Page 67 of The Fearless Witch

“Long time no see, amor,” Maria spoke, and I shuddered at the sound of her melodic voice. She pulled her hand lightly, and I immediately released her, taking a tentative step back so I could at least have a second to react when she attacked me. “You look well enough.”

“Considering you tried to burn me to death?” I retorted, trying to keep my voice even. It was always hard to hold on to my composure around her, especially after the day we parted ways. Standing so close to her made me revert to the old me, the one who both loved and hated her.

“Oh, come on, I knew you’d find a way out,” she chuckled. “You always do, my slippery little viper. That’s how I taught you. And if you hadn’t…” She shrugged, her lips twitching with what could have been a smile or a grimace. “Well, then you’d be of no use to anyone, anyway.”

I gritted my teeth as I watched her take a handkerchief out of the pocket of her pants and clean her fingers with it. The sound of the others faded away, confirming what I had suspected all along. She never cared about them, they were just a means to an end. My end.

“It’s been over two hundred years and that’s all you have to say to me?” She clicked her tongue, then moved to put away the handkerchief when she realized it was dripping with blood. Grimacing, she dropped it, watching the fabric land over the face of one of the dead werewolves. “I’m disappointed by the company you keep, amor,” she continued, as if I had answered her and we were back to our usual selves. “Mingling with animals and humans is beneath you. You are better off alone.”

“Of course. I was easier to manipulate when I was alone,” I spat, straightening my posture so she’d have to look up to meet my eyes. Maria scoffed, her brows knitting together like she was looking at something pitiful.

Ever since I met her, she had had this uncanny ability to make me feel smaller, weaker, and more foolish than I was. One look and I’d break my back trying to impress her. One word and I’d be rushing to do her bidding. One command and I’d kill myself trying to please her.

I hated that I still felt the urge, even now. To obey my master. To earn her love.

But I was no longer that lost, pathetic man with no purpose or desires of his own. I would not give in to her provocations. I would not let her win.

“Don’t tell me you consider these creatures important enough to influence your mind. At best, they are food.” She stopped by the female werewolf and nudged her on her back, sneering in disgust. “Spoiled food.” She spat. “I’ve never developed a taste for shifters, even after all this time. Mixing animal and human blood makes it entirely revolting.”

“Why are you here, Maria?” I demanded, but she disregarded me in favor of looking around like she was seeing trees for the first time. The sky was brightening from the east, but we still had a bit of time before sunrise.

She studied my face with a knowing smile.

“Didn’t you get my summons?” she asked casually. “To think I crossed an ocean for you and you still ignored me. Tsk, tsk. You wound my heart, amor.”

I had to remind myself to relax my jaw because, with the way I was gritting my teeth, I was sure they’d shatter any second. Once, I had reveled in the nickname she used for me only, in her affection and approval. Now… it felt cold and threatening, like a sharp reminder of the promise she made two hundred years ago.

“You’re the Elder council’s messenger now? Who did you piss off?”

If looks could kill, the one she gave me would have shredded my heart and separated my head from the body for good measure. Still, she smiled, keeping those dangerous red eyes on mine.

“You should take more interest in the matters of your people, Roman. Julius is dead. Hunters got to him three years ago.” She stepped back, waving her hands theatrically as she curtsied to no one in particular. “You are looking at the newest member of the Elder council.” She rose back up, her smile dropping so abruptly, I tensed. “Now bow.”

I fought the urge to obey her, but in the end, I only gave her a slight incline of the head. Her eyes darkened in rage and her fangs protruded under her upper lip.

“Congratulations on your promotion,” I said flatly. “However, I do not see how my business warranted one of the Elders coming here. Not to mention, the accusations were baseless at best.”

The smirk returned to her face. “The Elder council decides what’s baseless. And when you’re summoned, you show up or you bear the consequences.” At the last word, she motioned toward herself, her eyes twinkling with a wicked delight. “But I can’t say I’m entirely unfeeling toward your plight, amor. We all make mistakes, even I.” I doubted she believed that for a second, but I held my tongue. “It was a mistake letting you go two hundred years ago. Had I not, you would have never put yourself or our kind in danger for a warm body that’s not worth the shirt on your back.” I ground my teeth to stop myself from retorting to her insult, but the gleam in her eyes told me she noticed. Of course, she noticed. “But I’m here to correct my mistake and give you a chance to repent for yours.”

Maria stepped in front of me, stretching a hand for me to take.

“Come back with me now and I’ll make sure you get a lighter sentence. A hundred years in a tomb without blood should be sufficient punishment, I think.” Her fingers twitched impatiently, but she remained still, her eyes full of warning. “The Elders will be placated, and you’d have time to reflect. Then I’ll let you out and you can be free of earthly burdens and unnecessary ties.” Her smile grew crooked as she beckoned me with her forefinger. “I have so many ideas of what we can do once you’re back on the right path.”

A growl escaped my mouth before I could stop it.

“The right path? You mean your path. Because the only time it felt right to me was when I left it!”

The smile melted from her face so fast that I thought I blanked out for a moment. Then she was moving toward me with such speed, all I had time to do was raise my hands to protect my chest so she wouldn’t get to my heart. She didn’t reach for it, though. She aimed higher.

Her fingers wrapped around my throat and she pushed back until we slammed into the nearest three. The wood groaned, crack after crack echoing through the forest as she pinned me against it.

“You ungrateful boy! I gave you everything! I made you everything you are! Your life is mine to do with as I please, even if what I please is ending it!” Digging her nails into my skin, she leaned closer until our noses were almost touching. “You think you left me? I let you walk away so you could realize your mistake on your own, but with every decade you spent being deceived by that wicked creature, you got more and more lost!”

Her nails sank deeper, tearing through flesh until I could feel blood running down my throat.

“So this is your final chance, Roman, your final choice. Beg for forgiveness and vanquish all notions of ever stepping out of line or,” she paused as if expecting me to jump on the opportunity and do as I was told and when I didn’t, her voice turned sharper, each word spat out with deadly venom. “... face the hardest punishment the Elders could give you. Because, amor, I will make sure you suffer if you so much as breathe one wrong word right now.” Her grip tightened and at that moment, I knew there was nothing I could do if she chose to decapitate me. I had already lost, and I hadn’t even fought her. “Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I croaked through my almost shattered vocal cords. Her fangs jutted out when her smile widened from ear to ear.

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