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“He didn’t,” the man says bluntly. “She’s planning to bind herself to the Orphan’s sword tonight. Tomorrow, they’ll start picking off virgins from their ranks to keep the baby in her belly alive.”
The water in my empty stomach churns and acid rises in my throat. “What?”
“Virgin sacrifice. It’s a thing, a big thing, and the witches down there on Kelley’s side know it. They’ve paid close attention during recruiting, working binding spells on the virgins to keep them close.” He heaves a tired sigh as he sets the empty glass on a small wooden dining table behind him. “I kept hoping you and Jacob would go ahead and act like normal teenagers and take care of the problem, at least for my brother, but…” He motions toward me. “You’re still a virgin, so I’m assuming he is, too.”
“How the hell would you know?” I demand, the acid in my throat climbing higher. “Did you do something to me while I was passed out? Did you—”
“I didn’t do anything,” he cuts in. “I’m not a bad guy, Diana. I’m on your side in case that isn’t clear by now.”
“Nothing is clear. All I know is that I’m tied up and you’re telling me you know I’m a virgin and—”
“Your energy signature. That’s all. I would never…” His gaze lifts uncomfortably to the ceiling. “I wouldn’t do that to anyone. Ever. But especially not my brother’s girlfriend. I’m just trying to keep you safe. I’ll untie you right now as long as you promise to stay here and stay hidden, at least until tomorrow morning. I’m going to the camp tonight to try to stop the spell before it’s too late, but it isn’t safe for you to come with me.”
“I can’t stay here,” I insist. “I have to go home and get help. Just point me toward the nearest town where I can find a phone and maybe a bus station.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that,” he says. “It’s too dangerous. I sent my birds to scan the woods. Kelley has three teams out searching for you. It’s a miracle you weren’t captured before. But I’ve destroyed the trail you left leading up to the cabin and I have shielding wards in place. You’ll be safe here as long as—”
“I’m not staying here,” I say, raising my voice. “That’s not fucking happening. I’m either going to get help or I’m coming with you to free Jacob. Those are the two choices.”
His gaze narrows, making the golden flecks in his eyes seem to sparkle even brighter. “I realize you’re accustomed to getting your way, but you aren’t in charge here. And you’re in no shape to help Jacob. You could barely walk a few hours ago. If you came with me, you’d be a liability, not an asset.”
“All I need is some food and the chance to shift, and I’ll be ready to go,” I say. “I’m stronger than I look, I swear. And I’m not trying to ‘get my way,’ I’m trying to save my boyfriend’s life.”
“Jacob wouldn’t want you to put yourself at risk,” he says, “especially if he knew what’s about to happen to every virgin in that camp.” I start to protest, but he cuts me off in a sharp voice, “They won’t just kill you, Diana. They’ll do it slowly. They’ll cut off pieces of you while you’re still alive and let you smell them cooking. The queen will need to eat almost constantly at first to keep the baby inside her viable and she won’t be eating pigs or chickens.”
I wince and know I would be throwing up right now if there were anything in my belly but water. “Oh my god. We have to get him out. We can’t let that happen.”
“I’m going to try my damnedest,” he says in a gentler voice. “And my allies, too. But you can’t be one of them. There are spells active in the camp to make the virgins easy to spot. The moment you walked through those wards, every witch there would know about it. We’d lose the element of surprise and any chance of getting in unnoticed.”
My thoughts race, but despite my exhaustion, my brain comes to the only logical next step with alarming swiftness.
It’s alarming because this man is a stranger and Jacob’s brother and a full-grown man and not even close to my type—I like men with a sense of humor, who ask before they tie people up. I also like to know a guy’s name before I consider getting naked with him.
But Cranky’s the only other human around, so I guess he’ll have to do.
“Then let’s go,” I say, pushing on with more bravado than I feel when his brow furrows in confusion. “Let’s take care of the virgin thing, genius. Should take what, five, six minutes tops? And then I’ll be able to help Jacob. Problem solved.”
But the problem is not solved, of course.
I’ve known this man all of ten minutes, but it’s already obvious that he’s a bossy control freak who will not be giving me what I want without a fight. But I’m not about to give up on Jacob just because Cranky says ‘no’ the first time around.
I will do whatever it takes to save the boy I love—even sleep with his brother.
