Page 71 of Silverproof Damsel

Themomentwesteppedinto Nyota’s room, Illeron spun around, eyes thinning as he took in the situation. The smile that grew over his mouth caused a sinking feeling in the pit of my abdomen. The scent of cleaners and bleach burned my nostrils as I took in Nyota as she contorted, screaming in agonizing misery.

I hadn’t ever imagined the stringent, stuffy Nyota looking frail. She looked delicate, as if a strong wind would blow her away. Silver dripped from the corner of her eyes. Her skin was pale and clammy, and dark circles surrounded her eyes.

She would hate anyone seeing her in this weakened state. If I had a phone, I’d snap a few pictures for blackmail. I was petty like that.

“What the fuck are you thinking, Silversmith?” Illeron snarled, but his eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of killing me.

He was probably still sour he hadn’t gotten his turn with me. Spoiler alert, he’d never get that chance. Illeron was the sort ofasshole you never saw coming, but when you did? You didn’t want to see him.

He was hot, sure. But there was an ugliness inside of him that nothing could change. If it was merely a darker, naughtier side? Fine. There were some men you wanted to fix. Hell, most women looked for men with issues in the hopes of fixing them. There wasn’t enough duct tape in the United States that would fix the issue that was this asshole.

“I think you’re leaving,” I stated sharply. Pressing the blade closer to her throat, I ensured my thumb was between her flesh and the scalpel. “Now.”

Illeron chuckled with malice dripping in it. “You’re not in control of shit in our fucking house, bitch.”

“Oh, but I think I am. You’re under obligation as a Van Helsing to uphold the oath of protection Rhys gave to this woman. The same woman I’m currently holding hostage. So, you’re leaving. Unless you wish to break the oath this house and its alpha gave her?” I felt myself swaying as my strength waned.

This might have been my worst hairbrained idea to date. I felt lightheaded, and sweat was already trickling down the back of my neck. The healer was helping me remain on my feet. It was going to make this charade harder than I’d assumed it would be.

“You do know what this is going to start. Right? Did your puny, pathetic female brain not weigh the consequences? I may not have been able to start the war between our families by murdering you and Nyota, but this will ensure it begins anew.” The mirth glittering in his azure eyes sent ice trickling down my spine.

Why would he say that with a witness present? He wouldn’t. Not unless he was certain I’d be unsuccessful in what I intended to do. Either that, or he intended to challenge Rhys for the alpha. By doing this, I was opening the door for Illeron to put Rhys’ability to protect those he’d given a vow of protection to into question.

“Ah, I see the consequences of your actions are sinking in. Too late now, though, Love.”

Illeron, using the endearment Rhys often used, felt dirty. Wrong. Using what strength that I had left to stave off the effects of the drugs I’d been given, I straightened and brought the knife closer to the healer’s throat.

“Careful,” Illeron sneered as he stepped back, lifting his hands in the air. “I promise to enjoy killing Rhys the moment he’s brought to his knees once he is unable to keep his vow of protection. He’s sleeping with the enemy, after all. Everyone knows he’s given you, one of our greatest enemies, his protection. You may look like a lamb, but any asshole can see that you’re a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing. I’ll sleep well at night knowing that the abomination growing inside of your poisonous womb never draws air into its lungs.”

If Rhys didn’t kill Illeron, I would. I was making a mental note to handle that the moment I finished saving Nyota. I had no plans of sticking around to allow Rhys to kill me. That wasn’t something he needed on his conscience. I’d be damned if I allowed Illeron to put that on Rhys.

I was hoping he’d understand that I hadn’t intended to murder the healer and that I’d merely need her help to get to Nyota’s room. It worked perfectly. No harm. No foul.

Illeron moved toward the entrance of the room, pausing as he got to the door. Once there, he gave us a sadistic smirk, tipped his dark head forward, then darkness flooded the room. A loud, discordant sound pierced my ears seconds before the whizzing of silver being freed at high velocity flooded my senses.

The metal shooting through the air was a sickening sound as it targeted us. The noise of flesh ripping open came first, then an ear-splitting cry pierced my hearing like ice picks shoved into myeardrums. The resonance of suction echoed through the space next.

The acidic scent of copper perfumed the air, making my stomach roil. A malicious laugh echoed outside the door, as if Illeron were laughing as he strolled down the hallway. He’d tried to kill both of us.

“Jesus—fuck!” I cried as the body I held became lifeless, toppling forward. I stumbled back, uncertain how to save her. Dropping to my knees, I forced her onto her back, then retched at the sight of holes littered over her chest.

Tears welled up in the back of my eyes as I slid my gaze from the blood pooling around her corpse to the door. The sound of boots slapping against linoleum filled me with horror as I rose, swaying on my feet. Holding the wall, I scanned the room for something to jam in the door to prevent it from opening.

A broom sat propped against the wall in the corner. It made me move forward. The moment I reached it, I brought my knee up and towards it, intending to break it in half. That wasn’t what happened. Instead, it slammed against my knee, issuing a bevy of curses from my lips. It took three attempts before the wood caught on to my intentions and gave in and broke something other than my knee.

Limping to the door, I forced it closed before shoving the wood through the handle. Grabbing the chair from the corner, I brought it over and wedged it under the door handles. After I’d finished that, I used blood pouring from my thumb to draw the few runes I knew how to create, forming a barrier to prevent Rhys from doing what Illeron had with his magic.

Once I’d finished that, I twirled around, placing my back against the door. The footsteps grew closer, causing my stomach to twist knowing what they’d see once they peered in through the window. Glancing at the large window, I limped toward it, drawing another rune on the glass.

Spinning as Nyota whimpered weakly, I flinched at the sight of her open eyes. Gone were the white sclera of them, replaced with silver.

Mysilver, to be precise.

I’d heard the hum of it as it sang to my blood as it was dispelled from the bomb. It was a siren’s song, lulling me into a soft sway as it sought to return from whence it had come. The fact that it was singingtome had sent horror clawing through my entire soul.

After silver was wielded, it only sang to its creator when it was ready to return. If it sought to return, it could be too late to heal Nyota from the damage it had ravaged through her system.

I stepped closer, slipping on the slick blood coating the floor. A soft gasp split from my lips as I barely caught myself from tumbling to the ground. Exhaustion was weighing on me, as if I’d been depleted of strength. I’d been out for days, but whatever they’d laced the bullet with? It was rather nasty shit.

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