Page 133 of Heir of Broken Souls

“Betrayal stings like a bitch, doesn’t it?” I mock. “Show yourself, Hazel, or so help me gods I will burn you until you’re nothing but ash fluttering in the wind.”

* * *

The moment Lenox’s height disappears, the tiny Fae who stabbed me in the back with such a deep betrayal forms. Just seeing her face has fury bursting through my heart like wildfire.

I knew this was coming. This was what I saw, this moment right here—me holding the dragon pommel sword against her throat atop the ship’s deck after a battle that could have taken us all.

“It appears you’ve learned a thing or two from your pathetic master,” I spit.

“Paid off, didn’t it?”

“Clearly not, if I knew it was you the entire time.” I pull out the blade in her gut, then hold the tip against her heart. Already, her wound is stitching, faster than a Fae’s would. “Where is Lenox?”

She rolls her eyes. “Unconscious somewhere on the ship. Really, it isn’t your biggest concern.”

“If you have something to say, say it before Axel comes up here and tears your head from your body like you did with Ace.”

“Again, I didn’t kill him.”

I move so quickly she blinks furiously, the only sign of her shock.

“Youbetrayedus. You lured him out to the library. Youpreyedupon him. Do not insult me or his memory by saying you were not the one responsible for his death.” I arch a brow at her silence. “Any last words?”

“If you were going to kill me you would have done so already.”

“This is a mercy killing. This is me being kind, unlike what you offered us.” I lean forward, allowing every ounce of hatred I have for this pathetic woman to show, and hit her below the belt, where it really hurts. “Tell me, Hazel, how is your daughter? Alive and well or walking around like a zombie?”

Hazel moves to lunge for me but I shove the tip of the sword into her, piercing her flesh. Her eyes widen again. She truly thinks I’ll let her walk away.

I shake my head. “I changed my mind.”

Without another word golden shadows are wrapping around her, dragging her backwards without a care for her wellbeing or the scream of surprise she lets out. Smashing her against the nearest chair, they hold her in place, effectively tying her to the chair.

“After everything you’ve put us through you don’t deserve a mercy killing.”

Before I change my mind, I send the sight of what’s before me down the bond to Knox. In no time Hazel will be surrounded and there will benothinganyone can do to hold back Axel.

A lump rises in my throat, one of such endless fury it’s hard to swallow. I have never despised someone I used to call a friend. Yet I have also never been so thoroughly betrayed by one.

I thought it would be hard seeing her again, hard to separate who I thought she was in my heart with the truth of who she really is, but all monsters’ masks slip at one point or another. She is not kind, or soft, or warm. She is deadly and wicked and cruel, and I hope she fucking burns for what she did.

At the thought, the golden tendrils wrapped around her ignite into flames. Hazel bursts out screaming.

I force myself to quelch the wrath and push it down. I can’t lose control. Not now. Even when it physically pains me to extinguish the flames.

Hazel heaves as they return to unharming, yet tight, tendrils. Her skin is burnt, melting to reveal the disgusting truth beneath her skin—the corruption of her foul heart.

“We have about a minute before they storm the ship, so spit out whatever it is you so desperately want to say.”

True fear lines her features.

Her head snaps down to her hands as black shadows leak out of her palms, only to wither and withdrawal once they near my golden power.

My smirk is ravenous. “Dear old daddy didn’t tell you that my power is the only one that can destroy dark magic?” I burst out laughing, a true laugh this time. “Well, it seems we aren’t the only ones trying to get rid of you. You must’ve outlived your usefulness.”

Her eyes narrow. The same eyes I peered into and trusted day in and day out. The same ones I opened my heart to. I trusted her beyond reasoning and that was my error, but I will never do so again.

My first female friend besides Annie…