Page 246 of Volik

I cough and gag, my lungs burning as I try to fill them with oxygen.

Tears drip from my eyes, and my heart won’t stop racing.

I can’t make my heart stop racing.

“Pathetic.” The awful man laughs from behind me. “The mighty Volik with a worthless mate like you…” A boot slams against my hip.

The force sends me skidding across the grass.

My throat aches at the sound that leaves me as pain rocks through my bones.

This bitch.

“Coward.” I choke on the word, my lungs still struggling to inhale.

“What?” The ground trembles with his footsteps, and I get my first real look at Morell.

And standing here in this field at dusk… he’s entirely unremarkable.

Plain.

Forgettable.

“I said you’re a coward, Morell.”

He jumps the few feet between us, and I jerk back.

He sneers as he crouches, his breath in my face. “So, Volik told you about me?”

“He t-told me you’re delusional.” I cough.

Morell leans closer. “No. I’m. Not.”

I didn’t know vampires could have bad breath, but Morell’s smells rotten. Like copper and mold.

I lean farther away from him. “You are.”

He bares his teeth. “Shut. Up.”

I don’t. Because the more time I spend talking, the less time I spend being strangled, and the more time Volik has to find me. “Even if your story was true, why punish Volik? That’s hardly fair.”

“He’s just as responsible.” Spit flies from Morell’s mouth as he snarls.

“Are you going to fight him? Or are you just going to kill me?”

He darts his hand out and grips my throat.

“I’m going to kill you.” He stands, lifting me by the neck.

He’s not cutting off my airway yet, but it feels like he’s about to rip my head off.

I wrap both hands around his forearm and use all my strength to pull myself up, easing the pressure.

“You have to go after me…” I struggle to keep my chin up. “B-because you’re too weak to fight Volik.”

His hold tightens.

My heart keeps sprinting.