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“Shut the fuck up!” The Dacian removes his sword from my neck and drives it into my panther’s flank.

I.

See.

Red.

My power explodes out of me, throwing the Dacian and nearby warriors back.

I straighten, a little blood trickling from my neck and lips, and I turn, my injuries all but forgotten as magic and wrath overwhelm me.

As soon as my eyes connect with the fallen Dacian, I lift a hand. “I hope the gods do not spare your soul.Die.”

His head recoils back as my magic rips through his jugular, blood arcing across the grass.

My rage should’ve abated with the Dacian’s death. Instead, it grows, and with it, the power building in my veins.

YESSS…Memnon croons.

Maybe it’s his power and wrath I’m consumed by. Maybe it’s my own. Whatever the cause, it feels as though my magic is a physical thing unto itself. It certainly acts like it, pushing the arrow from my body and sealing my injuries up, all while my eyes sweep over the battlefield.

There are already piles of bodies, many of them Sarmatian. Though the fighting is still ongoing, we are losing. Tothem.For every living Sarmatian I see, there are two to three more Dacians. Brutal, cunning Dacians. They would take everyone I love from me.

They need to die.

Yes.

I don’t know which one of us thinks the thoughts. Maybe both of us do so simultaneously. Hard to know where he ends and I begin.

I walk forward as though possessed, drawing my power in close. My eyes land on a cluster of Dacians, and my rage swells.

It is not enough to simply kill them. No. That will not satiate the dark urges inside of me.

The world goes still for a moment as another spell forms. Then?—

“Annihilate.”

BOOM!

My magic fires out of me, exploding into the group of Dacians. Flesh is rent from limb to limb. Arms and legs, heads and helmets—all of it goes flying.

I look for another group. “Annihilate.”

BOOM!

Blood and dirt, grass and viscera speckle the air. Beyond it and the haze of mist, I catch sight of Memnon, his eyes glowing, warriors collapsing,screamingin his wake as he rides toward me.

My husband pulls up short and swings off his horse, rushing over to my side. He cups my face and stares at me with those unnatural, glowing eyes. I gaze back at him, and though my hair doesn’t float and I don’t think my own irises glow, I feel my stare is equally unnatural.

His gaze scours mine.You’re okay?

Some of the haze peels away.They hurt Ferox.The rage is rising, darkening my vision.

His grip tightens.Then we will make them pay. Yes?

I give a curt nod. Yes, vengeance. I want that. Hunger for it. For what they did to Ferox, to me, to my family, to Memnon.

Then take your vengeance, my fierce queen.He kisses me hard. I taste blood on my lips as my mouth moves against his.And I will take mine.