Page 74 of A Curse So Vile

“What madness is this?” Kerk whispered as he looked on with growing horror.

Icaries whimpered as he plodded around Brenna, and although he’d hardly had any interaction with the wolf, Cole could almost feel the sadness that engulfed the beast.

The bindings of the dress popped, and the flimsy red material fell to the floor. Still, she grew.

“It’s not possible,” Cassius whispered, falling to his knees.

Constantine looked down at them with disdain.

“What have you done to her?” Cole said, unable to pry his eyes from his lover.

“I have done nothing. This is who she was always meant to be. My Brenna, the lone wolf. Strong of blood. Destined to rule.”

Brenna threw her monstrous head back and growled, then hunched over, sniffing their air with flared nostrils.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” Constantine said with a tinge of pride. “Now that she’s shed her pathetic skin, she’ll never have to look feeble again.”

“She’s always been beautiful,” Cole said. “Not that you could ever see that.”

“You mourn a caterpillar when you have before you a butterfly,” Constantine scoffed.

He wanted to believe that she could turn back, but he knew so little of what Brenna was. Regardless, no matter what form she took, he loved her. She beguiled him, and he knew that deep down, the woman he grew to love on their journey was still there.

“Prepare the feast!” Constantine shouted. “But leave the human.” He looked over at Cole. “Since she fancied him so, I’m sure he’ll make a delicious dessert.”

Large Ossorian men came behind the Denithians, kicking out their legs and bringing them to their knees.

Brenna looked down at her kin, her red eyes looking ever so hungry.

“Who would you like to devour first, my love?” Constantine walked behind the Denithians, placing a foot on Kerk’s shoulder and shoving him forward, to the ground. “This mighty warrior…” he looked over to Orrick, “or would you prefer a more mature blend?”

Orrick’s brow pinched in confusion.

“Oh, don’t look so shocked. Did you really think I’d allow such a feeble male to contaminate our stock? You were marked for death the moment we met, so long ago. When I came for her the first time.”

“We had a deal,” Orrick snarled. “You said you’d wait!”

Constantine cast him a wry grin. “I have no interest in honoring deals with lessers. And you are about as significant to me as a cockroach.”

“I kept her tamed for years,” Orrick seethed, looking to Brenna with frantic eyes.

“And for that I thank you.” Constantine looked up at Brenna. “But you are the strongest of the Denithians, and my love deserves a proper first meal.”

Julian stepped behind Orrick and brought a claw to his throat, slicing across. Orrick fell forward, clutching his neck.

Cole didn’t have it in him to feel sorry for the bastard. He hated him far more than he did Constantine.

Brenna’s beastly head cocked to the side as she sniffed the Denithian leader deeply, then she threw back her head, howled, and pounced on the sacrifice.

* * *

BRENNA

As she fed, Brenna felt raw power coursing through her veins. A million memories flowed through her mind of the being that was once called Orrick.

He’d led a life of kindness until he’d let fear overwhelm him. By the time jealousy took hold, he was someone else entirely.

Her muscles buzzed with excitement as she gnawed flesh from bone. Never had she felt so free before. So in tune with everything around her.