by Cynthia Eden
But Elliott just gave him a cold smile. “You know mates can’t be separated.”
Now Carmichael laughed. “He hasn’t fucked her yet. You think I would have missed that? The mating isn’t permanent. When it is, both of their scents will damn well change. The mating won’t be permanent, not until he takes her. So you still have time.” Not much time, judging by the way his big bastard of a brother had reacted in that throne room. But the mistake could still be corrected.
Because there was no way Griffin got to have a mate. He didn’t get a shot at happiness. That ending wasn’t in the cards for him.
It’s not in the cards for either of us.
“Kill the witch,” he spat. “Save my brother some misery now.”
Overhead, a raven gave a loud cry.
“For the time being,” Elliott took an aggressive step forward, “Valerie Storm is under Griffin’s protection. That means no one here will hurt—”
Carmichael couldn’t control his laughter. “Valerie? That was Valerie Storm?” Yes, he’d heard about her. Who hadn’t?
He just hadn’t expected the most cursed witch to ever walk the earth to be so sexy. So much for Griffin’s happy ending. There was no way he’d find happiness with a woman like Valerie. “The fool is digging his own grave.” Perfect. All he had to do was sit back and watch the show.
Soon enough, he’d be the one sitting in that throne.
And when he did, Valerie Storm would be long gone.
***
“Kill the witch.” The words echoed in Rio’s head. He’d followed the others…mostly because he’d never liked Carmichael Bastien. Never trusted the jerk. What most shifters didn’t get…even though Rio couldn’t shift, he still had all of his shifter strengths. And his sense of hearing was absolutely incredible.
So he easily overheard the conversation. And Carmichael’s angry snarl.
Rio’s body tensed. He needed to get back to Valerie. To warn her of this threat.
Edgar gave a loud cry. The raven was obviously upset, too. Rio started running back for the castle. He lifted his arm, and the raven flew down, coming straight to him.
He was starting to like that bird.
And he definitely liked Valerie. No one was going to hurt her. Not on his watch.
Chapter Eight
The sun was particularly bright. The sky was overly blue. She could hear laughter coming from the town. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits.
What an absolutely miserable day.
Valerie hunched her shoulders as she trudged forward. Griffin was attending to some lame ass business with his shifters. Business that she had not been invited to attend. All of the townspeople were avoiding eye contact with her. And she—hell, she was twisted up inside.
Why was she twisted? Because of one arrogant shifter.
Valerie knew his game. He was trying not to fuck her. Because if he fucked her, they’d be mated forever. Edgar had been so helpful to tell her that wonderful bit of information.
She paused her angry walk and glanced up, squinting against the too bright sun. Where was Edgar?
Frustration twisted in her gut. She didn’t want to stay in shifter land forever. She didn’t want to stay with Griffin, either. The guy was constantly threatening punishments, and she didn’t think they’d be the sexy kind. So why, why did she keep thinking about him? What in the hell was wrong with her?
And why did she have the stupid thought of…what if…?
“Valerie!”
Her head jerked to the left. Rio burst from a line of trees. His face was flushed a dark red as he charged toward her.
Edgar appeared to be clinging to his arm.
She put her hands on her hips. “What are you doing? Slow down.” She would not admit she was relieved to see her henchman. Maybe she’d been a little lonely. Only because everyone acted as if she were some kind of horrible, demonic person.
Oh, wait. Right.
“Kill you!” Rio shouted. “He wants to kill you!”
Now she stiffened. What was Rio raging about? Who’d joined the long line of fools who wrongly believed they could end her very long life?
And then she heard it. Because—contrary to what shifters might think—she also had enhanced hearing. A gift she’d given herself long ago. Enhanced hearing. Enhanced sight. Senses strong enough to rival a shifter’s. So she heard the rush of wind that didn’t belong. She turned toward the sound, just in time to see an arrow hurtling toward her.
