Everly~
Thaddeus held my small body against his, lowering his stance so he could lay several aggressive kisses upon my neck and I welcomed each one.
Every warrior in the crowd went wild, but Ronan remained stoic in his seat, his piercing eyes glued to me with a hint of confusion on his face as I allowed Thaddeus to assault my neck.
"Where will you take me?" I hummed, leaning into his body as I spoke.
I could see the chills that peppered his neck and shoulders at my sultry tone and his eyes closed for a brief second as if he were basking in the sound of my voice.
"Take you? Why would I deprive these men of such a beautiful sight?" Thaddeus said into my ear, stealing my breath in an instant.
My heart started to beat against my ribs as Thaddeus motioned for the small cup which was resting in my shaking hands. At first I thought he would allow me to drink it on my own, but instead he pulled it away from my grasp, wanting to feed it to me instead.
Pushing out a steady breath, I tried to control my wildly beating heart as I opened for him, allowing him to pour the elixir into my mouth. Another loud roar of applause from the crowd as soon as I swallowed the contents in one gulp.
"You're even more beautiful up close." Thaddeus said gruffly against the side of my neck as he waited for the elixir to take hold of me.
Remembering how the nymphs before me had reacted, I counted out the seconds in my head, knowing that the timing had to be believable.
With one hand wrapped around my waist, Thaddeus watched me with hungry eyes until I started to show signs of weakness.
I could feel the poison trying to take hold of my body, but it was denied and absorbed as if I had just had a glass of pure water. A precious secret that I kept all to myself.
Laboring my breathing, I started to let my head bobble and fall, a sight that excited Thaddeus and the rest of the onlooking warriors. Next I let my knees weaken as I pretended to stumble, clinging to Thaddeus' muscular forearm as if I needed the support.
He ate up the sight of me weak in his arms and held me steady, practically salivating as I pretended to lose control of my body. I whimpered and clung to him the way the other nymphs had, looking for strength in a state of weakness.
"Don't be afraid. I'll take good care of you." He crooned.
My performance was well received as my body went limp in his arms, barely able to stand on my own two feet.
With a malicious smile on his face, Thaddeus took hold of my throat, squeezing the sides gently in a display that caused the crowd to cheer.
"Fate." I muttered quietly as if I didn't have the energy to speak.
"Fate?" He asked, arching a brow at me in confusion.
"This must be fate. The God's design." I whispered in a hushed voice. "I know you."
Thaddeus smiled at my words, assuming it was drunken incoherent ramblings.
"Do you?" He asked with a smug smirk on his face, a look that I quickly remedied.
"Yes...You killed my mother."
Without so much as a second thought, my smile dropped and I crushed his windpipe without an ounce of effort.
Unable to process what was happening, Thaddeus gasped for air and clawed at his own throat, desperate for oxygen that I wouldn't allow.
I brought him down to one knee, tearing the ligaments that held his ankle and foot together.
With an unyielding hateful gaze, I watched as Thaddeus slowly started to realize that I was the one responsible for his torment.
Tilting my head slightly, I slowly snapped each of his ribs, causing him to gasp and howl as he threw his body to the ground in anguish.
Above him, I could see the horrified expressions of everyone in the arena, their terror evident in their lack of movement and gaping mouths.
Turning my attention back to Thaddeus, I punctured each lung and began sealing off certain arteries while splitting others open. It was a slow anguished death, but he deserved much worse.
As the powerful wraith died in the dirt, drowning in a pool of his own blood, I looked up at the crowd giving them the same unapologetic glare. Talon's face was twisted in horror as he stood and gripped the railings, but Kaes remained seated in a relaxed position with nothing but a proud grin on his face.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ronan hurdle the railings, barreling toward the arena floor, but I wasn't finished.
Looking down at Thaddeus, I took his sight next, wanting him to be lost in darkness and anguish until the very end.
"You deserve this." I growled as I lifted my hand, pantomiming holding his beating heart.
Several warriors had entered the arena and I knew my time was scarce. Making a tight fist, I pulverized what was left of Thaddeus' wretched heart and forced his veins to empty themselves onto the arena floor.
"Everly stop!"
Ronan's desperate voice was the last thing I heard before I was enveloped in black smoke, unable to move a muscle. Kaes lifted me into the air, immobilizing me in seconds as I fought to free myself.
"That's quite enough little one." Kaes purred.
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