Page 55 of Fated In Ruin

I didn’t care how old or powerful or invincible he was, I was going to kill this asshole, just for that last comment alone.

The air turned electric, my boots crunching in broken glass, every shadow stretching unnaturally, responding to my presence, drawn to me like I was one of them. Cold streaked down my arms as dark flames gathered around my hands, wreathing my fingers in rings of frozen, consuming fire.

“Impressive,” Ravok acknowledged. “Your magic is so like hers was before she died. Before your lover killed her.” His devouring grin widened as his gaze shifted over to Malachi, fighting to escape his bonds. “Strange, how history always repeats itself, especially in matters of the heart.”

A creeping weed of doubt had my flames stuttering.

Don’t let him twist you up, Vicious.

Focus, don’t let go of the tether just yet. Concentrate while I draw him out, get him to drop his shield.

“You know, historydoesrepeat itself,” Malachi taunted, peeling the black, writhing noose off his throat. “Remember who bested you, Ravok, and put you in a box for a thousand years.” Ravok’s rage turned incandescent, blazing hotter as Malachi added, with a wink, no less,

“Here’s a hint.It was me.”

Ravok’s face grew so strained I wondered if he might burst that vein, throbbing in his temple. “I should have slain you on that battlefield,” Ravok hissed, spittle flying from his mouth. “After I ripped your brother and friends limb from limb. I should have made yousuffer.”

“And here I thought you were so proud of me.” Malachi formed his magic into a gleaming blade poised to carve and slice the monster in front of us apart. “Whatever happened to the good son speech from the other night?”

Why are you poking the bear? We need to get on with this.

“You are a failure. You failed as a brother. As a friend. As alover.” Ravok’s red flecked gaze settled on me and I could hardly breathe. “You think you can fix the mistakes of the past, yet you continue to make the same ones, over and over again. Look at her. So much potential in the right hands. But she’s nothing in the wrong ones.”

Malachi snorted and hooked his thumb at his Maker. “The only vampire who loves to hear himself talk more than Tyrell. I can’t imagine loving the sound of my own voice so much I never shut up.”

Those were the words that finally shoved Ravok over the edge, his anger vibrating so hard the air around us trembled, then cracked, as if the world itself was ending.

No, that was the red tinged magic dome around us, breaking apart beneath the force of his own anger.

Sunlight streamed through the break in Ravok’s darkness, beams so bright they were blinding. The Elder covered his eyes and turned away with a hiss, and…blisters erupted on his exposed arm and hand, everywhere the light hit him.

Now Evie, now—release your magic.

I didn’t hesitate. My shadows warped into reaching tendrils, lashing toward him like a storm of clawing, desperate hands, every finger tipped with a curved black talon. Ravok dodged effortlessly, his movements liquid, inhuman. I spun, using my magic to propel me faster, my fire slicing toward his throat—only to be met with empty air.

Damn it.

My next blow landed, but glanced off, his shield back in place, the failure made more pointed by his taunting grin. Then the entire world disappeared in a roaring tangle of black wind, tearing at my face, my hair, ripping the scream from my lips.

I couldn’t see a thing, not Malachi, not my father and uncles, and not Ravok, until an ice-cold hand closed around my wrist, twisting me violently off balance. My back slammed against the stone wall of the building, the impact rattling my bones loose.

ThenallI saw was Ravok looming over me, his grip unyielding.

“You think you can best me with your halfblood magic?” His voice was soft, amused, his darkness whirling around us in a roar that hollowed out my ears. “Foolish little newborn.”

Even pinned down, I gritted my teeth, refusing to let fear take hold. “I know who you are, now.” I told him softly. “I’m not the same girl you tricked into a bargain, asshole.”

“No,” he agreed, tilting his head. “You’ve become somethingfarmore interesting.”

Dark power swelled and I sent shadowy flames exploding outward, forcing him to drop my wrist, step back. Claw-tipped flames consumed him and I ordered them to kill, to tear, to destroy. Like enormous, burning jaws, my magic chomped down, blood coated Ravok’s brutish face as my fire masticated him.

Where was Malachi?

I still couldn’t see a thing, surrounded by this cloud of whirling black.

Ravok laughed, low and rich as he swiped the blood away. “Good. Fight me. Give me a reason to break you into pieces. I do enjoy putting broken things back together.”

“That’s the thing. I never break. Not for anyone, and especially not for you.” He was so close my dark fire hit him square in the chest, with enough force to blast a hole in the side of a building. Air exploded out of his mouth along with a foul, rotten stench. Flames ate away at his shield of glamour, and he pulled up more power, shoving my fire away, but not before frost exploded up the side of his face.

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