A sob burst from her, and she buried her face in their soft, sweet-smelling fur. She cried for what she would lose today, and for what she’d already lost. Her parents and Peter, and the boy her brother had once been. She cried as she realized it was okay for her to live. To feel the emotions her loved ones couldn’t.

She hiccupped when she calmed and told the pups, “I miss my mom and dad so much, and if I could bring them back, I would. You’ve been given a second chance with yours, a brand-new story. I won’t stand in your way.”

As she wiped away their tears, she almost broke down again.

“Well, well. If it isn’t my little wife and her new pets.”

The hated voice drove her to her feet. Her gaze landed on Aleksander. He stood a few yards away, black-clad guards lined up behind him, blocking the door to the house.

Stay calm! A command for herself, and for the pups. Baden had taken precautions, had placed cameras throughout the realm. Surely Galen and Fox had—or would—spot the intrusion and sweep in to even the odds.

Biscuit and Gravy growled, and an answering growl rose from her. Maybe Katarina had disapproved of Baden’s methods for disposing of his enemies, but there were two things she’d always admired about him: he stood up for himself, and he never backed down.

I’m done cowering because of Alek and his threats. The only power he has over me is what I allow.

I am strong, and now I’ll prove it.

“How did you find me?” she demanded. “How did you get here?”

“Finding you wasn’t easy. I knew I had a wife, but couldn’t recall her name. Until Lucifer helped remind me.”

Bastard!

Alek stepped toward her, only to stop when the pups issued another warning.

Each of the guards—can’t be human, too big, too menacing—raised a big, angry-looking gun and aimed at the animals.

She placed Biscuit behind one of her legs and Gravy behind the other. Stay. “Don’t hurt them,” she shouted at Alek. “They’ve done nothing wrong.”

He grinned coldly at her. “But you have, haven’t you, princezná?” He didn’t wait for her reply, but added, “Because of your failure to pick the lock or find the key needed to free me, I had to promise the coin to Lucifer. In exchange, he’ll give me an army and a kingdom under his. I won’t be a king, merely a prince. Today is just a taste of my reign.”

Or he’d been tricked. “If Lucifer truly has such amazing power, why aren’t you a prince right this very second?”

A flicker of red in the depths of his eyes. “I have yet to reveal the coin’s location. I insisted on a visit with you before I fully align with him.”

No, there was more to it than that. Lucifer hadn’t liked Katarina’s refusal to bargain, and he wouldn’t want to risk her alliance with Hades. But given Baden’s bands, there was no way around that. Except through her death.

Why not send Alek to see to the deed, since he’d controlled her in the past, without giving the human/immortal hybrid what he wanted?

Is today the end for me? Even with her newfound strength, she couldn’t take on all these men. Not on her own.

Well. If she went down, she would take Alek with her.

—Bad people. Bad people die.—

The pups spoke into her mind, and the desire to fight bombarded her. Her gums and fingers began to burn.

Alek frowned, as if he sensed something about her had changed but he couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. “You,” Alek told her while taking another step in her direction, “will be my concubine, not my wife. I know you gave yourself to the redhead—”

“You told me to!” she couldn’t help but remind him.

His hands curled, reminding her of hammerheads. Was he imagining hitting her? “Therefore, you’re no longer worthy of bearing my name. I hereby disavow my claim to you.” He stretched out his arm and waved his fingers at her. “Now come.”

If she refused, would he murder the dogs?

Can’t let his actions affect mine. Won’t back down. Not again.

She had enough regrets in her past. No reason to add more.

“I’m not going with you, blázon.” Crazy man. She threw the words at him like daggers. “Not now, not ever. You disgusted me before the wedding, and you’ve disgusted me every day since. You’re a worm, destined to be food for others.”

His nostrils flared as he took another step forward. The pups pawed the ground—and they weren’t the only ones. Her foot slid over the grass of its own accord.

Growls sprang from every direction.

Gasping, she spun. Hounds were now perched all along the wall. They’d climbed? Jumped? The hairs on their backs were raised, creating lethal-looking spikes. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck were raised, as well. Their tails were uncoiled and sticking straight up, braided ropes hanging from the ends.

Fear radiated from the guards, their hands trembling.

“Hold,” Alek snapped.

In a situation like this, fear had the potential to take over, causing the guards to strike before orders were given.

“Don’t you dare shoot the animals,” she said with a tone sharp enough to draw blood.

Alek glared at her. “Or?”

—Attack?—

“Or I’ll tell them to rip you apart piece by piece.” Mmm. Piece by piece. The perfect buffet. She licked her lips at the thought, only to blanch. Eating an opponent would never be an option.

Pale as a ghost, Alek shouted, “Shoot them. Shoot all of them. No survivors.”

Oh, hell no!

“Attack!” she shouted, launching forward. Halfway, her fangs and claws sprouted fully. She wanted Alek’s throat in her mouth, and she wouldn’t stop until she had it.

Oh, goodie. Eating an opponent was an option.

The first gunshot boomed, many others following. Too many to count. But she wasn’t hit—no, she moved too swiftly, able to watch the bullets fly and easily dodge. The same must have been true for the hounds, who swarmed the yard, beating her to the men.

* * *

Blood. So much blood. A sea of it. A never-ending ocean.

Screams echoed in Katarina’s ears, despite the quiet that had descended over the yard. The bloodlust had left her only a few moments ago. Now she stood in place, her feet like boulders, her legs quaking. Carnage surrounded her.

Here, there, everywhere were severed limbs, heads and organs. The horde of hounds still gorged, chomping on the different body parts.