Chapter 3
Lilith
"Who sent you, witch?!" he growled, hands tightening around my neck.
I chuckled drily. "Wrong question. The question should be: why are you here?"
He stared at me, bemused.
"They say you are too powerful to be killed. But I disagree. I firmly believe you can be killed. I think I can kill you."
He scoffed. "Where are those witches who expressed the same opinion?"
He slowly leaned closer. I felt his warm breath brush my face, rousing goosebumps on my skin.
"They're dead," he murmured.
Without warning, I extracted the hidden dagger and struck him. He swiftly moved away, and in so doing the blade swiped a section of the skin around his neck. His eyes darkened, slamming my back against the wall. I frowned at the dull ache that rose on my back, and without a moment's delay he tugged the dagger from my hand, then pinned my hands above my head.
"A forsaken little witch."
"Little witch?" I scoffed. "I've killed Lycans and Werewolves beyond what you might guess."
He stared at the dagger. "So dim-witted to believe your dagger could kill me. Oak wood has minimal effect on older Lycans."
"It might be incapable of killing you, but it would eventually dawdle some time before I end you."
I struggled against his grasp, but the King was too powerful.
"I have no idea if you are ignorant or dense enough to assume you can kill me." As he spoke, strands of dark hair fell across his face. "Last warning: who sent you?"
Raising my knee, I gave his bottom a hard kick. He immediately released my hands, and after a brief moment I struck him with my magic.
No matter how many times he tried to block my attack, I didn't stop. I continued to move, willing dark magic into my hands as I attacked him from different angles. At some point I grabbed the vase and smacked it against his head, smirking at the blood that fell. When I raised the chair, hurling it at him, he blocked the attack with his arm, splintering the chair into two.
"You know, I'm quite impressed. Never seen a witch strive this hard before they end up dead."
I back-flipped, stepping away from his strike. "I have studied and killed Lycans for years. I've learned their primary strengths and weaknesses. The witches you probably encountered are youngsters. Young witches are weak and pathetic."
"I take my words back." He smirked. "You're slow, weak, and I am solely playing along because I pity you."
"You pity a witch?" I was ridiculed.
His claws swiped through air as I shifted, appearing behind him. Without warning, I drove the blade through his back, knocking him down. He laughed darkly as he seized the blade.
"Are all Lycans this weak?" I stepped closer.
"Do all witches incinerate when they die?" he countered.
Anger spiraled across my face, and I growled at him.
"You cannot kill me," he said as he rose. "Your magic has little effect on me."
He took a step forward, pointing at the scars on his chest. "These scars are from witches who tried to prove they could kill one of the oldest Lycans for centuries."
He grabbed my arm. "You're not leaving this room after the little brawl you pulled."
I shoved him away. "You are right. I'm not leaving this room without your head."
Before I could strike, his claws unsheathed instantly, slashing across my stomach. I staggered backward, reaching to grab the wall as I fell. I felt his poisonous Lycan venom flood my blood, dizziness washing over me. I hissed, clutching my stomach in pain.
"Bastard!" I growled. "I'm going to fucking kill you."
I felt my eyes turn completely black as my lips pressed into a line. Dark veins protruded on my neck, face, and arms as I rose.
When I turned to him, a hiss left my lips. "Playtime is over."
Willing magic around me, he took a step backward as dark mist engulfed me. It swirled around me, blending my body into it until I turned into mist and into dozens of bat creatures. These were not normal bats but were witches' familiars. A single bat was the size of a small cat. In Blackheart, only certain witches were able to have familiars.
He took another step backward as we flew toward his direction. Claws and teeth sharp enough to break skin and cause serious damage, we prepared to strike.
A scream nearly shattered my throat as he grabbed and tore one of my familiars with his hands. We attacked him, clawing, biting, and striking with magic as we cornered him against the wall. He began to bleed heavily from the attack. Though he tried to defend himself, my familiars surrounded him entirely. When another bat fell, I slowly turned around to find the Prince behind me.
We hastily backed away, unwilling to risk having us killed. I slowly shifted back to my form.
When both males began to move toward me, shifting into their large forms, I thought of a plan to take both of them. I struck my magic against them as claws swiped my arm and chest. I collapsed to the ground. The King slowly shifted, crouching down. Before I could do anything, his hands enclosed my neck. I glared, struggling, as I was determined to save myself. I was not ready to fail this task. My hands slowly curled around the dagger I'd hidden beneath my arms. As I began to lift it, his eyes narrowed. He swiftly wrenched the dagger from my hand, driving it through my stomach. I screamed in pain.
Locks of curls covered half of my face as darkness slowly pulled me away from consciousness.
"What are we going to do with this witch?" Tristan asked.
Without a word, Maverick slid his hands behind me and lifted me into his arms. I tried to pull away, but with the dagger deep inside me I felt vulnerable.
"Get answers from her," were the last words I heard as the door opened and a bright, blinding light hit me. My eyes slowly fluttered closed, and I fell unconscious.