Page 104 of How to Stake a Vampire

The cavern, once so big, now felt small, like a space I could easily conquer in a few strides.

“What the—?!” Finnic mumbled. His axe struck the floor with a dull thud as his arm went limp at his side.

Gregory and Barney stared at me, wariness and shock warring in their crimson gazes. I felt Samuel’s wonderment and admiration as he watched me where he still stood in his wolf form, his feelings sparking across the mate bond.

Something else sparked across my consciousness, startling me.

I looked at Ellie.

I could sense her power too, somehow. It was different from Samuel’s werewolf energy. Colder, sharper, but just as fierce. And for reasons I couldn’t explain, her abilities appeared similar to mine.

“Is that you?” Ellie breathed, meeting my gaze.

I swallowed and nodded.

Determination tightened my best friend’s face. “Let’s finish this. Together.”

We moved as one.

Ludvik snarled, his pupils flaring crimson.

I came at him from his left while Ellie struck from his right, our attacks perfectly synchronized, as if we’d fought together for years instead of minutes.

Ludvik tried to escape using his enhanced speed.

We were everywhere he wanted to be, boxing him in with movements that flowed like a deadly dance.

“Finnic!” Didi shouted. “Your axe!”

Finnic lobbed his weapon across the cavern.

Didi jumped and snatched it handle-first in midair.

Ludvik cursed and tried to bolt.

My claws raked his back while Ellie’s fangs found his shoulder.

“Make sure you burn the doll!” I shouted at Didi. “It’s the only way to fully break the hold he has on the wraith!”

Ludvik thrashed between me and Ellie, incoherent sounds of rage leaving him.

“Right, then.” Didi narrowed her eyes and raised the axe. “One possessed toy, coming right up.” She brought the weapon down on the doll.

The porcelain face shattered with a sound like breaking glass, the pieces scattering across the cavern floor.

“Gavin!” the witch barked.

“On it!” Gavin inhaled and blew out a jet of white-hot flames that incinerated every last fragment of the cursed toy.

The effect was immediate and dramatic.

The crimson chain connecting Ludvik to the wraith child snapped like a severed rope.

The music stopped.

The little ghost girl blinked where she’d curled up on herself next to the altar, her eyes clearing of the pain and rage that had clouded them.

For a moment, she looked almost peaceful.