Free Follow the Bloodshed (The Executioner Trilogy Book 3) by Kindra Sowder Page B

just one thing as we spoke. Of course, I was much more brazen on this side of the shield. She had a few scratches on her from trying to punch her way into our safe haven, but they were healing up quickly and were already nearly gone. There were even a few singed patches of skin where her skin had impacted with the barrier.
    A chill ran up my spine as I looked into her crimson eyes. I was so happy I didn’t have to look away this time. I could show her just how brave I really was now that I didn’t have a reason to be scared of her. Well, I didn’t yet. She took her finger and grazed it along the barrier, blue sparks flying towards her causing a slight shimmer in the energies surrounding us and burning the very tip of her finger. The barrier was doing its job, just not well enough.  My hand hadn’t left Gordon’s since inside the house and I wasn’t planning on it happening for any reason. We were stronger together so I knew we could handle her is she someone made it inside.
    “My dear, you look so pale.” Stating the obvious. “I see you made it through Hell rather fine. If not even better than before.” She then turned to Gordon, a rather large and sly grin on her face. “And your demon lover. I hope there are no hard feelings.”
    When neither one of us said a word she began to shake her head, making that sound of disapproval you’d make when a child wasn’t being polite. It was like a tsk-tsk and nothing more. Now there was a new emotion broiling in my gut. Mixing with the fear was anger, and it was causing my blood to simmer and the beast to become vocal inside of me. Now I had a question for her and it was one I knew would make a nice and large hole in her ego.
    “Lilith?” I asked, tilting my head just marginally in an inquisitive way. She pulled her hand away from the barrier and watched the tip of her finger sizzling, healing within seconds on the spot. She was impressed by its power. There was no doubt about that.
    I felt Beth and Chase crossing the yard now and coming to our position, guns in hand and aimed directly at Lilith’s chest even though I knew she didn’t pose a threat to us at the moment. I could feel the terror running through both of them on my skin, causing goose bumps to form and spread over me. They were about to see my at my most brazen because, under no other circumstances, would I ever bring this up if it wasn’t sure of the barrier between us. She turned to me, a question in her eyes that she was unwilling to utter aloud. Sam’s pure and utter terror was palpable, and I felt for her in that instant, for I was feeling the exact same thing underneath the faked confidence. I took that as my cue to ask.
    I let a smile spread over my lips as I asked her “What did it feel like?” Now she was curious as to what the rest of the question was that she had to speak. It wasn’t in her to remain quiet, and I was baiting her. She could tell. I could see it in her eyes.
    “What did what feel like, Executioner?” she hissed in response. The smile on my face was so wide now I felt like an idiot standing there, but I couldn’t let the opportunity pass me by. She needed to know I was seemingly no longer afraid of her even though I was terrified. If I didn’t put up the front, she would think she owned me.
    “What did it feel like when I killed you?” I let the question hang in the air for a moment. Lilith’s eyes drifted to me and she was staring at me through narrowed slits. Had I made the wrong move? I didn’t think so, but if it was it was too late now to do anything about it. The look on her face made me want to run for cover, but I stood my ground. I could feel Gordon’s arm shaking as he held my hand. He was terrified. So was I, but I wanted to hide it from her. I had a feeling I was doing pretty well regardless of how much I was trembling inside. The beast wasn’t nearly as shaken, actually wasn’t at all. I could feel it inside of my body growling in protest at her crimson