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“The beast said I’m ready.”

Abe breaks into a toothy grin. “Most excellent. So, pray tell, what are you going to do about it?”

I roll back my shoulders, feeling a familiar tinge deep in the muscles. Something moves under my skin, like my muscles and bones are coming awake.

Darkness spreads within me like spilled ink over paper.

It seeps into my marrow.

I submit to the shadows.

I become the beast.

I put my head back and scream as the pain rushes through my broken body. The world grows dimmer still, all sound now a hush in the background. I know people are running over to me to see if I need help; I know some are staying back because they know.

I let the beast take over.

Just a little.

Just enough for my body to change and for my blood to boil and for the darkness inside me to intertwine with the light.

No fighting anymore.

I look down at Abe and unfurl my wings. I’m taller now, and I cast him completely in shadow.

“Well, hello, old friend,” Abe says with a genuine smile and a tip of the hat.

“Hello again,” I say, as myself, as the monster. “I have something I need to do.”

I start flapping my wings, blowing back Abe’s hair, attempting flight.

“Don’t kill everyone, Aragon,” Abe chides me. “It seems it’s been a while since this crew has seen battle. Let them have a little fun. Let Larimar have her revenge. And for God’s sake, remember we need to keep some alive for blood.”

I grin at him. It must be the ugliest grin in the world.

Then, I turn around and look at Larimar, who is holding on to Maren in pure fright, Ramsay standing protectively in front of them, ready to fight me by any means necessary.

I nod at them and then start pumping my wings until I’m taking flight, soaring over the side of the boat and down over the water, gathering up extra air from the waves before I shoot straight up into the sky.

The beast lets me laugh.

No, I let myself laugh.

I’m going to avenge the woman I love.

And I’m going to love every minute of it.

Chapter Thirty-Six

LARIMAR

“Blast my eyes!” Ramsay swears in wonderment as Priest soars overhead.

My Priest, who is now the monster once more.

My Priest, who has spread his wings again, a terrible creature that has taken to the skies.

For a moment there, I thought I might die.