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Blair fanned to the side, building a wall ofeapons

"Stand down This is mine Do not move" My voice echoed with authority The men fell silent

Lynx smiled "A woman with power I like it" He stroked thehis

My stoht to touch hiun Give hiet to Q, I had to win I had to take not ask

"You like power? You have none Take a look You’re outnuun trained on your heart and your threats ht let you die cleanly"

"I told you I’d come for you, Tess Never doubt how much I love you" Q’s voice echoed in htinto the darkest part ofthis for you

A moment spread like an eternity Finally Lynx reaze glinted, lips pulling back against crooked teeth "What’s your nager "Why?"

He cricked his neck, the gun steady in his hands "Because I’d like to know the nahter I’ll ht while I rape a wo she’s you"

The vile sentence didn’t affect"My na it You’ll be whihed "Come closer and we’ll see" His red shoes inched towardus closer to the final conclusion

"Tess! Don’t" Franco’s voice rang around the space I ignored him

"Do you knohat I am?" I whispered

Lynx’s nostrils flared "What you are? You’re nothing but a--" He shook his head "Wait, no…I see it--you’re…"

"I’ht and beca else existed inside No residual issues of kidnapping, death, or pain Nothing but peace

I controlled ht now And ether I would wear his blood as I descended into the underworld

"You ask if I see what you are I do" His dery to smooth "You’re not worthy of death, Tess Snow Your previous owner is dead I claim you as aze slithered over ht I’ve searched all my life for a wo distance Shooting distance

"A woman like me?"

"A woh to survive anything because she no longer feels anything" His ar his fantasy--that he could win hed

Everyone froze--the dungeon pulsed as I slipped froun

I’d never felt more clear More powerful He’s already dead I kne I’d do it "You want to ownover the tiles toward Lynx

"Tess--co--stop it"

The awareness betweeneveryone out I didn’t look at Q or pay attention to Franco I was single-e I’d won

Lynx s with interest "Yes Stand by my side I would be proud to keep you You’d haveas you stayed this cold" His accent danced with sensuality, dragging me closer toward him Idiot Buffoon

"You want to own my body But what aboutanymore Such a short space A killable space

His pistol lowered, hypnotised by his own illusion "I want to own all of you Give it to me and I’ll treat you better than he ever did"

He Q My heart launched out ofto my dead master My skin was sleet and snow, but it was al for you I noticed everything as if I’d stepped outside ly clear

One nethe sweetest poison of my soul Iup through lowered lashes The roonant with tension--it was soup--unstrained syrup

Lynx was bewitched "Doubt I can what?" He leaned forward, eyes latching onto my lips

"Treattoward ed on the poison I fed "I’ll accept your ter"

His lips hovered a fraction aboveover one eye "Ask what I want in return Then I’ll give you all that I a "You’re too bold But I’ll do it--one request, then no nored the insects crawling beneath his touch Soon It would be over…soon "What do you want?"

My eyes rested on Q His wonderful body, his gorgeous features I fanned the love in th On barely a whisper, I said, "You can’t givefro ive it to ainst his cock I fired

A second

That’s all it took

The bullet tore through soft inti hi upward but I was ready I shot his hand Blood filled the wound, spilling with a steady trickle The weapon skittered away like a scared ani into a corner of the roo his bloody trousers, incorabhiony wash overthe life-paint, s ooze was a hard-won trophy I swelled with retribution

I did this for you, Q I’ve avenged you

"Help--so a hand over histo the rage ot wet as I kneeled by his head I didn’t care his blood soaked throughme in horror All I cared about was the last words I wanted to say To him To the traffickers who’d takenin his ear, "My naer weak or afraid or broken I’ve taken control of els or help I a that was done to me I take it for the women you’ve raped I take it for the women you’ve sold I take it for mythe gun against his forehead, I locked eyes with his chaotic gaze He begged me silently He pleaded wordlessly And no coer Sulphur Bullet

He was dead

No one racefully fro over the soulless corpse I was a phoenix glowing bright with power I took back everything that’d been stolen

I didn’t find the old Tess She was gone But in her place stood a new Tess A woer feared I’d looked evil in the eye and won I’d been reborn in blood

Franco shuffled forward, gently prying un "Tess--are you okay?"