She could hear as well as a shifter. She could see as well as a shifter. But she couldn’t move as fast as a shifter. She tried to lunge to the side, but she knew that arrow was going to hit—
Rio slammed into her.
Screams filled the air. Desperate shouts.
All of the air had been driven from Valerie’s lungs from the force of Rio’s tackle. She pushed against his shoulders, but he didn’t move. Rio was heavy against her. She heaved and pushed. “Rio, the danger is past!” He’d saved her, just like the best henchman ever, and he could get up now.
Only…he wasn’t.
If anything, he seemed to be a dead weight on top of her.
No. No. No!
“Valerie!” Her name again. A thunderous bellow this time. And then Rio was being pulled off her. Griffin stared down at her, his expression tight with—fear? “Are you hurt?” he demanded.
No, she wasn’t.
Griffin tried to grab her, but she shoved his hands away and desperately reached for Rio.
The arrow had gone through his back. It was still in him. So deep. And there was blood. So much blood.
“He’s not breathing.” That wasn’t Valerie’s voice. Someone in the crowd had spoken. A crowd had gathered around them. The shifters had finally come close to her.
Too late.
“Find the shooter,” Griffin snarled. “Find the fucker, now.”
She looked up and saw Elliott give a grim nod. Elliott was just a step behind Griffin.
Elliott turned away and pushed through the assembled shifters.
“He’s not breathing,” the same, shaking female voice said. “I-I don’t hear his heart beating.”
Goldilocks. No, her name is Lucinda. Griffin had said she was Warren’s niece. The female shifter who’d been the ringmaster of her little crew. Only right then, she’d fallen to her knees beside Rio. She stared at him with wide, desperate eyes. “He’s dead.”
Valerie shook her head. “No.” Her fast denial. She grabbed Rio. Yanked the arrow out of his back.
The crowd gasped in shock and horror.
What else was new?
His blood covered her hands. “Breathe,” Valerie snarled at him.
He didn’t.
“Stop this!” Now Valerie was shouting at him. “Stop it right now, do you hear me? You open your eyes and you breathe.”
Murmurs from the crowd. Whispers she could easily catch.
“Is the witch mad?”
“Doesn’t she know death when she sees it?”
“Valerie…” Griffin’s voice was soft. Sad. “He’s gone. I think the arrow went into his back…and punctured his heart.”
How did he know that shit? She didn’t take her eyes off Rio. “You’re wrong. He’s not gone. Rio is right here. Don’t you see him?”
More shocked murmurs. More talk about her being mad.
Griffin curled his hand on her shoulder. “We need to go. You’re not safe out here—”
Now she glared up at him. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Goldilocks—Lucinda—was sobbing. So were a few of the other, younger shifters. The pack that had been so cold to Rio before appeared grief-stricken. Oh, you care now?
“He saved me,” Valerie angrily told Griffin. “Don’t you get that? The arrow was coming for me. Rio jumped in front of me. He took that arrow. He doesn’t die for that.”
Griffin’s jaw locked. “Baby, there is nothing you can do.” Pain was in his eyes. Sorrow.
She smiled at him. “You are so wro
ng.” She pulled in a deep breath. Let it out. And she let loose of the darkness inside of her.
Clouds swept across the sun. Lightning flashed in the sky. Thunder rumbled.
“Valerie.” A warning edge in Griffin’s voice. “What are you doing?”
A tear slid down her cheek because this was going to hurt. So much. “I can’t let him die for me.” Her words were soft. They were meant for Griffin alone, but those shifters and their damn incredible ears would hear her. “I’m not worth that.”
Griffin shook his head. “Valerie—no!”
But it was too late. Lightning hit her. Griffin was still touching her when it hit, and the force sent him flying back. She heard him roar his fury, and he charged back toward her.
Too late.
A ring of fire encircled her and Rio. Her hand was on his back, exactly where the arrow had plunged into him. Driving so deep. Hurting so much.
