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They killed her.

I’m all alone.

And then a louder, more violent voice snarled, Kill them. Kill them all. Destroy them.

My hands burned hot, just like they had earlier in the forest. I lifted them, trembling, as I stared in horror at the gold light emanating from my palms.

And then, to my utter shock, the dark-skinned male collapsed with an anguished shout.

Six

THE WOLF

“Gods’ breath,” I whispered, my eyes darting to Reid. “Do you smell it?”

He frowned and inhaled deeply. Then, his eyes widened a fraction, his head snapping to me.

Wolven magic. The smell was unmistakable.

Before he could answer, the red-haired witch sank to her knees, sobbing. Magic erupted around her, twisting the air and filling the small cabin with the sharp aroma of Wolven energy.

Oh, shit.

Her hands glowed gold, and they began to shake. I moved toward her, but Tavik roared within me, overcome by such immense pain that it speared through my chest. I bellowed, my body jerking uncontrollably. Something intense sliced right through me, cleaving through flesh and bone as if Tavik was forcibly ripping himself from my chest. With a deep groan, I fell, my head slamming against the wooden floor.

“It’s her, it’s her,” Tavik chanted uncontrollably, his essence churning through me with violent intensity. “She’s mine. I’ve found her, she’s mine.”

“Alaric!” Reid shouted, his voice distant. I was writhing on the ground, back arched and arms rigid as I tried to escape this mind-numbing pain.

“It’s her, she’s here, I’ve found her!” Tavik cried. His voice rang through my mind, overpowering my other senses. I screamed, covering my ears with my hands in an attempt to block out his voice.

But it was in my body. My heart. My soul. I could not silence him.

And it felt like he was trying to break free, as if he could burst out of my chest.

“Tavik!” I tried to shout, but I couldn’t get through to him.

He seemed completely entranced. Like he was…

Under a spell.

Still covering my ears, I slid my gaze to where the witch had been moments ago.

She was gone.

“Reid!” I called out. “Find her! Stop her!”

Reid looked up, then scanned the area for the witch. “She’s still here. She went into one of the rooms.”

“It’s her, it’s her, it’s her,” Tavik continued to chant.

The sound of broken glass echoed from within the cabin.

“Stop… her,” I gasped, my head spinning as Tavik continued to thrash within me. “Reid, you must… stop her.”

With the older witch dead, the younger one was the only key to uncovering why the royal amulet was here. And she was the only one who could undo whatever spell she’d cast on Tavik. We could not let her escape.

“Alaric!” Reid protested, pressing his hand into my shoulder. “Tell me what’s wrong. What can I do? Did she strike you with her magic?”