Gods these things are tight.Vivienne pulled at the ropes on her wrists. She gasped in surprise. They hadn’t taken her dagger. Idiots. It was still hidden in the waistband of her trousers, pressed against the cave wall.If I can work the blade between the fibers…
Enyo’s pacing snapped her attention back to him. He pointed toward the vines, his fury still seething beneath his skin. Another crewman stepped forward, plucking a Noctilum bud. Again, it withered instantly.
Enyo let out a savage yell—grabbed the man by the neck of his shirt and dragged him toward the waterfall. With a firm push, he sent the crewman through the water, sending him plummeting to a watery grave.
Vivienne flinched, her fingers guiding the dagger, sawing faster against the rope. The bastard killed another of his own crew.He’s a monster. A ruthless monster.
Then, he turned toward her. Closing the distance between them with several long, agitated strides.
“Where is your plant friend?” he screamed, though the sound was barely audible above the waterfall.
Vivienne’s grip on the dagger tightened. “He’s dead.”
Enyo’s eyes narrowed, searching her face for a lie.
Keep him distracted. Keep sawing.
“Explain to me why these gods-damned flowers die the second we pick them.” Enyo’s spit flew as he shouted.
Vivienne sighed dramatically, shaking her head. “Do you want the good news or the bad news?”
Enyo’s jaw clenched. “All of it.”
The rope frayed. Just a little more.
“Well… it’s complicated.”
“Complicated?” Enyo growled.
Vivienne shrugged, making a show of dragging out her response. “These flowers are picky, you know? Really fussy. They only bloom under a… what was it again?”
She paused, feeling the last thread snap.
Vivienne’s hands slipped free.
“Oh, that’s right,” she said sweetly. “A full moon.”
Enyo froze.“What?”
Vivienne grinned. “Yeah, not ideal, huh? Looks like you’re shit out of luck.”
For a moment, Enyo just stared. Processing. Then—his rage exploded. He lunged at her, fingers snatching into her ponytail as he wrenched her head back. She cried out, scalp screaming in pain.
"Maybe you need more motivation," Enyo snarled, yanking her closer. "Maybe your pretty boy gets the same blood necklace as his crewman. Or maybe your gunner gets a taste of her own everburn." His rancid breath roiled as he leaned his face closer to hers. “What’s it going to be,library brat?”
Enough.
“It’s not library brat.” She tightened her hand on her dagger’s grip. “My name isVivienne. Fucking. Banner.”
She twisted, yanking her dagger free—and plunged the blade deep into his thigh.
Enyo’s scream was pure, raw agony. “You bitch—” he yelled, reaching for the handle of his sword.
Vivienne’s scalp burned as Enyo’s grip wrenched her backward, but she didn’t hesitate. She twisted her head and sank her teeth into the flesh of his arm, tasting sweat and iron as her jaw clamped down with her full force. Enyo roared, his muscles tensing beneath her bite, the sharp tang of blood filling her mouth. He jerked back, his grip loosening just enough for her to claw his filthy fingers from her hair.
But she wasn’t finished. As his body lurched away, she wrenched the dagger from his thigh in one swift motion, the slick warmth of his blood coating her fingers. Enyo’s scream tore through the cave, raw and ragged, but Vivienne was already moving. She drove the heel of her boot into the open wound. A sickening squelch filled the air as Enyo’s shriek turned guttural, his body convulsing beneath the fresh wave of agony. He howled, collapsing.
His remaining men rushed forward, dragging him to safety.
