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Death would come from those black and gold sparks flying around Margetta’s hands and there was nothing he could do. Even if he revved up his own battle energy, Margetta would slay him. He knew it in the same way Rosamunde had always known that Margetta’s visions had been a heinous burden intended to open a pathway into Ferrenden Peace.

But it was better to die than to spend even a second bonded to Margetta.

Margetta suddenly began to spin, creating a gold whirlwind and he wondered how painful his death would be.

Before Stone knew what had happened, he was spinning as well and rising into the air with her. He tried to stop, to return to the garden and Rosamunde, but he was caught up in Margetta’s fury and her newly acquired elf-lord power and there was nothing he could do.

~ ~ ~

Rosamunde lay shivering on the lawn, the flames from the burning castle flickering oddly on the nearby shrubs. Through her pain, her fingers clutched at the grass. Tears trickled but not because of her suffering. Instead, she knew tremendous relief that in the end, Stone had rejected Margetta’s offer. He’d even thought he would die.

So had Rosamunde.

But Margetta had taken him away in a whirlwind of black and gold light.

She took shallow breaths, the best she could do.

Her thoughts became fixed on Stone. Because Margetta hadn’t killed him, she no doubt had other plans which probably meant enthrallment or torture or a combination of both to bend Stone to her will.

But where she’d taken him, Rosamunde didn’t know.

She had to find out and she had to help him, though she had no idea how she could possibly counter Margetta now that the Ancient Fae had channeled elf-lord power. Rosamunde couldn’t imagine just how much stronger Margetta had become.

But before she could do anything to change the situation, she had to survive the agonizing burns.

She knew one man who could help her. She teleported just as she was, smoking clothes and all, to Joseph’s front yard. If she’d been able to land inside she would have done so. But Joseph had his no-special-powers rule protecting his house.

She then reached telepathically for Davido. I need Kaden’s healing power. I’m outside.

Just as Davido, in Kaden’s form, appeared beside her, the small door to Joseph’s underground abode banged open. “You can’t bring her inside, unless she pays a toll.”

“Joseph, you’d better get your trolley or I will ring your fucking neck.”

Joseph levitated just above Kaden’s shoulder to stare down at her. She was shaking badly and looked up at him. “Sweet Goddess, you look like a fried turnip. What happened?”

She could barely talk, but she managed anyway. “I was cooking and caught on fire. What do you think?”

Joseph made a fat raspberry sound. “No need to be sarcastic. Besides, I hear you can’t cook so maybe it makes sense.”

Kaden gripped Joseph by his reedy neck and shook him twice. “Stop it. Let us both in, or I’ll finish you off for good and I’ll auction every last bit of your stolen wares so that your wife won’t get a cent.”

“As if you ever would.” He offered a crooked smile. “Fine. But I’m only doing this for my wife’s sake.”

The corner of Kaden’s lips twitched. “Now who’s being sarcastic?”

Joseph waved an arm and Rosamunde felt the spell break. She was then moving through his home at lightning speed. Kaden had control of her now and she began to relax. Help was at hand.

She ended up on the same marble slab as Stone before her, though it had a motor oil smell to it this time. Whatever else forest gremlins were, they were a busy, restless sort, always doing. Maybe he’d been working on something he’d stolen recently.

But the shaking returned, harder than ever. Kaden placed both hands on the top of her head and a cool flow of healing eased the burns. She cried out from the relief of it.

After a moment, she said, “Kaden?”

“Yes, Sweetheart?”

Tears trickled once more. “Margetta has him. She took Stone away after he refused to become an elf-lord.”

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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