Oh, fuck. Odelia warned me that my magic would be erratic; I just didn’t expect that to happen so soon. After all, I’m currently a week pregnant—I haven’t felt any other symptoms of pregnancy, so I hadn’t assumed I would run into magical problems just yet.Shit, shit, shit.
There aren’t any patrolling guards in sight, which means it’s up to me to figure a way out of this. My eyes flick to the forest, towards the direction of the castle. Though I can’t see it, I know where it lies. Even in my frazzled state earlier, I didn’t allow myself to lose my senseof direction—growing up in and around forests has given me a good internal compass.Maybe if I make a break for it, I can outrun them?
It’s worth a shot, and my only option without the cooperation of my magic. I launch into a sprint to the left of where the rogues stand, going as fast as I possibly can. I hear the rogues giving chase behind me as Iliterallyrun for my life, fueled by fear and determination like I’ve never felt before. I only manage a couple of steps into the forest before a pair of thick, dirty arms close around my waist and slam me face-first against the trunk of the nearest tree, dazing me.
Despite that, I struggle with all of my might, trying to dislodge whoever grabbed me, kicking and elbowing, even throwing my head back to try to head-butt whichever one of them grabbed me. None of it works, and no matter how many times I call upon my fire, it doesn’t come.
The shifter holding me spins me around and slams me against the trunk of the tree again. My head bounces off the wood, and a wave of terrible dizziness washes over me, blurring my vision. I blink several times to clear it, identifying my assailant as Dark Hair, who strikes me as the most dangerous of the three. He grins down at me, baring a row of yellow teeth.
“What should I do with you now?” he asks, wrapping a filthy hand around my throat to pin me in place.
I glimpse the two others standing behind him, exchanging looks of excitement. I don’t want to find out what these rogues will do to me because if Claire’s story is indicative of anything, it’ll go something along the lines of rape and then murder. Especially if they already view me hostilely for my connection with the witches, and for being a witch myself.
“Let me go,” I manage to say, clutching at the hand holding my throat. “If you release me, you’ll be rich men until the end of yourdays.” That much is probably true—I imagine I could fetch a very handsome price. There’s little Camden wouldn’t do to ensure my safety, especially now that I carry his heir.
The shifter shakes his head. “I don’t think so. I don’t care about money but what Idocare about is some earthly witch inviting the enemy to us. You know how hard it is to survive on our own? It’ll only get worse if there are witches around and witches likeyouin the castle.”
He inhales deeply, nostrils flaring, and then goes still. Ice-cold fear washes over me as his eyes slowly travel down to my stomach, and I realize he just scented my pregnancy. The new gleam of excitement in his eyes confirms it.
“Well, now, looks like we’ve got ourselvestworoyals here,” he sneers, bringing his free hand down to rest on top of my stomach. His expression morphs into one drenched with anger, teeth bared as his hand digs into the flesh of my torso. “You think you can bringanotherabomination into this world? A fuckin’hybrid?”
I kick out, trying to dislodge him, desperation to get out of here overwhelming me. The only effect that has is for the shifter to shift his stance forward, using his entire body to pin me tightly to the wood at my back. Again, I call to my fire, and again, nothing happens. Tears spark in my eyes as I wriggle and struggle to no avail.
“I don’t think so,” Dark Hair says, just as I feel the nails digging into my stomach lengthen into claws.
My eyes widen with terror and I let out a scream as those claws puncture my flesh, digging deep inside of me, sending stabs of agonizing, burning pain all throughout my midsection. He twists his hand, and Ifeelhis claws slicing through my internal organs like they’re butter. The agony spreads through my entire body, robbing me ofbreath and making me panic like I never have before.He’s trying to cut the fetus right out of me.
Black firesburstsfrom me, breaking the barrier of my skin and traveling to Dark Hair with lightning speed, but I fear it’s too little too late. In a matter of seconds, it consumes him entirely, leaving nothing in his wake. I drop to my knees with another cry of agony, my vision swimming as blood pours from my stomach, creating a dark puddle in front of me.
The two remaining shifters exchange looks of absolute shock, before taking off running away from me in opposite directions. The bald one disappears through a thick collection of greenery, but blondie isn’t quite so fast. Fueled by pain andso muchrage, anger like I’ve never felt before, I use the last of my remaining strength to hold out my hand and direct my fire to the blonde before he can make it out of my line of sight. My black flame scorches a path along the forest ground, traveling much faster than the rogue can. It creates a deafening racket, crackling and hissing and popping as it rages.
He lets out a yell of pain as the fire reaches him, licking at his heels before climbing up his legs, circling around his waist, and then enveloping him fully in a golden-black shroud. When my fire subsides, he’s gone.
Overwhelming weakness washes over me, either a result of my substantial wound or the amount of power I exerted. I slump to my side, my breathing shallow, and watch as black dots start to float around my vision. Those dots grow in size, as does my dizziness. Dimly, I hear yells in the distance but don’t have the presence of mind to call out or even move. I don’t know who’s approaching, and at this point, I don’t care. There’s no way the life inside of me survived that mauling. Ifailedto protect it.
That’s my last thought before the black dots take over entirely, pulling me into a sea of darkness.
Chapter Forty-Five
When I awaken again, it’s to a foggy mind and full-body ache, along with a horrible sensation of nausea crawling up my throat. There’s a cramp low in my stomach, pulsing and insistent. I swallow down the bile several times before attempting to crack open my eyes. The process is a struggle; it feels like thirty-pound weights have been attached to my eyelids. When I finally manage to open them, light blinds me, forcing me to blink repeatedly while I adjust.
I feel worse than I have…ever. The witches, the treaty, finding out I’mpregnant,and running into roguesright after resolving to protect the pregnancyflash through my mind.
Once my vision adjusts and the worst of the blurriness has abated, I let my eyes travel over my surroundings. I’m in Camden’s room. With great effort, I force myself into a sitting position, feeling like all the energy has been siphoned from me. Tears gather in my eyes as I move an arm—it feels made of rubber—down to my stomach. I lift the nightshirt I’m wearing and see that the only evidence of the dissection I got via shifter claws are faint pink scratch marks. A deep sadness grips me, an abysmal depression that feels like it drags me down with every breath. That sadness is replaced by anxiety when the door to the roomopens and Camden steps inside. He has dark circles under his eyes and his hair is disheveled.
“You’re awake,” he looks at me, eyebrows creased.
“I am,” I croak out and then, because there’s only one thing on my mind, I ask, “The baby…did it survive the attack?” I suspect the answer, but I need confirmation.
Camden’s eyes widen as he stares at me, making me recall that I hadn’t yet told him I knew about the pregnancy, about his successful scheme to entrap me.
“Youknew?” His voice is laced with shock.
That doesn’t seem like the greatest concern at the moment; it certainly isn’t the most pressing in my mind. Irritation renews within me, but it’s overshadowed by a need to have my question answered. “Yes, the witches sensed the pregnancy and informed me. Something neither you nor anyone in this godsforsaken castle had the grace to do.Did my baby survive?”
“No,” he snaps, his voice dripping with anger. “Claude expended half his power healing you, but no, the wounds were too severe and the child was lost.” His eyes bore into me, filled with an anger I’ve never seen before. “You knew about the pregnancy, and youleft the warded grounds?Was that your plan all along, to get rid ofour child?”
I gape at him, shock filling me. He thinks…he thinks Iwantedto get rid of it? I was given the opportunity and I chose toprotectit! Following my shock comes a rage so consuming that my vision goes red and my body starts to tremble.
