Page 87 of Scorned

I smiled before letting my thoughts take over. “Vivi and Peach said that I knew Luka was alive because of the pulling. Do you think I can use that to help find Luka?”

“It doesn’t work like that. Vivi spent months attempting to use it to find Strike. You have to get really close before it alerts you. It’s weird and extremely unreliable.” His eyes hollowed, his expression turning grave as he dropped the cigarette to the ground, extinguishing it under the toe of his large black boot. “You do know there’s a good chance Luka won’t be the same person he was when he went in there.”

I crossed my arms and leaned against the building, kicking my foot back and pressing it against the wall. “I do, and I’m ready for it.”

“Caging a man like that, well, it’ll completely change him. He may be callous. Completely emotionless.” Ravage shook his head, almost as if he knew exactly what Luka was going through. “Shit, the little bastard might fool us all and come out completely unfazed.”

I giggled. “One could only hope.”

He ran his hand along his thick, dark beard and there was a sparkle of fear in his eyes. The kind of fear that only comes when you truly love someone. “His changes may affect his ability to love you the way you deserve.”

I nodded, turning my attention to the flickering lamp post in the parking lot, the drizzling rain dancing under the glow of the light. Typically, I loved thunderstorms, but this particular one seemed orchestrated to slow our progress. “I know. And it’s something I’ll have to deal with.”

“I hope you also understand that if it does happen, you deserve what’s best for you, even if it means letting him go. It’s okay to move on and live your human life knowing there was nothing you could have done.”

I swallowed down my uneasiness, tilting my head toward him. “I don’t think I can do that.”

“You owe it to yourself to at least try. The only one you should be living for is yourself. Everyone else in your life is just a bonus.”

Ravage looked away and I stared at his side profile, realizing he’d been through something similar in his life, but he was the one who had to leave. It may have been a long time ago, but the pain he had endured stayed with him like a birthmark. It would never be buried, clinging on like a reminder of his failures.

Something I was very familiar with.

He glanced at his watch and let out a long sigh. “It’s time to go.”

“How did you do it? How did you leave?” I asked, and he locked his dark eyes on me.

“You’re an exceptionally perceptive girl. It must be the witch’s blood running through your veins.” He walked past me, heading toward the van.

“That doesn’t answer my question, Ravage.”

He stopped, letting out a hard sigh. “Moving on was never an option for me. I chose to remove myself from the situation. That’s all.” He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze on me. “I know you’re strong enough to do the same if you have to.” Without another word, he hopped in the driver’s seat of the van.

I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my lips to prevent them from trembling.

Though I was never one to stay in an abusive relationship, if Luka had transformed into a different person, a heartless one, I doubted my ability to leave him.

The hotel door opened and my friends came out, and as I watched each one head toward our vehicles, I once again prayed to whoever was listening to keep watch over them.

If anyone has to die, please take me.

Lyric stopped next to my Jeep and waved me over. “Come on, Sagelynn.”

I pushed whatever fears I’d carried with me like unnecessary baggage aside, took a deep breath, and headed to meet the witches.

And hopefully rescue my man.

Chapter 26

Winnie

The rain finally stopped and we were five miles away from the bottom of the mountain when my phone rang. “Hello?”

“Technology is not my strong suit. Magic, on the other hand, is a completely different narrative.”

My forehead clenched at the familiar voice. “Shayla?”

“I sense you are close. My sister shared our location with you. Everyone must get out of the vehicles for this. I look forward to seeing you there.”

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