Amber blinked, her mind slow to process the instruction. She noted the shock and fear on the Hound’s strange face, saw the snarl of defiance that revealed the pointed, jagged teeth. She couldn’t kill him, even if she’d wanted to. Her fingertips itched. He was too strong, too fierce. He’d knocked her to one side with a casual sweep of his arm. In this castle, in the domain of the Blood-dimmed King, he was too much. She was outmatched. And she wasn’t a killer. She didn’t just kill on command. A sharp pain jabbed at the space behind her eyes.

Not that he was innocent, of course. He was anything but. The Hound was a murderer, a monster who obeyed the order to kill without question. This Hound in particular had been the one who’d attacked her on the street, who’d dragged Milo behind his bike. If anyone deserved to be killed, it was him.

But she couldn’t do it. He was bigger than her, stronger than …

No, wait. He wasn’t. Not anymore.

Amber stepped towards the Hound and the headache went away and her fingertips stopped itching. The Hound reached for her and she flinched, surprised to see her left hand encircling his wrist. Without knowing what to do next, she yanked, pulled the Hound off balance. She shoved him as he stumbled by her and launched him suddenly backwards.

She was stronger than him. She was much, much stronger.

The Hound roared and came at her and Amber turned her hands to claws. One swipe took the fingers of his right hand. Another tore through his clothes and flesh. He spun, staggered, clutching his arm to his side. His throat was right there, ready to be slashed, ready to be cut open like Grant’s throat had been cut open.

Amber stayed her hand and he reeled away from her.

The headache came back, driving needles into her brain. Her claws itched like crazy. She felt sick. She was going to puke. All that lovely warmth was now a distant memory. She was suddenly so cold. She started to shiver. There was a foul taste in her mouth. She wanted to spit, but she had no saliva. Her mouth was dry. Her belly roiled with acid.

She thrust her arm out and her claws glided into the Hound’s back, lacerated his heart from behind and now Amber was warm again, and when her magnificent claws swiped his head from his body she relaxed, breathing out and smiling. She didn’t see the Hound fall. Her eyes were on her reflection. She hadn’t thought it was possible, but she was now even more beautiful than ever.