiannon could admire, and she brought out the fire in her. Within minutes she found herself lost in the movements and competitive spirit of their match until Tristain’s voice cut in.

“Let’s swap. Kyra showed me something that I think you can benefit from learning.” He directed the comment to Rhiannon.

She nodded, taking adrink quickly.

It turned out there were a lot of moves that Kyra could teach her. It made sense now, why Kyra was all lean muscle. She clearly dedicated a lot of time to honing her skills.

“I’m impressed that you can give Tristain an equal fight.”

Kyra smirked. “Why, because I’m a woman?”

“No.” she shrugged. “Well, yes, but also because he’s dedicated his whole life to this.”

“And so have I,” she stated matter-of-factly. “My father ended up with three daughters. I took pity on him when I saw him practicing by himself. Once I picked up a sword, I never wanted to put it down.”

Rhiannon found that when she reigned in her dominant tendencies a bit, Kyra easily opened up, getting more comfortable with her, day by day. Teaching seemed to be her talent, too. She was patient and hands-on as she gave Rhiannon tips to improve her swordsmanship. Kyra even praised her when her form improved by the end of the day.

Despite the growth they’d achieved as a group that day, it wasn’t enough to keep her darker thoughts at bay as soon as her head hit the pillow that night.

As soon as she closed her eyes, she found herself in her worst possible nightmare.

She was in complete darkness but her senses were on high alert, signaling she wasn’t alone. She couldn’t see anything, but her limbs began uncontrollably shaking as she heard the distinct slithering of large bodies coming toward her.

No. No. No. No. No.

Not possible.

Wake up, wake up, wake up.

Nothing. She was still there, and the two serpent heads came into view as real as anything she’d ever seen. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, willing them to disappear.

“Rhiannon.” A familiar voice rumbled from the depths of the darkness. “Open your eyes darling, or I’ll be forced todo it for you.”

Her eyes snapped open. She was in that damned chair again. The large black snakes were wrapped around her arms, holding her still, their heads poised to strike on either side of her. Their cold embrace making her stomach clench, the shadows wafting off their bodies licking indecently at her exposed skin.

All she could see was two piercing red eyes staring into her soul from the black nothingness around her.

“You’re not real,” she spat, not sure who she was trying to convince.

“Oh, but I am,” he tsked. “And I’m all too happy to make my presence known this time since my brother seems to have assumed correctly.” He shrugged. “Not particularly clever that one, but he figured it out all the same when you never even suspected.”

Her muscles locked up under his revelation. The thought of his presence in her mind without her knowledge threatened to shatter her last hold on sanity.

“How?” The question was nearly a growl.

“So easily.” A gravelly laugh taunted her. “Your hatred for me is heady. I must say, picking around in your thoughts has been quite…enjoyable. The thing is, Rhiannon, we’re connected you and I. I may have failed to kill you, but as long as you live, a piece of you will always belong to me.” A wicked smile flashed, his sharp teeth blindingly white in the pitch black.

“Over my dead body,” she spat in his direction.

“Soon enough. I will finish what I started.”

The threat heated her skin as hot as any brand.

“One of us will.” She forced steel into her voice. “I’m tired of your threats. If you want to end this. Come face me. And I don’t mean whatever this is. I mean face to face out there. I’mready for you.”

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