Page 107 of The Girl in the Forest

“Send the others out of this room. I want them safe, or no deal.”

Barend flicked his hand, but Set swept out with her hand and two vampires stepped from her side. They helped Levi stand, then Laura. One made a show of removing Brin’s bolt as if she hadn’t already worked it free.

Timing became critical, and I braced, extending my left arm. My left wrist, where the wounds were still tender around the obliterated wolf sigil.

Ago stepped closer.

I blinked until tears pooled in my eyes. Elevated my breathing. I pretended. Became the terrified girl drifting beneath a vampire’s thrall, unable to control herself. I was that girl in the witches’ cave, giving in to their sensuality. Welcoming the prick of fangs.

My skin heated as I moistened my lips. If Ago turned me, he would be my sire—an idea that did nothing but trigger a repulsive rage. Which I smothered, offering a simpering smile, something I thought he’d appreciate. Stroke his male ego.

I wasn’t a complete monster—I saw no reason why his last moments shouldn’t be happy moments.

I hid my excitement when he revealed his fangs, his lips pulling back—I did the same, cringing back so that his fingers tightened around my wrist to hold me in place. He thought he controlled me. I controlled him. Wanted him tethered to me, the albatross he didn’t expect around his neck, the death he held on to so tightly and didn’t even know it—justice, I thought, as I focused on the light reflecting off the gaudy gold chains, ignoring the cruelty in his mouth, the dark, soulless light in his eyes.

Patiently, I waited. Breathed as he inched closer, head dipping, cautious.

Half my face had gone numb because, when I forced another smile, my lips twisted into a grimace. But once his greed took control, his blood lust… when his attention shifted from watching me to staring at the vein pounding beneath my skin, I struck.

Energy exploded. My free hand was around his throat. His eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth slackened with the first tugging sensations—not from him, swallowing down my blood. But from me, gobbling up his energy, collapsing his veins, his cells.

I wasn’t one of the fake failles.

I wasn’t a girl who hadn’t a clue about what she was.

And maybe I was as hateful as Amal.

The air vibrated as I syphoned the undead energy that moved like thick sludge through my body. Ago’s pale skin molded against sharp cheekbones, hollowed out the spaces beside his mouth. His hands were ineffective claws that I brushed aside. His mouth slackened.

For the bored vampires, they weren’t watching. It hadn’t dawned on them yet what I was doing. No time to wait for their appreciation. I switched hands, kept my grip on Ago, and used the energy from him and from the floor of this ancient space. Energy traces left behind by all the vampires who stood here over decades. Centuries.

I whipped the air, spun out the weapon the failles of old had used against stampeding hoards. The weapon I’d used against the queen’s black mist when it had entered our dungeon cell. Doors slammed; only I could reopen them, and I kept them closed. A shimmering force field shattered windows as it settled in place. The vampires reacting first escaped, but the others beat against the impenetrable barrier I held in place.

One or two turned into ash. A pity.

Movement drew my attention. Two vampires had foolish hands extended as they attacked. Perhaps they thought I was like Brin, unable to withstand the shock of a pressure pulse. I laughed when the energy hit, pulled it in, then pushed back hard enough that one vampire turned into gray dust. The other fell to his knees.

Vaguely, I heard Brin shout in triumph.

My next move was elusive—so many choices that I couldn’t choose. Fire seemed tempting, but I was reluctant to turn the furnishings into blazing torches. I hadn’t gone dark enough to immolate trapped vampires because I could, or because I hated them and what they’d done to a queen centuries ago. What they wanted to do to my friends—had done to them.

Ago was a quivering mess, and I thrilled at the power I had at my fingertips. Satisfaction abraded my skin and the pain made me euphoric. And in that instant, I understood Amal. The vindication she must have found in destruction.

“Remove Julien from the wall,” I told Barend.

He’d taken a step back, coming up against the chairs and knocking one over. The clatter added to the commotion as sires pulled guards around them, even as they realized the pointless protection. I didn’t have to touch them to harm them.

Barend said, “Only the vampire who daggered him can remove the blade.”

“Let me guess. Ago.” There wasn’t much left of him at that moment. “Both blades?”

Barend nodded.

Another vampire pushed through those standing on the dais. Stately, dressed in the courtly style from several centuries ago. “I am Ago’s sire, Daegal,” he said. “I can remove the blades.”

I focused on the energy, listened to the sizzling hum in the air, afraid to let the hum waver. I glanced at Set. Her eyes glittered. She motioned to the blonde vampire, who went to aid Julien. The woman’s hands were gentle, holding him while Daegal pulled the daggers free.

Julien’s agonized moan chilled me. His head lolled as if he wasn’t in full control.

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