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After the hardest battle I’ve ever faced, the last of their wolves fell to the ground. I was breathing heavily, my fur covered in blood as adrenaline pumped through my veins so intensely I couldn’t even feel my mates at that moment.
The vampires moved forward, drinking from the fallen wolves. It was a macabre sight and I hoped the Grave Alpha was watching as the last line of defense between us fell.
I shifted and grabbed my bag, pulling on clothes before walking up to the front doors, only pausing long enough for Holt to check for hexes. I let my confidence grow, knowing that I was moments away from facing the two monsters who had not only tortured me, but my mates, my sister, and far too many of our kind.
ChapterNineteen
Vanya
“Iget to meet the infamous Vanya in person,” Straya called out the moment I stepped inside the entryway of the lodge. She walked down the stairs like this was some sort of movie premiere, dressed to the nines in a violet pantsuit. Her hair was slicked back in a high pony. Not exactly the right attire for a war, but then again, if you have hundreds of bodies to fight for you, you didn’t exactly have to fight yourself.
It took me a second to notice she was holding three chains in her hands. Three bodies floated behind her, and it wasn’t until she reached the bottom that I could see who it was. She dropped the spell, simultaneously slamming them into the floor.
“Meira!” I screamed, only Leven’s grip holding me back. Straya laughed at my attempts.
“Aw, a reunion, how sweet,” she said in mock sincerity.
Meira locked eyes with me and shook her head sharply, the movement so quick I almost missed it. But I knew from that one gesture, what she needed was a distraction.
“You know, I expected there to be more monologuing,’’ I joked as I walked ahead of my mates. They stood behind me, almost plastered to my back, but let me take the lead. They were like avenging angels, ready to strike at my command. That was a heady feeling and one I intended to call on if she so much as touched my sister.
The Grave Alpha was mine to kill, but she wasn’t. We had a connection, and I was afraid that if I was the one to do it, then it wouldn’t end well. Holt had agreed and that was enough for my pack.
“Oh, you’ll get plenty of that. If you make it past me and up to the alpha, at least,” she said. I could see the annoyance on her face and when she started to glance at her captives, I let out a snort, her narcissism unable to not turn back to me.
“Why would you follow such a weak man? He’s so emotional.” I laughed. It sounded off to me but she ate it right up. “A coward using everyone else to do his bidding.”
“I’m more powerful than he could ever dream to be,” she growled, taking the bait.
“Yet, you’re the same. Hiding up here while not getting a single bit of blood on your hands. It’s funny that you think coercion, hexing, and attempts at manipulation make you strong. This is our first real encounter and we’ve taken out your entire army. I’m less than impressed.”
“I don’t strive to impress you, little girl,” she laughed flippantly.
“No, you’re the Grave Alpha’s whore,” I said with ice in my voice. She was furious now. Her face turned red as she fumed.
“How fucking dare you?!” she shrieked. She squared her shoulders and slammed her hands forward. Whatever magic was coming my way would have killed me if Holt hadn’t slammed a barrier between us, meeting her eye to eye. A malicious smile curled over her lips. “Oh look, our little escaped witch… it seems you found a backbone.”
“I’ve had one all along. I was just biding my time. And now we’re going to end you.” He pushed forward hard enough that she flew, slamming against the railing of the stairs. I glanced back at my sister and her companions to see what was happening, shocked to see her slice the palm of the woman next to her. She held it over a rune circle they’d drawn on the floor, until blood was dripping onto it. The moment the blood hit it, the circle glowed a violent red. Meira let go of the witch and slammed her hand onto the circle, quickly clamping it over Straya’s mouth. It all happened so fast, I barely registered it all.
The dark witch’s eyes went wide. Then it was as if someone had sucked the magical energy out of the room. She tried to fight, to move, but she was paralyzed and bound by the looks of it, as helpless as her prisoners were expected to be.
“Vanya? Can I borrow that dagger of yours?” Meira called out. I didn’t hesitate to walk over and hand it to her. Straya fell over, wriggling around like a worm trying to escape, but she only exposed her back to us.
“Careful, it’s silver.” I grinned. She gripped it in her fist before slamming it into Straya’s spine. The crunch of bone was satisfying this time around but it was also startling without the noise of her screams. Meira didn’t stop there, she reached for Straya’s hair and lifted her head, the woman flipping.
“I’m not taking chances,” Meira growled before swiping the dagger over her captor’s neck. She let the body fall but didn’t relax.
“Meira,” her mate begged and she finally dropped the dagger, her breathing wild and eyes startled as she stared down at the woman who had tortured her for too long. “It’s over.”
“Almost,” I said as I glanced up at the stairs. “We aren’t finished yet.”
“They are,” Holt said softly. I looked at him, then at my sister and her mates. Meira’s legs were twisted at odd angles and nearly black and blue. Her witch mate’s eyes were milky and white as if she were blinded. The same one who had given us the clue to find them. I knew, without a doubt, it was the Grave Alpha’s work, his punishment for her transgression. Even the vampire wasn’t unscathed, his fangs completely gone and blood staining his chin that I knew was his own.
“He’s upstairs. Go, we’ll be fine,” my sister promised.
My eyes locked on hers. “I love you, Meira.” I wouldn’t risk not making it back to say that. Not after everything we’d both been through. Two sides of the war, but both survivors.
Her voice wavered as she responded. “I love you too.”
