She examines my shoulder, then lets her eyes travel to my knees. “Take care of those cuts first.” Then she eyes Karo. “And who the hell is she?
I draw my power, wave my hand; needles and threads sink into my arm and knee. I take it like a motherfucking badass and don’t wince, waiting for her to deliver what I’ve ordered her.
She raises her bushy brow. “You should rest.”
Fine.
I stroll into the circle and look at the hags perched around the arena. I have their attention.
“Are you denying me my right? Are you preventing me from accessing my heritage?” I roar, lacing my voice with power. The message echoes across the mountains.
Then I glance down at Margorate, and smirk, seeing her fuming with anger.
Still, she denies me.
“I don’t recommend it,” she drawls.
“Have it your way,” I say to her, then call out to the crowd. “Do you want carnage?”
I look over Bogda and Wisla, then at the others. “Chant that impostor into existence, because I yearn to jab my claws into her throat,” I call out, throwing my hands into the air and expanding my claws.
“Seleste!”Aidon yells into my head, but I don’t spare the mutt any attention. Instead, I open my hand and command my power to forge an anti–mind-reading barrier in the sand.
I can see it on his face when it hits him, and I sneer. The nastiest one I have in my arsenal of expressions. He only shakes his beautiful head in response, while the other two males remain silent.
Fuck you!
“Are you even capable of doing it twice? Is that the reason for the delay?” I face Margorate and mock her loudly.
She snatches my hand and slices it harder than necessary, her anger driving the blade deeper.
“You are making a fatal mistake. I can see clearly what’s wrong with you, Seleste Berigander.”
“The only thing wrong here is your inability to deliver the impostor. Hurry up.” I wave my hand, dismissing this bullshit.
“As you wish.” Her lips form a thin line.
She chants, the hungry crowd joining. A heartbeat passes, and the impostor appears in the circle again.
“Another round? You must be a thirsty bitch,” the doppelganger chuckles.
“You have no idea.” I smile, creating a shield. The gravel before her twirls into a pit lined with jagged pikes.
She plunges in with a scream, but in a heartbeat, the trap changes into a fluffy pillow.
“Better, but not quite.” She summons a portal, stepping through to appear behind me, and drives a sword into my back.
“Fuck!”
I reach out and summon a giant chandelier above her. The moment it appears, it crashes down, the sharp crystals slicing her in multiple places. I dash and dip my fingers into her throat.
She starts bleeding instantly and I am unable to turn my head away.
“Dirty mongrel,” she smirks, then disappears.
I wait a brief heartbeat to make sure she stays dead, figuratively speaking, then push myself to my knees. Doppelganger blood drips from my fingers, and I bring them closer to my nostrils, inhaling the metallic tang mixed with a hint of raspberries. Their magic is freaking good at recreating my scent as well.
I pivot into the direction of Baba Yaga and roar with victory!
