Page 80 of Nightshade

And behind him, a little slip of a shadow sneaked closer. It was Evie, creeping on her tiptoes, as silent as I’d ever seen a werewolf. A second later, she flung her arm, and glass shattered over Ivan’s skull, some concoction staining the crown of his golden head a red so dark it looked black in the moonlight.

Whatever Evie had thrown at him, it must’ve hurt. He hissed, lips drawing back from his fangs as he snarled. “What is this?”

Steam rose off his skin, a red mist rising.

From Katya’s porch, Prudence scoffed. “You won’t use our magic for your crimes, vampire.”

Magic, then. I didn’t know how she’d done it, but fuck I hoped my blood had something to do with it. If I could exact even a small measure of revenge, I might find peace with the rest.

Ivan reached for Evie and my heart stopped, but she was faster than any creature I’d ever seen. She darted behind Cash, and something about a werewolf in plaid swinging that roaring thing drew Ivan up short.

With him distracted, I was able to drag my attention back to Viktor. His face was paler than I’d ever seen it, lines etched with strain as he struggled to hold me down, and even then, I was wiggling under him.

I latched my hands around his arms, pinning him on top of me. He couldn’t let me go.

Not ever. Now that Ivan’s command was in my head, it was the only thing I could do. I would hurt Leo, and I’d promised never to do that.

To keep him safe meant . . . it meant I had to let him go.

“Viktor,” I said. “I need you to end me.”

Maybe Ivan would use my death as an excuse to go on a rampage in the name of vengeance, but I hoped that, without me there to torment and with a whole werewolf pack set against him, he’d lose interest. He was there for his own amusement, not to risk his life.

“It’s okay,” I whispered, clinging tight to Viktor’s arms like they were my last anchor to this world, unsure if I’d shoot out from under him at any second and become the weapon Ivan wanted me to be. “I won’t hurt him, and this is . . . you have to⁠—”

Viktor’s jaw flexed. Minutely, he shook his head.

My chest throbbed at the idea that he didn’t want this either. I really could’ve had a place here.

That bittersweet potential would have to be enough.

“Please,” I begged. “End this, and—and tell Leo—tell him my days with him were the best I ever had.”

Viktor grimaced. It was the most wrecked expression I’d ever seen on his face.

But he knew, like I did, what was at stake here. Ivan would use me to hurt the people I loved, and no matter how I struggled, it would happen. Leo might be able to fight me off for a time, but the distraction of having to do that would cost him. If I failed, Ivan would find his opportunity while we grappled, and I’d watch Leo die either way.

“I’m sorry,” Viktor whispered. His hand closed over my throat, so I could only nod.

Still, I clung to his arm as his fingers dug in around my trachea. His other hand pressed beneath my ribcage.

I didn’t know the best way to kill a vampire, but he’d see it done. I could trust him with this, and I wouldn’t⁠—

As pain dug into my chest, I swore I wouldn’t scream. I wouldn’t leave him with that, or Leo.

I closed my eyes as a vicious roar shook the trees, and all at once, the world snapped into focus. It pulled not to the command of Ivan’s voice, but to something else: a bond with Leo, and the throbbing in my chest that wasn’t my pain, but his.

Desperately, I dug my fingers into Viktor’s arm. “Wait,” I rasped.

At once, he let up the pressure, but kept me pinned beneath his knees.

“Wait,” I said. “I think I can . . . just don’t let me go. I can fight it.”

CHAPTER 43

Leo

End me.