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“Though Bram wants the book for his own?”
Shock confirms Mathias’s suspicions with a nod.
“You beef-witted foot-licker,” I hurl.
Shock looks through me as if completely bored. “My family has ties to Mathias and his cause. I’m making Mummy and Daddy very proud. Besides, I owe Mathias for a recent favor. It was simple enough to repay him with a bit of information and the agreement to fight you on his behalf. Nothing personal.”
I take it very personally. I might be able to outwit Mathias since he knows me not. Shock, the traitor, knows enough to make that unlikely. Lucan tried to tell Bram, tell us all. No one listened.
“Escort our guest to her mate’s side and hold her there until he brings the book to me.”
“Nay,” I protest. “I will give you the book once she leaves the tunnel unharmed.”
“I dictated my terms. Take them or watch her die.”
When Olivia again wriggles and kicks to escape Mathias’s minion, the evil wizard waves his hand. A moment later, she stiffens and claws at her throat, mouth open, face turning red and panicked as she gasps.
“Let her bloody breathe!”
With a smirk that makes me want to pound him into the next century, Mathias waves his hand again. Olivia wheezes to drag in as much air as she can before exhaling audibly.
Mathias will pay for that—and any other harm he’s done to Olivia.
“Now, now,” he chides. “Cooperate, or your mate will stop breathing permanently.”
Shock grabs Olivia’s arm and crosses the decaying ground, then drags her forward. I would protest—and take Shock’s head off—if I didn’t fear what the wizard might do to her in retaliation.
Instead, I rush toward my mate. Two ground-eating steps later, I am in front of her, hauling her against me and crushing her in my arms.
“Are you well, love?”
She nods, then sobs against me. “He killed my father right after your cottage was attacked. Mathias was pretending to be him for days.”
So, I was right—and wrong—about Gray. But that brings me no comfort.
I tuck those thoughts away and focus on stroking Olivia’s back, caressing her hair, offering her comfort with a brush of my lips against hers. Sweet and in one piece. Naught else matters.
“As touching as this is, I require the book. Now,” Mathias snaps. “Bring it to me.”
“Let Olivia leave the tunnel. All else is between you and me, and I have not the magic to fight you.”
“Marrok, no!” She grips my arm. “Please.”
“She may walk to the end of the tunnel, but she stays inside where I can see her. Wouldn’t want her calling for backup now, would we?”
’Tis little concession, but it does position Olivia away from the impending fight. Slowly, I nod.
“No!” she protests, clinging to me. “Don’t!”
“All will be well,” I lie. “Go.”
Releasing her is the hardest thing I have ever done, but I unwind my arms from around her and set her away.
She clings to my shoulders. “He isn’t to be trusted. He will only take the book and do something awful.”
“I will not let him harm you.”
“I’m not worried about me!” She grips me harder. “He’s dangerous. Unscrupulous. Please… Don’t give up the book. If you do, you will never be free of the curse.”
