Page 74 of Heimlock

There’s always a deep pool of rage sitting in my chest, generally undisturbed, but ready to spew like a furious volcano. Connecting with it, I allow it to fill me up, scalding me from the inside. My whole body hums with fiery power, causing my skin to glow like hot coals. Fire roils around my flesh, licking my skin with its heat.

“I’m done negotiating,” I snarl, slapping my hands on the floor. A wall of flames rages toward Huracio, eating everything in its path. Huracio’s eyes widen with fear. Separating from the vines, he bolts down the hallway away from the flames.

It’s vindicating to see him bolt like a rat, but I know it’s temporary. There’s no way he’s going to let us go that easily.

I rush over to Trinte, ripping away the murderous greenery from his mouth first. He gasps. “You’re fucking stunning, you know that?”

Grinning wildly, I keep tearing away the vines. My hands are shaking so hard, it’s difficult. “Yes, but feel free to repeat it all the time.”

When enough of the vines are removed, Trinte flexes, shattering the rest. He assesses his swollen forearm, where bone threatens to split the skin.

“Is that going to be okay?” I ask, unsure what can be done right now.

“It’ll heal on its own,” he says dismissively, pressing down on the lump with a wince. “Dragons heal pretty quickly. It’ll be annoying until then, though.”

“Just be careful.” Which should go without saying. The corner of his mouth quirks as we stand in the flames.

Frowning, knowing Janeeka doesn’t deserve to lose her belongings, I tighten my fist and snuff out the flames, leaving smoking, charred wood behind.

“Where did he go?” Trinte asks, looking around.

“I don’t know, but I think it’s time to go,” I announce. This being Huracio’s house, in the middle of the night, makes things infinitely more complicated.

“Agreed,” Trinte mutters, placing a hand at the small of my back and steering me toward the front door.

We walk out of the house with the intention of going to the launch pad, but we’re about fifteen feet away from the front door when vines yank my ankles. My body slams onto the earth.

I wheeze as the air’s knocked out of me. I’m dragged backward, clawing at the grass, screaming. Trinte whirls, looking from me to where Huracio must be. Pure hatred twists Trinte’s face. His mouth opens, brandishing deadly fangs, then the air shimmers.

A blue Dragon appears, rearing and roaring so loud that my entire body vibrates. The ground shakes as his front legs slam down, darkening the night as Trinte lands above me like a protective shield. My first thought is concern for the broken bone, but Trinte doesn’t flinch. He must have a disturbingly high pain tolerance.

Huracio lets out a scream, and doesn’t stop screaming. The vines stop, then loosen.

Kicking away the offending plants, I scramble to stand, my head not even touching Trinte’s scaled belly. I look from between his legs, where the long lizard neck guides my eyes to Trinte’s head. Between his jaws are Huracio’s legs. The Forest Sprite is wailing, all of his vines burning upon impact on the blue scales.

Do you want to? Or should I?

Trailing a hand along Trinte’s smooth belly as I walk toward his maw, I grin. “I don’t know. Are we committing murder here?”

Is it murder if he attacked you while your back was turned? I know Dragon law permits deadly defense against that.

“Please don’t kill me,” Huracio sobs. Each time he tries to dislodge himself from Trinte’s jaws, fangs longer than my palm cut into his body even more.

I stop at Huracio’s head, cross my arms with a scathing glower. “You’ve grown uglier over the years. Maybe it’s all of that hate you love eating.”

“Kyrielle, don’t do this,” he pleads again, using my full name like he did all those years ago.

Cold with fury, I cock my head. “Pretty sure I used to ask the same thing. You didn’t listen. The first time, I took it easy on you.” My eyes drag from his mangled face to his crotch. “Apparently, I didn’t make you afraid of me well enough.”

“Let me go, and you’ll never see me again.”

I click my tongue and crouch. Looking at Trinte, my smile broadens. His gaze burns with so many unspoken words as he watches me play with Huracio. When the Forest Sprite squirms again, Trinte tightens his jaws. I hear bones snap. Huracio screams and I slap a hand over his mouth.

“Shut the fuck up, you dirty girl,” I snarl into his ear.

Looking at Huracio’s shattered kneecaps, I walk two fingers from his bloody knees up to his shredded thighs. Each scalding touch of a fingertip burns a hole through his clothes and crisping skin.

Snot pours out of his large nose as he viciously whips his head back and forth, in denial of my upcoming punishment.