Citrine (Deliverance #3)

59. Preview of Diamond

59

Preview of Diamond

Kuret

The roar of rage that fueled me becomes a focused hiss as I slow down long enough to lace my hand through his hair so that I can have a proper hold on him.

His arms flail out uselessly in front of his body, but he can only make a wet, gurgling sound when I hit him directly onto the ground, pushing his neck a little too far to the side as I make sure he sees who will punish him.

The sick cracking sound feeds my rage, but it is not enough. Getting on one knee, I pull my dagger out of my boot and drive it into his chest, letting the entire blade disappear into him before dragging it straight across his long torso.

The look of surprise fixed on his face brings a small amount of pleasure, but it is not enough. This male must suffer.

I will make sure of it.

My hand moves faster than my brain as I butcher the male, his dirt-colored blood spraying on my face and body.

Every blow carries a sufficient amount of my built-up rage because things like him do not deserve a single part of them to be looked upon with a single shred of dignity.

I don't realize when my second knee comes down until it makes his head roll off.

Then I stand triumphantly in front of the carcass of the fool I have just butchered, like a common animal covered in his blood, wishing I could bring him back to life just so that I can do it again.

His severed head squishes in my grip as I pick it up and drive my bloodied dagger into one of its shocked eyes. A barking cry leaves my lips when I drag the blade out and push it into his second eye.

I throw the head far away from me and scream again. It is a cry of victory. I have carried out my mission and protected the human like I said I would.

I look down at the pieces of his bloodied body. Every piece for a female he has taken advantage of because predators like him don't just wake up one day and start to hurt the very ones they are supposed to protect.

My hearts are thumping in my ears and, for a moment, it almost resembles the cheers of other warriors. The greatest honor in a man's life is defending a female or someone weaker against a predator, and I have done so.

I can hear Samke's playful laughter, telling me how I cannot escape the donor ceremony now because all the females will be flocking my way, hoping to make a titled warrior their donor.

Speaking of females, I recall the reason I came here in the first place. To rescue the human.

I look down to see her trying earnestly to get away from me by dragging her rear against the ground. Her face is a ghostly mask of fear, as all the color is washed away from it, her bottom lip quivering and tears falling from her beautiful eyes.

Her soft body bearing wounds that mar the perfection of her form, testament to my mistake of believing she was safe.

I turn swiftly to check if there is something else behind me or if the male has magically risen from the dead, but there is nothing there.

Her fully white eyes are wide when I attempt to take a step forward and she scurries farther away from me, further confirming my suspicions.

I don't know what I might have done wrong, and it sits deep in the pit of my stomach that I may have just upset a female for no reason. I take another step and hold out my hand to help her up.

She shrieks and collapses to the ground, her white hair forming a pool that covers her face.

I reach out a hand to reassure her. "He can't hurt you now."

She grunts, wincing in pain, as she tries to speak. "N-no, please."

I stand still and stare at her, unsure of what to do.