NICKOLAS
I take off sprinting in the direction I’m picking up Callum’s scent, my heart pounding with a mixture of rage and anticipation. The bastard knew he stood no chance against me, so he fled, but there’s nowhere for him to hide today. I will hunt him down and make him pay for everything he’s done.
I risk a glance over my shoulder at Amelia, my chest tightening as I watch her shift into her wolf form mid-leap, ready to face Ember in battle. Every instinct screams at me to turn back, to fight by her side and protect her, but I force myself to keep running. This is her fight, and as much as it tears me apart, I know she needs to do this on her own. She wouldn’t want me to interfere, no matter how much I longed to keep her safe.
Gritting my teeth, I push myself harder, Callum’s scent growing stronger with each stride. Before, I wanted to kill the bastard for driving Amelia to the brink of suicide, but now, with the deaths of Uncle Leo and Ava weighing on my soul, my thirst for vengeance is insatiable. My hands itch to rip him apart, to make him suffer as he’s made us suffer.
Suddenly, an arrow whistles through the air, aimed straight at my heart. I snatch it out of the air with lightning reflexes, my eyes slowly lifting to glare at the fool who dared to attack me. The archer’s eyes widen in terror. Good! He knows his death is coming.
In the blink of an eye, I’m in front of him, driving the arrow through his chin and out the top of his skull. His eyes remain wide as he crumples to the ground, and I catch sight of Callum cursing before he turns tail and runs.
A smirk tugs at my lips. The idiot thought his lackey’s arrow would be enough to stop me. If only he knew the grueling training my men and I have endured to ensure our victory. I give chase, closing the distance between us in heartbeats. My hand fists in the back of Callum’s collar, forcing him to a halt, but he’s ready for me. He spins, his fist connecting with my jaw, but I block the blow and counter with a punch of my own, feeling the satisfying crunch of his jawbone shattering beneath my knuckles. Blood sprays from his mouth as he staggers back, spitting out broken teeth.
“I guess I’ll just have to kill you myself,” he snarls, assuming a fighting stance, his fists raised.
“I’d love to see you try,” I taunt, aiming another punch at his face. This time, he manages to block it, retaliating with a strike to my stomach. I catch his fist with my left hand, using the opening to deliver a devastating uppercut to his chin. His head snaps back, and he stumbles, his eyes glazed with pain.
“It seems I have to take things up a notch,” he growls, his claws extending as he slashes at my chest. In a risky move, I grab his wrist, intending to snap the bone, but it leaves me vulnerable. His other hand rakes across my face, tearing flesh and drawing blood. I snarl in pain and fury, but before I can react, he headbutts me, my vision blurring as my nose shatters.
“Fuck!” I roar, shaking my head to clear the double vision, but Callum seizes the advantage. He sweeps my legs out from under me, and I hit the ground hard, the air rushing from my lungs as his boot slams down on my chest, grinding me into the dirt.
“I’ve waited centuries for this moment,” he gloats, keeping me pinned as he draws a blade from behind his back. I struggle to dislodge his foot, pushing with all my strength, but he only presses down harder, my ribs creaking under the pressure. Desperate, I search for anything within reach that could turn the tide, but there’s nothing.
Callum crouches over me, bringing the blade to my heart, the tip pressing against my skin. I realize with a jolt of fear that it’s laced with Oak Tree venom. Gritting my teeth, I grab the blade with both hands, ignoring the searing pain as it slices into my palms, my blood mingling with the poison. We grapple for control, neither of us gaining the upper hand, our muscles straining with the effort.
Suddenly, a wave of fear washes over me, but it’s not my own. My eyes widen in horror. Amelia. Something’s wrong. Panic rises in my throat, threatening to choke me, and for a moment, the knife inches closer to my heart.
But the thought of dying here, of failing Amelia when she needs me most, ignites a fire in my veins. With a burst of desperate strength, I begin to turn the tide, pushing the blade back inch by hard-fought inch until Callum’s weight is lifted from my chest. He stumbles back, his eyes wide with disbelief and dawning fear.
I surge to my feet, a predatory smile spreading across my face. He knows his time has come. He doesn’t even try to fight back, turning to flee, but I’m on him in an instant, tackling him to the ground and slamming my boot into his face, his skull cracking against the earth.
“You were easier to catch than I thought,” I pant, hauling him up by the front of his shirt. I headbutt him viciously, feeling his nose shatter against my forehead, blood pouring down his face as he cries out in agony.
“Shoot him!” Callum screams to his men, desperation thick in his voice. A hail of arrows descends upon me, but I don’t even flinch. Instead, I hoist Callum’s broken body above my head, using him as a shield, a twisted grin on my face as arrow after arrow buries itself in his flesh.
“Stop!” he wails, his voice thick with pain and terror, but I only laugh, a deep, menacing sound that echoes across the battlefield. I toss his riddled body to the ground, standing over him as he coughs up blood, trying to crawl away from me.
“You’re such a fool,” I spit, advancing on him slowly, savoring the fear in his eyes.
“Nickolas, please, we can talk this out. I’ll give you anything you want,” he begs, his words garbled by the blood filling his mouth.
I pause, throwing my head back in laughter, but it’s short-lived. My face hardens into a mask of pure hatred as I crouch down beside him.
“Bring my uncle and aunt back to life, and then we can talk,” I growl, my claws extending as I trace them over his frantically beating heart.
“Nickolas, please,” he sobs, tears mixing with the blood on his face. He’s trapped, his legs riddled with arrows, unable to run.
“Say hi to your daughter for me,” I snarl, plunging my claws into his chest and ripping out his still-beating heart. I close my eyes, feeling the warm, slick organ pulsing in my grip, his blood dripping onto the ground at my feet. I take a deep, shuddering breath, a sense of grim satisfaction washing over me.
Opening my eyes, I stare down at Callum’s lifeless body, a cruel smile twisting my lips. I reach down, grasping his head in my hands and wrenching it from his shoulders with a sickening crack. Rising to my feet, I carry his severed head by the hair, striding across the battlefield like a conquering king.
As I pass, Callum’s men falter, their weapons falling from nerveless fingers as they realize their leader has fallen. Only the most foolish would continue to fight now. But I know Ember won’t be so easily cowed. She’s too much like her father, too consumed by hatred and a thirst for vengeance.
My heart clenches with fear for Amelia, and I quicken my pace, praying to any god who will listen that I’m not too late. I can’t lose her, not now, not after everything we’ve been through. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, the light in my darkness, and I’ll be damned if I let Ember take her from me.
Hold on, my love. I’m coming for you.