Seeing her caused that rumbling beneath my feet again. As if the very mountains we’re standing between are going to shatter into a massive pile of rock if she leaves me again. All afternoon, my nose has been filled with her, and anticipation of seeing her again nearly had me dragging everyone here hours ago.
She’swho they’re looking at?
This has to be some sick joke. Letting the witch from earlier go wasn’t my best idea, but learning my sneak isthewitch I need… That I was inches away from CarinafuckingHargrove and could have snatched her right then and there and been done with this shit.
Morgan steps in front of Carina, her obnoxiously worn cloak swirling between us, reminding me too much of the one who cursed my father last night. “Mydaughter? What makes you think you have any right to ask for her?”
The coven moves forward as one, hands positioning to defend. Behind me, the others, all in wolf form, also near. A fist in the air commands them to stop. Everyone in the clearing, witches included, seems to obey my instruction.
Everyone but the male beside Carina, who takes her by the waist and tucks her slightly behind him.
My glare narrows where his hands touch her. My vision shifts, sharpening at the—thethreat…as curious as that is.
Morgan incorrectly assumes my partial shift is in reaction to the rest of them and magick lights up her hands. “Try it,” she challenges. “Give me a reason to attack.”
“I won’t hurt her.” This I direct to Carina, aware it’s a partial lie.Iwon’t harm her, but what the other coven will do is unknown.
Morgan shakes her head, the magick still lit. “No one from Highridge can be requested.”
“The accords specify demanding one of your deaths is forbidden. Anything else is free game.”
She purses her lips, knowing I’m correct, but she doesn’t like it. “Why her?”
Before leaving camp, Marissa and Amos considered telling Morgan the truth. Whatever’s going on is a spat between the covens and the sooner we get out of it, the better. But explaining to Morgan opens up the chance for her to deny helping—andby extension, keep Carina from me. Dad’s life isn’t worth that wager.
“I vow that neither I nor anyone of my kind will bring harm to her. Explaining my reasoning also isn’t part of the accords.”
“You will when you want tostealone of us!”
“It’s not stealing when it’s a gift.”
Morgan flicks her fingers between us, casting a small blast that causes dirt to jump and a hole about the size of my fist to form. “That’s a warning. It’ll be a whole lot bigger and deeper if you take another fucking step. I’ll bury you alive if you eventhinkabout my daughter.”
Given the past few hours, she better make that hole pretty damn deep.
“Say the words.” I lift my fist into the air. “Ten seconds to hand over Carina, or I’ll give the order. Ready to sacrifice this many lives over one?”
Morgan’s jaw tenses. Her mouth opens, presumably with her next argument, but movement from beside her brings everyone, including myself, to a halt. Carina steps out from behind the male with a pat to his arm and walks until she’s between me and her mother. Her back’s to me and the pack—thus the unknown and danger. Her actions are irritatingly reckless, but I tamp down the wolf who’s anxious to train her in defence and lower my fist.
Morgan reaches for her. “Carina, what in Goddess’s name are you doing? Get back.”
“No.” Her voice, clear and more self-assured than our first meeting, rings over both sides. “I’ll go with him.”
You will?
My wolf makes another noise.Take.
Morgan, ignoring Carina’s statement, whirls until her back is to me instead, placing Carina between me and the warlock, whose glare hasn’t moved off me. “What are you doing?” Shespeaks low. “Are you insane? Let me figure this out before you go offering yourself up.”
“Might I remind you all that failure to uphold the accords makes the agreement null. Then you’ll be chased off this territory, or you’ll fight and it’ll be war. Make the smart choice.”
Carina pales a bit, but her dirty look is anything but meek and submissive.
Challenge fucking accepted.
Morgan huffs and magick lights up her palms again, quelled when Carina reaches out. “Mom,” she hisses. “Stop. I’ll go with them.”
“Get behind us. I don’t care if this ends in a fight. You willnotbe going with these animals.”
