Chapter 46

Looking down, her pulse stuttered at the sight of a dagger stabbing through her flesh, buried so deeply the hilt was almost flush, and she could feel the sharp edge grating against her rib bones. His aim had been flawless, the blade positioned perfectly between rib bones without puncturing anything vital, making her feel like a butterfly with its wings pinned. Through the connection to the plants, she knew the tip was sunk into the wood, effectively pinning her to the tree at her back.

Jerking her gaze up, she stared into bright, feverish eyes brimming with madness and glee. She reacted without thought, stopped trying to direct the power she’d gathered, instead just pushing it at him.

Electricity tingled from her skin. The man hissed, lips pulling back to reveal artificially whitened teeth, the crackling glow illuminating a face that would’ve been movie-star handsome if not for the anemic pallor and gauntness hollowing his cheeks.

Despite the visible pain it caused him, h