“She isn’t a member, but she works here.”
“Well, then, if Madame doesn’t die, you’re not authorized to kill Valen. He’s a Shadows member… And very loyal. The girl? She’s not our problem. Stay out of it.”
I clench my jaw so hard, my teeth threaten to shatter, his words hitting me like a smack to the face. Who the fuck do these cunts think they are? All the blood I’ve spilt. All the pain I’ve instilled in people and myself. For them.
My wrath flares white-hot, turning every muscle in my body to stone.
“I’m not sure Wrath’s gonna accept that. It’s his girl,” Hell says the fact.
“Wrath needs to do as he’s fucking told,” the voice snaps back. “He’s had enough warnings in the past. He’s already lost his mercy. There are no more warnings or let-ups.”
My mind already made up. Nothing they can say or do will stop me. Not now when she’s in danger and she needs me.
I rip the phone out of Hell’s hand, the sharp crack of it slicing through the air, and press it to my mouth, but nothing comes out.
My throat feels like it's closing in on itself, every breath ragged, sharp, as if the very air is choking me.
“You stupid fucking motherfucker…” I growl, barely able to form the words, my voice strained, like it’s been dragged across glass.
They don’t even deserve my voice. But this isn’t about fucking privilege. This is a fucking warning from me.
There’s silence on the other end of the call. The kind of silence that only makes the screaming in my head louder.
“I’m gonna carve Valen up piece by piece,” I choke out, the words like acid on my tongue. “Do you understand that?”
“Wrath, you’re not authorized to do that,” he responds and it’s cold and flat, like it’s just another order, like it’s nothing, like she’s fucking nothing to me.
“Authorized?” I hiss, my breath coming faster now, the rage building, burning through me like wildfire. “You don’t get to tell me what I can do when it comes to her. She’s mine. Shebelongsto me. Not you, not fucking anyone.”
I can hear him breathing on the other end, but he doesn’t say anything. And that only makes me more unhinged, more desperate, because I know what’s at stake.
I turn, my eyes wild, scanning the darkened outline of the Cirque.
My pulse is a drum in my ears. My hands are shaking, my body
“You know what?” I say, almost with a deranged calmness. “I’m gonna show you what happens when you fuck withme. Let’s see how well you handle the goddamn wrath that’s coming for this place. You fuck’s are nothing without Oddity.”
I don’t even give Hell a second glance before I shove his phone into his chest. I feel the fury pulse through my body, violent and uncontrollable. I’m already moving before I even think about it, storming over to a barrel of fire, my heart pounding in my ears like a countdown.
I reach into the flames, ignoring the burn, my fingers wrapping around a piece of wood, still glowing, still crackling as body is thrums with rage and the need to cause destruction.
I turn around, the fire igniting in my hands, its heat biting into my skin before I bolt forward. With a guttural, loud roar that rips through my chest, the rage built up inside me unleashes in a single, savage bellow, I hurl the flames toward Oddity Cirque.
My whole body trembles from the force, the fire splitting through the air like a living thing, and when it collides with the fabric, it ignites instantly.
The red flames spread fast, clawing across the canvas, devouring it in a vicious dance. The tent becomes a furnace, flames twisting and snapping like hungry serpents, consuming everything in their path.
This was my fucking home, my childhood, but without her, it never fucking will be again. Nothing ever will. It now seems like a fucking lie.
I stand there, frozen, my eyes fixed on the blaze as it consumes everything I’ve known. The heat intensifies, creeping closer, but I don’t move. My chest rises and falls with each breath, the fire mirrored in my eyes, wild and merciless.
Hell steps into my line of sight, pulling me out of the haze of wrath and halts in front of me, offering a small, knowing nod.
His expression remains calm, his presence grounding me.
“Now go fucking get her,” he says, voice steady, hand firm on my shoulder.
“We’ve got this here, bro. The Shadows will be on their way when they realize.”