Pain pierced her. Right in her back. Tearing through her spine and she cried out, her whole body jerking.
“Valerie!” Griffin’s roar again. “Stop it! Right now!”
There was no stopping, not even if she’d wanted to stop. She didn’t.
She could feel hands clawing at her. Death didn’t like to give up his prey. So he had his minions clawing at her. Fighting her.
Pain pierced her heart. She knew the tip of the arrow had penetrated Rio’s heart. Dammit, Griffin had been right on that point. A burning, twisting agony spread through her blood. Poison. The realization burst in her mind. The arrow tip had been laced with poison.
Someone had wanted to make sure she was good and dead.
Someone was going to suffer.
She kept pulling Rio’s agony into herself. Kept fighting Death. He was such a greedy bastard. Always demanding a price.
One day, he thought he’d get her.
Not today.
“Enough!” Griffin’s shout seemed to shake the very earth itself. But he couldn’t stop her. No one could stop her. She was all powerful. She was—
Griffin ran through the fire. His body slammed into hers. He ripped her away from Rio. They rolled, fighting because she had to get back to Rio. She wasn’t done.
“You’re killing yourself!” Griffin pinned her to the ground. “Not on my watch, do you understand? You will not die!”
She glared up at him. She wasn’t dying. She was saving. Didn’t he see that?
“No one can bring back the dead,” Griffin told her, voice gruff now, but his hands were still just as fierce and hard as he held her wrists chained to the ground. “Not even you.”
Then she heard it…a gasp. A quick pull of air.
And the crowd erupted.
“Rio is moving…”
“What did the witch do?”
“I can hear his heart! He’s back!”
“I can do anything.” She smiled up at Griffin even as a heavy wave of lethargy swept through her. Valerie knew she wouldn’t be conscious much longer. But she needed to bluff this shit out. She could not allow the others to see her weakness.
The circle of flames vanished, leaving only a trail of burned earth in their wake.
Griffin shook his head.
“Wh-what happened?” Rio’s voice. Rio’s wonderful, cracking voice.
Valerie managed to turn her head toward him. He’d sat up, and he was running his hands over his chest, then straining to find the wound on his back.
Only there was no wound any longer.
“How.” Griffin’s guttural demand.
Silence reigned all around them.
Valerie figured she had five minutes, maybe ten, before she lost consciousness. And when she went out, it wasn’t going to be pretty. Her choices were severely limited. “I broke your rule.” Act like you have this. She let a big smile stay on her face as she focused on Griffin. “So punish me.”
He lifted her up. Hoisted her into his arms and held her against his chest.
Wonderful. She didn’t have to stand up. She wasn’t sure her legs would have held her. Spoiler…they wouldn’t have.
“Put me in the dungeon. Let me stay there until I’ve learned my lesson.” She made sure her voice carried on the wind.
“No.” Griffin shook his head. “Something is wrong. Something is—”
“Can’t the king keep his word?” Valerie taunted him. “Or should I just break every single rule you have?”
She could feel the stillness and the gazes of everyone around them.
A muscle jerked in Griffin’s locked jaw. “Rio,” he snapped the name.
Rio jumped to his feet.
Edgar flew to land on his shoulder. She tried to wave at Edgar, but she was already too weak. She did have enough strength to send her familiar a mental command. Look for the shooter, Edgar. Find the bastard. And if you get to him before I do, take his eyes.
Okay, so maybe she was feeling a bit bloodthirsty. Valerie figured she was entitled.
Edgar cawed and took to the sky.
“Are you okay, Rio?” Griffin demanded. He tightened his hold on Valerie.
Dark spots danced before her eyes. She heard the rumble of thunder. Thought she saw the flicker of lightning. Rain drops hit down on her.
“I-I think so.” Rio’s voice cracked. “How?”
Griffin gazed down at Valerie.
She couldn’t even muster her fake smile any longer. “I have no idea.”
But the whispers had already started. And, once started, they couldn’t be stopped.
