This was it. Her only chance to stop him, to end Tyr. The monster lay on a silver platter. Apple in his mouth. Just for her.
Shit. It was almost as if he begged her—come and get me. Was he anxious for the end? He appeared weak and vulnerable. A state she’d never seen him in. The hole in his chest was a pleasant surprise. Gruesome as hell, but amusing to see nonetheless.
“Yes, my little dove. Come to me.” Fingers splayed, he reached for Grayce, nodding as if to assure her everything would be fine.
With measured steps she inched toward the monster. Fury swept around her, turning underbrush to embers at her feet. The demon who’d turned her into a shell of a human, who had made sure she’d never love or feel loved, stood powerless before her, yet dared to assume control.
Zander loomed behind. Vibrations of protective rage radiated against the back of her head with each angry breath he released.
Tyr stood straighter, took a step forward, eyes filled with hope. “That’s it. Yes. My little dove. My Grayce. Mine.”
“Yours, yes yours.” Grayce stopped just close enough to envelope Tyr inside her red field of retribution.
“Your pain.”
His clothing smoked and charred. Thread by thread it fell away from his body.
“Your suffering.”
The deep black hair on his head turned gray and piece by piece blew away, ashes on the wind.
“Your demise.”
His perfect skin bubbled and blistered.
He didn’t flinch. Didn’t scream. Didn’t try to get away.
“Mine.”
A large hand wrapped around his neck, held him just out of arms reach. Zander lifted Tyr off the ground, an offering to her. A gesture she would hold dear to her heart until her dying breath. A simple act that proved without a doubt his deep love for her. Her mate, her lover offering up a chance for true healing.
“Your angel of death.”
Grayce pulled hard from the molten depths of her soul and forced every bit of fury, fear and torment straight at the monster now dangling in Zander’s hand.
An unholy scream spilled from Tyr’s bloodied lips as his skin charred and peeled away from his body in flakes. His flesh ignited, turned to flame then ash. As Zander released his bones, they hung for a moment, floating and dancing, suspended on a gust of thermal wind.
Grayce screamed as a flaming ball erupted around her. Tyr’s bones were carried away, embers glowing through the darkening sky. Zander was thrown back through the trees. Above, the mountain rumbled as rocks tumbled and rolled toward her.
Bone-tired, Grayce fell to her knees and sucked hard to pull oxygen back into her lungs. A boulder missed her head by inches as it skidded and bounced down the mountain.
Oh shit, Stephen.
Grayce forced herself to her feet and ran toward the tunnel opening, dodging falling rocks. A sharp pain bit her shoulder and knocked her backwards. Hot, hard muscle broke her fall and she was whisked deep inside the mine.
Zander and Stephen were at her side. The threesome covered their ears. A thunderous roar echoed through the opening as the entrance was sealed by rocks, dirt and collapsed mountainside.
* * * *
Stephen rubbed at the bandages around his wrists and smiled. They made him look tough, but they’d be so much cooler if they were black. There had to be a magic marker lying around somewhere.
“Stephen, aren’t you hungry?” Chelsea asked and leaned her elbows on the table.
He glanced down at his grilled cheese. “Not really.”
“Does it taste bad?” She picked up his sandwich, took a bite and chewed. “Nope, no poison. It’s safe to eat.” Chelsea always made jokes and usually he made them too. Just didn’t feel like it today.
“Did I kill him?” He picked up a pickle spear and stabbed it at his fruit salad. “I made a huge hole in him.” Disgusting too. Made his stomach sick. But he didn’t need to tell Chelsea that. She would worry.
“No Stephen, you didn’t kill him. You were so brave. I’m very proud of you.” She scooted her chair closer and rubbed his back.
“But he’s gone, right?” Zander and Grayce had taken him away so fast, he didn’t see what happened. They wouldn’t tell him afterward either.
“Yes, he’s gone. He’ll never hurt you or anyone ever again.”
He pushed his plate away and leaned his chin on the table. “But he was bad, so if I killed him, it would’ve been okay, right?”
“You’re right. He was a very bad man. The worst kind. But no, it’s not okay to kill people.”
He took a deep breath. “Chelsea, I wanted to kill him. I was so mad that he hurt Grayce.” Did that make him bad? He sure hoped not.
“I know, sweetie.” She pulled him toward her and kissed his cheek. He hated lip germs. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so he didn’t wipe his face. “And there is nothing wrong with you feeling that way.”