A terrible vibration passed through him as he finally understood what she was trying to tell him. “You were the witch who killed my wife.”
More tears flowed down Maeve’s cheeks. Her skin was white as porcelain. “Laura was screaming and I could smell her burning flesh. Veyda said she planned to take Laura to the pyre and burn her slowly if I didn’t do it. I knew she would follow through on her threat. I couldn’t let her continue to torture the woman strapped down on the killing table. That’s all I knew. I couldn’t let the poison continue to eat away at her flesh causing more pain than either you or I could ever comprehend.”
Maeve shook her head back and forth. “Laura was so brave. So grateful. I had the knife in my hand. I lifted both hands high overhead, the way Veyda was positioned above Kiara’s when we entered the killing room. Only there was no one to rescue Laura. There was just me with the chance to save her hours of agony. I didn’t want to do it, Braden. But I could see through to the bones of her thighs and her pelvis, her ribs. There was blood everywhere. Her muscles were being liquified. That’s why I gave you a taste of it. I needed you to know why I took Laura’s life.”
He now had the clearest possible picture of the night his wife had died. He had the murderess in his sights. He’d been hunting for Maeve all this time, the woman who had wielded the blade that drove the last bit of life from Laura’s body.
As he watched her blow her nose, he shook his head. What horrible twist of fate had caused this thing to happen that he’d fallen in love with her?
The night he’d discovered Laura had died, he’d made himself a simple promise. He would have vengeance for those responsible for her death.
He moved swiftly, before she could do anything. He slid one arm around her waist and with his free hand, he caught her throat with his fingers. Fur sprouted, wolf claws formed. He sunk them in. She was bleeding at her throat before he’d formed the thought to take his revenge.
Braden. Just do it. End this torment for me. You have a right exact my life for hers.
The last thing he’d expected was for her to acquiesce to his judgment.
He eased up on his stranglehold. She coughed and sputtered, though he didn’t release her entirely.
She burst into tears again, but her voice was once more in his head.She was so good and kind. Afterward, she stayed in her spirit form and led me to safety, to Kiara. Why would she do that? I was part of the whole thing.
“What do you mean? Explain.”
She coughed a few more times then spoke aloud. “I was still drugged and exhausted from firing my killing power that night. The room was in flames. All the witches were gone. I didn’t know where I was or how to get out of there.
“Laura came to me in her ghost form and led me by the hand from the house. Veyda would have killed me otherwise. She took me to Kiara’s. I didn’t remember any of this until about a half hour ago. Braden, I wish I was dead. Why did this have to happen? To me? To her? To any of us? Oh, God, I wish I was dead.”
Braden felt a numbness invade his heart. Everything he’d just heard and experienced had forced him to relive Laura’s death all over again.
He did the only sensible thing he could think of. He took her in his arms and held her. He’d hurt her and he could feel the wet of her blood on his neck and throat. In his pain, in his rage, he’d hurt her.
Gone, however, was the tenderness he’d once felt for Maeve. She couldn’t relax against him either. She felt stiff in his arms and he sensed her feelings of worthlessness because she’d been Veyda’s instrument that night. She’d killed three women and one of them had been the kindest soul Braden had ever known. So kind, she’d returned in spirit form to lead Maeve to safety.
How much that sounded like the wife of his heart, the woman he’d shared his life with before and after thealtertransformation had ruined their human plans and dreams.
Eventually, he released Maeve. She stepped away then sank down to sit in a chair near the sink. It backed up to the wall.
He had to leave her now. He was more grateful than he could say that he hadn’t bonded with her. Maeve didn’t deserve death for her part in his wife’s murder, but he couldn’t stay with her either.
He levitated slowly up the stairs. He still had his hotel room. He thought it might be best to head there now, get some distance.
Yet as he used his warlock-senses and crossed the protective spell into the broad hallway, there was one thing he wanted to do before he left.
He headed to the right and down the hall that led to the Landing’s emergency services, the place he’d been brought while close to death.
He made a left before the E.R. and headed to Kiara’s room.
He found her sitting up. Because she bore a strange expression on her face, he asked, “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”
She gestured to her left.
Braden turned and felt his fur appear once more along his cheeks, neck and the backs of his hands. Standing behind the chair was Laura in spirit form. She wore her favorite blue jeans and a red tank top. She looked as beautiful as he remembered, with her long dark hair floating around her shoulders.
He immediately moved toward her, but she lifted her hand and he stopped. Her voice, more melodious than Maeve’s, was in his head.If you come closer, I’ll have to leave. It’s one of the rules. And I am including Kiara in this conversation.
What are you doing here?His heart swelled at the sight of her. All the love he’d ever felt for her rose to the surface of his mind, his body, and yes, his spirit too.
She smiled, her beautiful grin that had always squeezed his heart.Making sure you don’t do something idiotic. You must forgive her, my love. Maeve performed a tremendous service for me that night. My spirit had already gone to the other side. I won’t go into the pain I experienced, though I think it was smart of Maeve to let you feel the poison yourself. My life had run its course and she saved me from hours of agony. But what I need to say to you is that it wounded Maeve severely to take my life, as necessary as it was. Do you understand? It broke her mind and her heart. It will destroy her completely unless you help her through this.
