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I stumble back, leaving her like that. With her shirt open…
“You know we hunt witches, Kian.” He’s suddenly behind me, speaking into my ear. “But did you know that some witches can see the future?”
“N-no,” I stammer. “How?”
He shakes his head. “Vile magic. They consorted with the Devil. That’s how they were gifted their powers.”
He strides forward, and anger flashes across the witch’s face. He ignores it and rips the gag from her mouth.
“You will look into my son’s future,” he says. “Or you will suffer immeasurable pain before your life ends. You see that much, don’t you?”
He touches the Mark. Or maybe her nipple. Either way, the witch shudders.
She wets her lips. “I need my hands.”
My father shrugs. His fingernail elongates into a claw, and he slashes through the bindings. Before she can move, he grips her throat. That same nail cuts into her skin just under her ear.
“If you make one wrong move, it won’t be just you I kill. Every witch you’ve ever come into contact will die the same way.”
Her lips part, but she nods. She remains on her knees, but she reaches out and offers her hand. Palm up.
How can one hand induce such fear in me?
“Kian.” The warning in my father’s voice is enough to jumpstart me into action.
I set my hand in hers.
Her fingers immediately tighten, and her eyes roll back. We wait in silence, then she goes rigid.
“Alpha,” she murmurs. “Winter Wolf. A witch…”
“What witch?” my father demands.
“The one who will end everything. They’re destined to collide in blood. A world drenched in shadows. The Prince of Darkness. Water meets fire in the depths of despair. I can’t see who wins…”
She releases me and falls to the side. The ropes tighten around her neck, hanging her for a moment. She jerks back awake and grasps at the ropes, using them to get herself back to her knees. Her lips part. Her chest heaves.
She straightens her shirt slowly, eyeing me now with… suspicion.
My father is behind her. I don’t know if she even notices. He places his hands on either side of her head. His expression is furious. I can smell it on him, rising by the second.
Her gaze meets mine for the first time.
“Good luck surviving her, Winter Wolf,” she whispers.
He snaps her neck.
I rub my eyes. “Are you saying that what the witch saw is coming true?”
Sometimes it’s easier to just talk out loud rather than think at him. It makes me feel like I’m not alone—which I am. Speaking makes me forget for half a second.
Yes, my wolf replies.
“That’s a stretch.” I rise and resume my pacing. “Prince of Darkness? What the hell did the rest of it mean?” I stop, narrowing my eyes. “You kept that crystal clear. Why?”
Because I knew we would need to remember.
Right.