“Did you see the witch?”
“She brought back the dead.”
“No one can do that…impossible.”
“Rio was dead. She made him live again.”
Then those whispers faded away. There was only stunned silence. She could feel all of the eyes on her. Gazes that had to be filled with fear. Horror. Loathing. Maybe it was a good thing she couldn’t see them all.
But they could see her. With her last bit of energy, she lifted her hand. Managed to curl that one finger in a last-ditch salute. She didn’t care what they thought of her.
Rio was alive. He was what mattered.
“Take my ass to the dungeon,” Valerie muttered as her eyelids sagged shut. “Chain me to the wall. Maybe then you can be safe.”
Maybe. It would really just depend…on how bad she got.
***
She was out. Griffin shifted Valerie in his arms, bringing her closer to his body as the rain pelted down on him. She was too pale. Her body too lax. Something was very wrong.
“Valerie?”
She didn’t stir.
He tightened his hold on her.
“You can’t lock her up.”
His head lifted. Rio stood in front of him. The kid’s wet hair was already plastered to his head.
“Don’t put her in the dungeon.” Rio straightened his thin shoulders. “She just—she healed me. I know you didn’t want her working magic, but she was helping me.”
The kid didn’t get it. “She didn’t heal you.” His voice seemed to boom.
Rio flinched.
“She brought you back from the dead.” Something that shouldn’t have been possible.
For a minute there, he’d feared that Valerie was actually going to trade her life for the boy’s. Not something a wicked witch would do. But…
She’d been suffering. He’d felt her pain. She’d done that, for the boy.
There was far more to Valerie than he’d realized.
“No one can bring back the dead,” Rio whispered.
The kid was wrong. Very, very wrong.
Someone could.
The baddest witch in the world just had.
Chapter Nine
“You have to lock her up.” Warren glared at Valerie as she lay cradled in Griffin’s arms. “Everyone saw what she did. She broke your rules.”
She seemed to make a habit of doing that.
“If you don’t punish her, they’ll all think you’re weak. You can’t let them believe that. A king can n
ever be weak.”
They were almost back to the castle. Valerie hadn’t so much as flickered a long eyelash during the desperate trek to his home. Fear twisted inside of Griffin. It was a feeling he wasn’t used to. He rather hated it.
Guards rushed to open the gates for him. Warren kept pace with him, and the guy also kept up his constant punishment refrain. “She’s too powerful to stay loose. If she can bring back the dead, damn, what else can she do?”
What else indeed?
“Why does her magic even work here?” Warren barked. “Witches are supposed—”
“She uses dark magic. Just like the fairies who built this realm. She’s not like most witches.” Understatement.
He entered the castle. Strode into the great room. Stood with her cradled in front of the fire. The rain had fallen in heavy torrents, soaking him and Valerie. Her hair was wet and drops of water clung to her skin. He should take her upstairs. Get her dried off. Put her in bed.
“Lock her in the dungeon.” Warren stood in his way. “She’s too dangerous to be free.”
She didn’t look dangerous. She looked weak. Delicate.
Vulnerable.
But Warren wasn’t letting up. “Everyone heard, everyone saw. If you don’t do this, you’ll be a weak king.”
“Do I look…” Griffin kept his eyes on Valerie. “Do I look as if I give a flying fuck what people think about me?”
Stunned silence.
And then…
Footsteps, rushing to him. His nostrils flared as he caught Elliott’s scent. He’d sent Elliott to find the bastard who’d shot Rio, but—
Elliott came in alone.
“He’d better be dead,” Griffin barked.
Elliott staggered to a halt. “I…couldn’t find anyone.”
Impossible. “You picked up a scent—” Elliott was his best hunter.
Elliott glanced at Warren. “I was able to figure out where the archer must have been when he fired the shot based on the angle of the hit. I got to that area. I searched, but I couldn’t catch the shooter’s scent. He must have masked it.”