Page 114 of Her Scandalous Pursuit

Smoke puffed up from the stone, and sparks danced in the air. Thisbe watched, frozen in place, as the wind caught the smoke and swirled it around the man, growing thicker and blacker. Darkness streaming to him from all directions, enveloping him in its sinister embrace.

“Go,” the voice rasped in her ear. “The Eye tears him apart.”

The swirling darkness drifted away, revealing a hellish scene: two dark figures struggling, outlined by the blaze of the falling sun.

“Save him. Your debt to pay.”

She tried to run, struggling for breath, her feet leaden, the cold penetrating every fiber of her being. She would never reach him in time.

“You must. You must. Yours for mine. Life for a life.”

A knife flashed. Thisbe screamed, throwing herself forward...

“THISBE? LOVE, WAKE UP.” Desmond’s arms were around her, lifting her and cradling her against his chest.

“Desmond!” Thisbe clung to him. “He killed you!”

“I’m not dead, love. I’m right here.”

She was racked by shivers, even with Desmond’s warmth all around her. “I know. But it was horrible. I was so scared.”

“None of it was real. There’s no need to be afraid any longer—the danger has passed.”

“No. It’s not over. I know it’s not over. I should have gone to the police, made them lock up those wicked men. They will try again—I know it.”

“Tell me what happened.” He smoothed his hand comfortingly over her back.

“He stabbed you.”

“Who stabbed me?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head and sat back to look at him. “I couldn’t tell. The sun was blinding—all I could see was your outline against the light. It could have been Wallace. Grieves? I don’t know. But I knew the other one was you. He had a knife and he stabbed you. I couldn’t reach you. I ran as hard as I can, but I couldn’t move. Oh, Desmond!”

She threw her arms around him again, her cheek against his chest, soaking in the warmth of his chest, the reassuring thump of his heart. He was here, and he was alive. There was still time to change it. “It’s the Eye. I’m certain of it. She said it’s tearing you apart.”

“Thisbe, look at me. I’m fine.”

“Yes, for now.” She slid out of his arms and returned with her traveling bag. “I know what I saw. I’m not insane.”

“Of course not.”

“She told me I must save you.” Thisbe was thinking well enough now that she held back the rest of Anne Ballew’s words. The idea of “a life for a life” would set Desmond against the idea. “It’s the Eye. It’s evil. There’s only one thing to do.” She dug through her clothes and pulled out the box. “I have to destroy it.”

“But your grandmother will be apoplectic.”

“I don’t care. I have to destroy it.” She fumbled with the fastening of the box and pulled it open.

The box was empty.

FOR A LONG MOMENT, they simply stared at the plush green velvet lining. Finally, unhelpfully, Thisbe said, “It’s gone.”

“But what—How—”

They looked at each other, the thought registering at the same time. “Carson!”

“He stole it!” Thisbe slammed the box shut. “No wonder he left quickly.”

Desmond cursed, swinging out of bed and beginning to dress in sharp, angry motions. “How could I have been so stupid? He was after it the whole time. That’s why he followed you. That’s why he was so eager to help.”