Allegiance (Causal Enchantment #3)(106)

Wraith intercepted, seizing two of their arms. I watched them crumble to the ground, their skin and bodies desiccated in seconds, the life gone from their eyes.

“Wraith!” I hissed. “Stand down!” Somehow I didn’t think they’d let him march forward and take each witch down, one by one. But he wasn’t listening to me, instead moving on to another witch nearby.

They proved my instincts right. A willowy blond witch ran for Caden’s arm, seizing it with white knuckles. “Don’t you see this one is important to her?” A broad knife appeared from out of nowhere, the tip pressing up against Caden’s chest. “I’ll skewer his heart right out of his chest and burn it if you take another step.”

A cold shiver radiated through me, swelling until my entire body was numb. She was appealing to Wraith’s sensitive side. Wraith had no sensitive side! He had only one side. One purpose. Death.

Caden was as good as dead.

I croaked, trying to get the useless plea out before Wraith killed again.

But he did something unexpected. He stopped of his own accord. Why would he? Realization hit me. His mission was to protect me from harm. Caden being killed would harm me. Wraith understood how important Caden was to me. His brain did process human emotions after all. I caught myself staring at him in shock.

“That’s right. You don’t want to break your girl’s heart, do you?” Imogen grinned wickedly, proud they had reins over Death himself, if only temporarily. Still, her grin only thinly veiled her terror.

Wraith scared the shit out of everyone.

17. Loop Hole—Sofie

My fingernails pierced the skin on my palms as I surveyed this latest disaster, struggling to peel my eyes from the unconscious body lying on a pile of broken cobblestones. My sister.

“I don’t know why this is such a difficult decision,” Ventus prodded. “We give you anything you want and we get what we want. Everyone wins.”

Air hissed through my clenched teeth. “What you want? Torture and misery? Get me back there this instant!” I would level each and every one of those witches on my own, I would burn every bitch in there, I would …

“You will lose your sister, your adopted child … everything,” Terra warned.

I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself. “I just need to tell you what I want?” My voice sounded weak, hollow, deflated.

Incendia grinned. “Nathan back, perhaps?”

I turned steely eyes on him. “I already have him, remember?”

He guffawed. “Not that abomination. The real Nathan. Back in your arms. No strings attached. No twists to your request, no counter to it. If you want Nathan, we can erase this entire mess and it will be like it never happened.”

Erase this entire mess. Like it never happened. Be happy and free again? Free to feel Nathan’s strong arms around my body once again … and what? I’d be back where I began, trying to find a way to turn myself. And what would erase mean? Never know Evangeline? Never love her? Never allow her the chance to know Caden? I regarded the Fates with an icy gaze. Would they erase all of this from my memory or torture me with it daily?

“I want two,” I suddenly blurted, my mind working quickly. “And I want them exactly as I ask for them. No perversions.”

They laughed casually. “You get one.”

I offered a spiteful smile in return. “I will take none, then.”

Incendia frowned. “We’ve already discussed this. Why would you do that? No … we have made the decision and you must take it.”

I folded my arms over my chest, making it clear that this negotiation would be on my terms. “You will give me two or I give you nothing and your balance be damned. Read my soul, you crazy-ass faeries. This ends here, one way or another.”

Incendia’s mouth twisted as he scrutinized me. Had anyone ever challenged him? He must’ve decided I was telling the truth. His gaze rolled over the others, a silent communication between them.

“Fine …” Narrowed slits regarded me. “However, there’s a catch.”

I studied him. “Oh? And what would that be?”

It was Incendia’s turn to smile spitefully at me. “You’ll know when the time comes.”

I snorted. “So I must agree blindly?”

“Take it, or leave it and your life be damned. You only have one life, remember.” Incendia’s hands sprawled over the pit of worlds. “We have many.”

“Yes,” Unda spoke. “I believe this is a fair compromise. I will second this.” The other two announced their agreement, Terra with a nod, as if goading me to accept this fair deal.

“So, my child …” Terra crooned. “What are your two requests?”

I felt a tiny bittersweet smile curl my lips.

18. Now or Never—Evangeline

Veronique moaned feebly. She wouldn’t last long and there was nothing I could do. Nothing anyone could do. And if she died? I swallowed back the terror. I couldn’t even think about it. Not for a millisecond. I glanced over to see Caden’s bound body fifteen feet away. If only I could somehow free him …

“Come here, girl,” Imogen purred, holding her hand out to me, her eyes boring into my skull. Wraith stepped forward to block me. “Let her come forward, or he dies,” the blond warned, waving her knife in reminder. I noticed her adjust her grip on the handle purposefully, ready to drive it through his breastbone.