Her arms are up above her head as she stares at the sky. Power ripples around her, a shimmering force field that looks like heat rising from the road on a hot day. She lowers her hands and looks at the last man, tilting her head and lowering her hands.
The grass and trees nearest to her toss around, as if a strong wind is thrashing around her. Even though her hair and gown get caught in it, she keeps her calm expression, and a whole new kind of fear slams into my guts.
Sadie. No.
She flicks her hand at the remaining man, almost casually. He screams as he flies through the air, and I hear his body crash somewhere behind us in the woods. I can still detect signs of life from them, so they might not be dead, but they sure as hell aren’t getting up any time soon.
I draw my eyes back to Sadie, and the look of guilt on her face is unmistakable.
She knew about this! Has she been lying to me this whole time?
Without meaning to, I take a step back, fear and betrayal raging inside me. I shake my head slightly, not taking my eyes off hers.
The strange feeling in the air begins to settle down, and I know she’s calling her magic. There is a weird taste in the air, as if lightning struck nearby, and I recognize it.
I felt this when we did the ritual. She used magic in the ritual—and lied to me about it.
“Rhys,” she whispers, her face crumpling with sorrow and regret.
I shake my head again, shock keeping me frozen in place.
Just as I’m about to gather my wits and demand answers from her, she turns and runs into the woods. I try to chase her down, but I can’t shift, and in my human shape, I can’t keep up with her or track her.
She has magic on her side now. Even if I had my wolf, I might not be able to find her.
I keep running a few more miles, hoping to pick up some sign, but eventually I have to admit all I’m doing is exhausting myself. It’s already going to take me hours to get back to the car.
Besides, even if I find her, I don’t know if I want to kiss her… or kill her.
***
The long walk back does nothing to clarify my thoughts. I stop by the hut to collect my keys and phone, jogging the short distance back to the Viper.
Might not be shifter-strong, but I’m still fit at least.
My phone is dead, so I plug it into the car charger and sit for a few minutes with the engine running with no clue what to do next.
I don’t have to worry about Cassie. Jean will have her, and that’s the best place for her to be. It would be easy to find Sadie with the help of the pack, but I can’t tell them any of this.
Suddenly, my phone goes crazy as it reconnects. All the texts come in at once. I snatch it up, and I don’t even need to open it—the preview bar tells me everything I need to know.
Boys from my pack reported Sadie as a witch—this is serious, Rhys. Call me.From Owen.
Sadie has been taken to the council for trial, from Shane.You'd better get over there quick.
I throw the car into gear and burn rubber out of the lot, heading for the manor.
Chapter 20 - Sadie
Running through the forest, there is nothing inside me except alarm bells of panic ringing through my every cell. My blood runs hot with electric fire, and my skin practically crackles with power.
Even though it’s a dark, moonless night, I can see well, and this only spooks me more. As I run, I don’t trip or slide, and the branches of the trees seem to make way for me as I run from Rhys as fast as I can.
I don’t know what I’m doing, or where I’m going!
Through the frenzied fog of panic, only one thought comes clearly—that I want to get back to my daughter as quickly as possible. I don’t know what Rhys will do to me if he catches me, and the only thing I can think of is to get back to Cassie and keep running.
I don’t want to run. I want to believe that Rhys will listen to me… but that look on his face was pure loathing, with a heavy dose of fear.
