Page 60 of Flames

For a few seconds, they stare at each other. Eve’s eyes are dark, familiar black veins snaking out from their corners. She ticks her head from side to side, then reaches into the pocket of her flowing dress and takes out a small glass vial.

My mouth goes dry, and my tongue swells. She’s going to take FHB, and I have no choice but to stay and watch.

In barely a flicker of a second, Eve downs the blood. She shudders from head to toe. The lines on her face spider out toward her neck, chest, and arms.

The fire in Nova’s hands dances higher. She stretches her arms out to her sides, then braces herself as Eve lets down the shield.

Instantly, she attempts to throw fire in Eve’s direction, but Eve waves her hand and flicks it away. It hits the ground instead and fizzles out.

“Is that all you’ve got, Fire Bird?” Eve laughs. Up above, dark clouds move across the sky and half obscure the moon. Thunder crackles. Eve lets out a shrill squeal, then claps her hands.

Nova strides forward, but the next time she raises her hands, Eve clicks her fingers. The hellhounds come running. Nova casts a circle of flames around herself and runs.

When the beasts catch her, she screams and tries to set them alight. I lurch forward, almost too far forward. Is she changing her mind? Is she truly trying to fight them off?

I see lightning sparkle in her palm, but then she clenches her fist, and it disappears. No, she is not trying to fight them; she’s trying to make it look like she is fighting them.

“Bring her to me,” Eve coos. The hounds have their teeth clamped around Nova’s wrists. Not tight enough to do what they did to Rev, but tight enough to draw blood. I can smell it. I can taste it in the air.

Ragnor takes the steps two at a time and stops next to the fountain. “Here,” he barks. “The King said it needs to be here.”

Almost singing with joy, Eve cries, “The fountain! We will do it in the fountain!”

She skips in front as the hellhounds drag Nova along the cold ground. Two holding her wrists, two at her sides, two at her feet, snarling at her ankles.

I move forward and stand in the shadow of the nearest tree. I brace my hand on its trunk, scratch my fingers into the bark, and try to breathe through the torturous need to kill every single one of them.

When they reach the fountain, Eve crouches down and strokes Nova’s face. Her mouth forms the shape of the words Fire Bird, then she grins and stands up. She snaps her fingers and the beasts let Nova go. They’ve barely released their grip when Ragnor wraps his fingers around Nova’s throat and hauls her to her feet. His body quivers as he stares into her eyes.

“Holy hell. Do you know how much I want to be the one to end your pathetic little life, Fire Bird?” He presses his face close to hers, then the bastard fucking licks her cheek. From her jaw to her temple, he drags his filthy tongue along her skin.

Nova doesn’t flinch or close her eyes. She has done this before; she is well-versed in remaining calm in the face of an evil man doing evil things.

“Trust me,” she retorts, “not as much as I want to end yours.”

Ragnor stares at her, then laughs and tightens his grip on her throat. She gasps for breath, tugs at his hands, and tries to kick him. Finally, he lets go and throws her to the ground.

“Not there,” Eve says. “Inside the fountain. It has to be done inside so we can capture her blood.”

Nova’s skin starts to smoke. Her eyes flash. When Ragnor jerks her up by her elbows, she presses her red-hot palms to his arms and makes him cry out.

Snarling, he punches her in the gut. Hard. Then he picks her up and throws her into the fountain’s waterless, stone basin. Nova hits her head hard and reaches up to touch her forehead. Blood trickles from it and runs down the side of her face.

My throat constricts. This is not what I saw in my vision. I saw flames, and I saw the hellhounds, and I knew she would die. But I did not see any of this. I did not see her being beaten in front of my eyes.

She tries to sit up, but Ragnor hits her again and she falls.

He’s about to unleash his fist on her for a third time when Eve grabs hold of his arm and says, “This is not what he wanted. The longer we play with her, the more chance there is of her mates coming to rescue her.” Eve snaps her fingers and the hellhounds come to her sides. “We finish her. Now, Ragnor.”

Ragnor’s shoulders are quivering. As I watch him, I vow with everything inside me that it will be me who ends his sorry werewolf existence. I will torture him until the last pitiful breath leaves his broken body. And I will enjoy every second of it.

“Fine. Do it.” Ragnor steps back.

Nova is crouched inside the basin of the fountain. She tries to press herself against the tall stone column behind her, but it’s too late. The hellhounds are coming for her.

They pounce on her, six of them. Teeth, flashing eyes, and huge dripping jaws. The first to puncture her skin stops to release a howl that shakes the mansion. At first, she is silent. But when they begin to tear pieces of flesh from her bones, she screams. The sound brings me to my knees. I double over but force myself to keep watching. I told her I would be with her until the end. I told her she would not be alone.

Nova, can you hear me? We have never reached each other from this distance before but I need her to hear my voice. I need my voice to be the last thing she feels before her world goes dark.