The hunger returns, along with my ability to see the room. I want blood.
I yank at the bindings on my wrists. My breath comes in sharp, shallow gasps. A snarl rips from my throat. My arms strain. I pull harder, but my body remains bound.
Bleed. I will make whoever did this bleed.
One more violent yank, and the fabric gives way, then falls.
I stagger forward, my vision swimming. I see nothing but the door. The way out. The way back to the voice, to be free of this task.
Vann is on the ground, and near him lies his weapon. I snatch it up. The blade hums against my palm, its power seeping into my bones, feeding the flame roaring through my blood.
Yes.My grip tightens.Yes.
Kill.The demand hisses through me.
Vann wakes, moving with the speed of a warrior. He crouches, across the room and takes me in.
He does not fear me, even though he should.
"Firelocks,” he says. “Dammit. Put my weapon down.”
I hiss at him. He was the one who tied me up.
Angling the weapon, I narrow my eyes in his direction.
His muscles shift under his shirt, preparing to charge. He is much larger than me. But I knew that I could kill someone larger than me—I’d done it before.
The second, ancient voice, chuckles.
I lift the weapon, and charge.
Somehow, Vann is faster. He tackles me.
The world tilts. I thrash. Light crashes into my eyes, a heat pulsing within my chest. I drop the weapon.
I kick him out of the way. My rage mounts, but Vann’s voice is steady. “Stay. You are stronger than this."
Sweat beads on my forehead. I try to tear his hands off.
“Arlet,” he begs.
Thatname. My fingernails dig into his flesh, scratching. I feel the blood well, feel the urge to kick.To bite.
He cries out.
Good.
But then, somehow, I am pushed to the side.
The knowledgethat Vann was hurt crashes over me like a bucket of ice water.
Despite it, the heat doesn’t vanish entirely—it lingers, sitting inside me like an ember waiting to catch flame again. But the hunger ebbs. It no longer claws at my insides, no longer demands I run.
I breathe in—smoke and stone and leather.
And blood.
Vann.