Page 81 of Hunter

“While blood is the usual sacrifice for such a spell, I can do it with your hair. Minimal pain but causes discomfort, nonetheless. Do you agree to this?” Ilsbeth asked, her tone indifferent.

“Yes.”

“Not so fast, witch,” Hunter challenged her.

Willa spun to face the Alpha. “I want to know where my brother is. If she can help me, I have to know if he is alive.”

“No. If you give her any part of you, she’ll have it forever.”

“One hair. That’s all she needs.” Willa turned to Ilsbeth. “Right? That’s all. No extra ones for later.”

The high priestess nodded and held the bowl with her hands, waiting.

“I swear to the Goddess, witch, if you harm Willamina in any way, if she so much as gets a papercut, you’re a dead witch. No more resurrections. I will kill you myself with my bare hands.”

“Hunter,” Willa admonished. “She’s trying to help me.”

“I have no interest in hurting your mate. You have my word.” Ilsbeth nodded to the bowl. “Put it in here.”

“I really don’t get a good feeling about this,” Viktor interjected.

“Please Willa. We’ll find him without her,” Hunter pleaded.

“I’m sorry, but if I’m going to concentrate on finding this book, on us, I have to know now.” Willa fingered her hair and tugged, wincing at the sharp pain on her scalp. She held the single strand over the bowl and stared into Ilsbeth’s eyes. “If you try to hurt me or anyone I love with this, my mate won’t kill you. I will.”

Willa released the hair into the water. Her eyes widened as it disappeared, and the fluid morphed into a swirling sea of colors. “What is happening…”

“Silence!” Ilsbeth turned toward the altar, humming softly, mesmerized by the swirling concoction. “He comes. Do you feel it? No. Shh.”

Willa closed her eyes and prayed to the Goddess. In her third eye, her wolf ran through a dark forest. An owl flew from a branch into the night sky. A rabbit froze in the distance. Her wolf crouched down low to the ground, deliberately stalking her prey. The dew-soaked leaves succumbed underneath her paws and the scent of the earth faded as she approached the creature. She lunged at it but missed, rolling into the wet grass. Willa’s heart pounded, hearing the familiar growl. She recognized him instantly, long before his amber eyes met hers. Julian.

You’re alive. Meu irmão. Elation rushed through her.

You know all you need to know. Now you see me, now you don’t. It’s time to go. They’re coming. I will see you again one day, minha irmã.

Julian bared his teeth, his head snapping toward the far darkness of the woods. His eyes flashed to red glowing orbs of light. An impending sense of doom twisted inside her, overtaking her psyche.

Run Aline, run. Don’t ever look back. RUN!

She cowered at the sound of his deafening howl. Helpless to resist the overwhelming power of his Alpha nature, she submitted, turning and running. Run harder, run faster. Julian’s childhood voice played in her head. Twigs and tree limbs snapped behind her, sulfur filtered through the air.

“Willa!” her Alpha’s voice commanded. She sucked a breath, her eyes flashing open.

“What did you do to her?” Hunter demanded.

“I’m okay,” Willa managed, losing control of her balance. Her legs wobbled as if they were made of jelly. She fell into Hunter’s arms, relieved she’d woken from the trance. “Julian. He’s running. I was running.”

“We’re getting out of here,” Hunter said. “Vik, grab the knife.”

“Be quick, Alpha. Demons are on the chase. The wolves seek the Princess,” Ilsbeth warned. “Use the knife to release the book. You’d best be resourceful.”

“Can you walk?” Hunter asked Willa.

“Yes, I’m better.” She held tight to the Alpha as he set her onto her feet.

As she took several steps toward the door, she glanced back at Ilsbeth. Willa’s mind spun with thoughts of her brother. He was but a dream but as real as the wolf who held her. Leaving the witch, she prayed the trade, a book for their lives, would sate the demon.

Chapter Eleven