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At Salvatore’s command, I let my fangs appear and sank them deep into Viktor’s neck. He roared his fury, his hands turning into claws, raking at my skin in desperation to pull me off him. Even though I felt my skin burn, I refused to let go of his neck. My fingers turned into talons, which I used to purchase a hold on his shoulders. Venom flowed from me in a burning mass, pumping hard inside the evil monstrosity before me.
I was aware of a flurry of activity in the room. The Hybrids moved inside the great hall at speed. Moans and howls emanated from the demons and familiars. Terrified shrieks rose from the children. My instinct was to go to the frightened kids, but I couldn’t let go of Viktor. He began to tremble, his body slipping to the floor. Two familiar male scents appeared either side of me. My mates. My salvation.
“Okay, bella. We’re with you,” Luca assured me.
Viktor slumped to the floor. His body convulsed, his eyes closed.
“Have I done enough?” I asked as I removed my fangs from his body.
“He should be completely comatose, but he’s one of the strongest of hell’s demons, that’s why he’s still moving. His body is fighting the venom. We must end this. Now.”
I couldn’t have agreed with Salvatore’s statement more. Looking around the room, I saw the other Hybrids finishing off the rest of the monsters in the room. Sacha and Lilah were comforting the children, already helping them to forget what had happened. Memories of being held captive by gunmen would be all that they remembered. That would be more than enough for them to deal with. Because of all the police and media presence, there was no way everyone could have their memories eradicated completely.
“Angelina.” Salvatore cupped one of my cheeks in his hand, and Luca held Viktor in place on the floor. “Everyone will think it was a group of people high on drugs who took the kids hostage. Their paranoia will be what caused them to kill one another. This is the best we can do.”
“He’s right.” Luca looked up at me. “Even Hybrids can’t erase the memories of everyone who has been involved personally or watching on TV. This is the best outcome.”
Viktor began growling and fighting against Luca’s hold.
“Come,” said Salvatore. “Time to end this miserable fucker’s life.”
My men knelt either side of his head. I looked from one to the other, waiting to be told what I needed to do.
“We will attack either side of his neck.”
A giggle escaped me. “You’re not going to bond with him like you did with me, are you?”
They eyed me with surprise.
“Sorry. This is just a bit weird for me. Put it down to a little gallows humour. What do you need from me?”
“Sink your fangs into one of his wrists and dig your talons into the other one. When we inject the venom, Luca and I will plunge our talons into his heart. He will dissolve until there is nothing left of him.”
“But,” Luca added with caution, “he will struggle and fight. Whatever happens, don’t let go.”
My fangs and talons had already lengthened as though desperate to destroy this thing on the floor. As one, we plunged our fangs and talons into his flesh. At our actions, he returned to his demon form. I actually found this easier to deal with. Doing the same to something which appeared human felt slightly wrong. My mates weren’t wrong about how he’d struggle. Even with the three of us biting his flesh, injecting him with poison, he was hard to hold down.
“I won’tdie at your hands,” he roared out. “I am still going to fuck you, Angelina, like I did with Cassie! You will experience as much pain as she did… and more.”
I was sorely tempted to release my fangs so I could let him know exactly what I thought. My anger thrashed around inside me, begging to come out. Images of Cassie’s broken body filled my mind, along with scenes of how much she must have suffered.
“Don’t, Angelina. He’s doing this to try and distract you. Kill him with your poison. Don’t let him win.”
I took heed of Luca’s words. My amazing mates filled my mind with love and support, helping me to refocus on the task in hand. No more would Viktor hurt the humans. His time was over.
It was still difficult to deal with the abuse and descriptions of Cassie and Jake’s deaths. Each time I sensed my resolve slipping, Salvatore and Luca were there surrounding me with their beautiful words and adoration. Viktor stopped flailing about, his angry voice growing weaker until he ceased all movement.
“Let go now, bella. He’s dead,” Luca declared.
As soon as we removed our fangs and talons from his body, he vanished. We stood as one, holding onto one another for support. After a while, I glanced around to see the room was empty. Why then, did I feel this was such an anti-climax? We’d killed the bad guy and the children were safe. But I felt thwarted somehow, as though I required a huge and bloody battle to prove we’d won.
“We know what you’re thinking, remember, bella. You don’t always need a blaze of glory to prove that you’ve won. It isn’t always like that.”
Luca’s words were meant to give me comfort, but they didn’t.
“We have spoken to other Hybrids who’ve experienced the battle you expected. It’s not as glorious as you may think. Be at peace to know that Viktor will never return, or his minor demons and familiars, either. Killing Viktor has also destroyed them. They lived because of his venom-filled blood. Once he died, they died too because they no longer had his power to feed on.”
Salvatore’s comment made me cry. I cried for others who’d suffered at his hands. Finally, I grieved for my beautiful friend and her fiancé. Two amazing people who should have had a fabulous future together. Taken away from this world in a cruel and violent way.
“Come,” whispered Salvatore. “Let’s get you home.”
* * *
