Page 35 of Twisted Vows

Without a word, he reached for his sidearm, his movements calculated. The metallic click of the safety disengaging seemed to echo through the room, amplified by the deafening silence that had fallen over us.

Time seemed to slow as Malachi leveled the weapon at Levon’s prone form, his finger tightening around the trigger.

I knew what he intended, and I lunged forward. “Stop.” The word tore from my lips as a desperate plea.

Malachi’s gaze snapped to mine, his brow furrowed in a mixture of surprise and confusion. His finger remained poised on the trigger.

I took a step forward as I held his piercing stare. “Don’t do this,” I pleaded, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and determination.

Malachi’s eyes burned with an intensity that threatened to consume me. “He deserves to die for what he’s done.”

“I know, but not like this.”

Rurik’s gaze flickered between us, his expression unreadable.

Viktor also remained impassive, his steely gaze fixed upon Malachi, awaiting his next move.

Malachi’s grip tightened on the weapon, his knuckles whitening with the strain. “He’s a monster,” he said in a snarl, vibrating with a fury that threatened to consume us all. “He deserves to suffer for what he’s done to you, to us.”

I took another step forward, heart pulsing as I closed the distance between us. “I know,” I repeated, my voice soft, “But this isn’t the way.”

Malachi’s jaw clenched, his eyes searching mine for understanding. I saw a glimpse of the man beneath the armor, the man who had risked everything to save me from Terzien and protect me from the horrors of this world.

“I’ve earned the right to make him pay,” I whispered, but my words were still audible to those around us.

Silence descended upon the room, a deafening stillness that seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Malachi’s grip on the weapon wavered, his eyes flickering with myriad emotions—anger, confusion, and a glimmer of understanding.

Slowly, he lowered the weapon, his shoulders slumping as if a great weight had been lifted from them.

Viktor cleared his throat, breaking the spell that had fallen over us. “What would you have us do?”

I turned to face him, summoning my courage. “Let me handle this,” I said with confidence.

Viktor’s gaze flickered to Malachi, a silent question passing between them. After a moment, he nodded, stepping aside to allow me access to Levon’s crumpled form.

I approached slowly, my footsteps echoing through the room like the tolling of a bell. Levon stirred, his eyes flickering open as he became aware of my presence. A sneer twisted his features, a defiant glare that spoke of his arrogance and belief that he had somehow won despite not being able to break me.

I crouched beside him, keeping my movements controlled. When he looked at me, there was a flicker of uncertainty that sent a thrill of satisfaction coursing through me.

“You think you’ve won?” I whispered, my voice low. “You think you’ve broken me?”

Levon’s sneer deepened, his eyes narrowing in contempt. “You’re nothing but a weak, pathetic little girl and you were nothing more than a means to an end. For me, for Armen,” He jerked his head to my lovers, “And for them, though they want something different than I do.”

A mirthless chuckle escaped my lips. “That’s where you’re wrong,” I said, leaning closer, my lips mere inches from his ear. “I'm far more than a pawn or a diversion.”

With a swift motion, I drew back my fist and struck, connecting to his jaw with a fleshy thud. Levon’s head snapped back, his body recoiling from the force of the blow.

I struck again, and again, each blow fueled by the rage that had simmered within me since he had kidnapped me. That fury that had been my constant companion during captivity.

Levon’s cries of pain were music to my ears. I poured every ounce of anger and anguish into each strike.

Somewhere in the distance, I was vaguely aware of Malachi’s voice, a low murmur that seemed to fade into the background, drowned out by the pounding of my heart and the sound of my fists connecting with flesh. It wasn’t until strong arms encircled me, pulling me back, that I became aware of my surroundings once more. Malachi’s face swam into focus, his eyes filled with a mixture of concern and pride.

“Enough,” he said, his voice instantly soothing the raging storm within me.

Rurik huddled at my side, clearly concerned, though he appeared impressed. I blinked, chest heaving with each ragged breath as I absorbed the scene before me. Levon lay crumpled on the floor, his face a bloody mess, eyes swollen shut, and his body battered.

Rather than be dismayed, I was at peace with what I had done. I had faced my tormentor and beat him, figuratively and literally. Any remaining fear drained away, replaced by a newfound sense of liberation.

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