Page 73 of A Curse So Vile

From a dark tunnel came the sound of shuffling and metal.

“Let them go!” Brenna pleaded. “If you want anything from me, let them go. For the moment you harm one hair on their heads, you’ve all but damned yourself.”

Constantine smirked around his thick teeth. His eyes darted up to the open ceiling, to the large, yellow moon. “Once the moon reaches its full height, it’ll turn to crimson and the bindings the blood witch placed on you will be shed, allowing you to take your true form. Then you will no longer care about the shameful Denithians.”

First came Kerk, then Cassius, Brunner, Gaylyn, Andor, and at the end, Cole.

Brenna’s heart sank when she saw the Heartlander. She didn’t know why, but the sight of him provoked something in her.

And with growing horror, she realized what it was: love. Their days together were few, but he was strong, bold, and loyal. Qualities she valued. He took care of his sister and served Brenna honorably in the ways that he could.

Her feelings for Cole were far stronger than they’d ever been for Elric, and once, so long ago, she thought that he’d be her life mate.

Now, the only man she wanted was Cole.

“Let them go!”

“Undo their shackles,” Constantine said, and Julian rushed to obey.

Hot fury threatened to consume her as her people were freed. They moved sluggishly, suggesting they’d been drugged, further drawing Brenna’s ire.

“Why are they like this? They’re immune to most poisons and intoxicants.”

“But not power dampeners. Just ask your grandmother.”

“You’ll regret this!” She rushed to Cole, who seemed to be more aware than the others.

“I’m sorry.” She smooths this hair away from his eyes. “I never wanted this for you.”

“You were never cursed,” he rasped. “It was a lie.”

“I…I know, and I’m sorry you were pulled into this. I’m scared…I don’t know what’s going to happen. If I do something to you…I…”

“That won’t happen,” Cole said with confidence.

“You don’t understand—”

“You’re the woman that saved my sister when she didn’t have to, knowing you’d be executed. Whatever it is you become, you will always be you.”

A familiar burn shot through her fingers as her transformation began. Her fingers extended, and she felt her legs bow. She looked up to see the moon had turned from yellow to red.

“It’s happening,” she cried, looking at her hand in horror.

“Stay with me, Brenna,” Cole pleaded.

“You don’t understand. I can’t!”

“You can! No matter what form you take, you’ll always have your heart, Brenna. You’ll always be you.”

22

COLE

Cole looked on as Brenna’s arms and legs grew, her muscles tripling in size as the red dress she wore constricted around her.

He had to believe that somewhere inside her was the woman who so selflessly saved his sister. The one who negotiated their retreat as she fed herself to the proverbial wolves.

Her teeth expanded, jutting from her mouth as saliva dripped to the floor. If he’d thought her form was scary at the village, it was only because he’d never seen her like this before.