Page 93 of Vengeance Becomes Her

“What makes you say that?”

“I just know him.” Rhiannon didn’t want to try to explain to Kyra how she conversed with Silas. “He would rather make you suffer more by having you watch.”

Kyra’s head whipped in her direction. “Why would that make me feel any better?”

“He won’t get that chance, Kyra. I’ll make sure of it.”

“I want more than anything tobelieve that.”

“Let yourself.”

Rhiannon fell back, taking up the rear of their traveling group. Even though she knew they’d all go their separate ways after this, she still wanted to look out for them while she could.

When she thought she couldn’t take another minute of the uncomfortable gait of her horse over the rocky trail they were following, Tristain mercifully called for them to stop for the day.

As they dismounted the sun was rapidly setting and the temperature plummeted further. She didn’t think they’d get much rest, but she was grateful to be done riding for the day, nonetheless.

While she and Kyra started the fire, Samara and Tristain went to hunt dinner. Rhiannon was doubtful they’d find anything, the woods were so still and silent except for them. Still, they came back with a hare. Rhiannon couldn’t help the way her heart tugged at the lifeless animal, but she knew it was necessary to save the food they brought if possible. As she ate, she said a silent “thank you” for its sacrifice.

They’d built a makeshift shelter to sleep in as close to the fire as possible. They’d all be sleeping together to use each other’s body heat. Tristain offered to take first watch.

Between Kyra’s teeth chattering and Samara’s shaking, Rhiannon couldn’t get her mind to slow down for sleep. Then there was shifting mist that she couldn’t seem to take her eyes away from. No matter how badly her eyes burned and watered for sleep, she stared and stared, until she knew she found what she’d been waiting for.

“Rhiannon.” A deep voice called from the trees. It wasn’t Silas’ gravelly tone, this was something that reverberated in her bones. Powerful and old.

This was an enemy she didn’t know, and she didn’t dare answer.

Her silence didn’t deter it though.

“You cannot ignore me. I see you, Rhiannon. I know you. Your soul calls to me.”

The voice quaked around her, overtaking all of her senses. There was no escaping it, even as she clamped her hands over her ears.

“You are wise to be afraid for I will soon be your master. But I will not hurt you if you come willingly.”

“Leave. Me. Alone.” A growl tore through her throat.

Silence. Silence. Silence.

She uncupped her hands from her ears. Wondering if she was truly alone.

Silence. Silence. Silence.

The hairs raised on her arms as she turned her head to the right.

And there it was. Something she never could have imagined from her worst nightmares.

Roiling shadow, shifting and pulsing just inches away. The only features she could make out were the glowing red eyes and long, curving fangs that sat in its gaping maw.

The air was sucked out of her lungs. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. She could only hold its gaze. Nowhere to run, no one to help. But she wouldn’t cower. She didn’t break.

It heaved in anger and released a roar that threatened to burst her eardrums and crack herskull in half.

She released a scream of her own. One so long that it felt as if talons had shredded her throat, a searing pain shooting down, down, down.

Something like a smile twisted across its face. And then she was alone.

The next thing she saw was the white cloud of her breath billowing in front of her. She gulped down air; it felt like hot coals down her throat, but she was grateful to be here.

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