Page 108 of Havoc's Fox

“You are. No new start should be poisoned with the remnants of your last. Go. See to your daughter, to your mate. I give you my word this will never be a problem again.”

Havoc looked down at the woman sobbing on the ground, looking frantically from Tempest to himself and back again. “I hate you, so fucking much. You are the entire reason everything around you goes to shit. You’re worthless.” He turned and walked away.

“No! Wait!! Don’t let her kill me!”

Havoc ignored her as he walked away, but the idea of what was about to happen was still tugging at his conscience.

“You can’t kill me! They’ll find my body! They’ll know what happened! They’ll find you, you’ll pay for this!” Marie-Claire shouted between sobs.

Havoc stopped and turned back to Tempest and Marie-Claire.

Tempest was kneeling over Marie-Claire who’d begun to scream again.

“Can you make it quick?”

Tempest looked back at Havoc questioningly. “A soft heart after all?” she asked.

Havoc shook his head. “No, but she’s right about one thing. I am better than she is. I’m ready to be done with the whole damn thing, her included. She will never hurt my child again, but neither will I have to feel responsible for anything she endures. Not even this.”

Tempest smiled at Havoc and gave him a single nod.

He turned and walked away, leaving Marie-Claire to her fate. He’d asked Tempest for mercy on her behalf, that was the only part he’d have in it. He hated her, he truly did. But that was something he’d have to face his maker about, just like Marie-Claire would have to face hers for all her own personal issues.

Tempest looked down at Marie-Claire lying on the ground in front her, trying in vain to crawl away from her. “Here’s a bit of truth for you. He’s a much better person, than I am, too. I would have shown you no mercy. You don’t fuck with kids and get away with it. I think maybe he’s asked for mercy for you so he can honestly tell his daughter later that whatever happened to you, it was peaceful.”

Marie-Claire was moving only inches at a time as she ignored Tempest’s voice.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“You go straight to hell!” Marie-Claire shouted.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Tempest said, shoving her hand into Marie-Claire’s chest, causing everything around them to glow a soft light green as mists and winds of the same color began to swirl. Marie-Claire’s body tensed, then fell back prone onto the ground.

“Tempest?” Brandt said from behind her, he and Barron having just located her seconds before.

Tempest remained as she was until the slight green shimmers began to die down along with the winds. She stood and flicked her fingers at the body that once belonged to Marie-Claire, and watched as it faded away. “Tell Ata’Halne I said hello,” she said softly.

“Tempest?” Brandt said again, a little louder this time.

Tempest turned quickly at the sound of her name and smiled brightly at Brandt. “Hello, my love.”

Brandt moved toward her, his arms open for her.

She walked into his embrace and closed her eyes as she let all the stress leave her.

“Who’s Ata’Halne?” Barron asked.

“The Dark One, of course.”

“Of course,” Barron said, looking uncertainly at Brandt.

“You alright?” Brandt asked.

“Just need a little time to calm the storm inside me. I might have let a little too much of the elemental side have free rein for a few moments, there.”

“It’s alright. I’m here. I’ll hold you steady,” Brandt said, holding her tightly in his embrace.

Tempest nodded and released a deep measured breath.