Page 6 of The Fearless Witch

“You won’t do it,” he said without even looking at me. He strode to the cupboard in the corner and retrieved the bowl of water sitting there along with a washcloth. “Do you know why?” I wanted to retort something insulting, but the nasty look he sent me made me hesitate. “Because this is your last immortal life.” A small smile tugged on his lips while I stared with disbelief. “Once you die, there will be no coming back for you.”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but the words remained stuck in my throat. I had sensed the end of the cycle coming, even Nym did, but it had been a possibility until now, not a certainty. I wasn’t afraid of death anymore, yet… eternity in Hell suddenly sounded too real, too close.

“If you kill yourself now, you’re done.” His voice sounded distant, hollow, but as the notion sank deep roots into my mind, I knew he wasn’t lying. “You will delay my plans, but I won’t disappear. You will. Forever.”

The world grew quiet around me, the frustration and anger all but gone. A strange sense of dread, one I hadn’t felt in a very, very long time, squeezed my heart, making my chest ache.

I had never had much to live for in my previous lives; I went through the motions because it was better than rotting in the earth, but now… now I had a place where I was accepted and wanted, people who loved me and valued me. I wasn’t ready to part with those things after waiting so long to have them.

“How is that possible?” I asked, my voice cracking. “How can m-m-my cycle end when my deal hasn’t been… completed?”

He said nothing, seemingly too occupied with stripping his shirt off and checking on his body. He was hurt, I realized when I noticed the blood slipping from several places. The side injury had been my doing, but I was pretty sure the bite mark on his shoulder wasn’t from my teeth. In fact, I didn’t think it was from human teeth at all.

He made no sounds of discomfort as he started cleaning the gash I gave him, looking completely taken by the task, like I wasn’t even there. I waited for him to finish, hoping that he was too focused to answer before, but when he switched his attention to the bite mark without saying a word, something in me snapped.

“Answer me!” I shouted, pulling against my restraints, only to be yanked back. “You were the one that fucked up my deal in the first place! If you had let me live back then, I would have completed it within days!” He shot me an exasperated look but said nothing. I snarled, struggling against the goddamn cuffs until the skin broke around one of my wrists. “Why are things different now? Is there a limit to how many times I can come back to life? If all those I sought revenge on are dead, how am I supposed to get my revenge?” Silence. “Look at me and give me an answer, damn you! This is all your fault! You can’t break your deal!”

He met my gaze again, frustration oozing from him in waves while I panted with helpless rage. If there was one thing I hated more than being attacked, it was to be ignored.

The demon finally pushed himself off the table, striding my way. I held my head high even as he stopped before me, looming like death itself, but if that ticked him, it didn’t show on his face.

“I thought I told you to shut the fuck up already,” he said in a painfully controlled tone.

“And I told you I want answers,” I replied through gritted teeth. “Until then, fuck you.”

His eye twitched, and he leaned down, holding my gaze. He was so close that I considered head-butting him just so I could release some of that irritation that was threatening to consume me. Too late did I notice the rag that he was still holding and when I did, he was already trying to push it inside my mouth.

“I’ll… fu… ing... ki…” I shouted through the fabric, shaking my head in an attempt to spit it out, but he grabbed my hair and yanked it back. His shadows brushed over my cheek, wrapping around my mouth and keeping the rag in place even as he let go of me. I screamed, glaring at him with all my might, but he just smiled.

Tears of frustration welled in my eyes while I watched him dust his hands like he had touched something dirty. I pulled my legs toward my chest, ready to kick him, consequences be damned, when his eyes shot to mine. The true and unadulterated madness I saw in his gaze was the only thing that stopped me from going through with my plan. I had seen his anger, and I had tasted his violence, but what lurked beneath the surface this time was older, stronger, and infinitely evil.

“You are much more tolerable when you’re quiet,” he said almost jovially, running his hand through his hair while his smile widened. “Now be a good fucking witch or stay like this for the rest of your life.” My nails dug into the soft flesh of my palms at the finality of his words, but aside from snarling in defiance, I dared not go any further. “There is no point in playing games with a demon. You already lost the moment you signed your soul away.”

Chapter 3

Isaac

“Isaac! Damn it, where have you been?”

I turned on my heel, searching for the angry voice, when I noticed Daniel pushing his way through the streaming line of horrified people trying to find a place to settle. Tents and blankets were already sprawling left and right—most of them courtesy of Roman’s staff since our people barely had time to escape with their lives, let alone pack for camping in the woods. Now children and elders sat huddled together with cups steaming in their hands, reeking of fear and unease, while warriors tried to do a headcount so we could figure out who didn’t make it.

My head was still spinning from the shock of having my mate bond severed and even though I now knew it wasn’t entirely broken, one thing had become crystal clear—there would be no surviving Celeste when she inevitably died. My life began and would end with my mate.

Except, this was worse because she wasn’t dead—she was in Hell. Meanwhile, I was stuck here, while monsters and demons did who knew what to her down there. Just like when her magic was locked inside her, I was useless. I was starting to think she wouldn’t need me at all if she returned—when she returned. And that… terrified me.

Daniel finally pushed past the last of the people, and I stopped to wait for him. Aside from a quick phone call, I hadn’t bothered to check if he had made it out, but I was glad to see him and his son, who was trying to catch up to him, safe. Even if the anger on the Alpha’s face suggested something bad might have happened.

“Daniel. I’m relieved that—” I started, holding out my hand for him to shake. He raised his but instead of squeezing my fingers, he balled his into a fist and punched me in the face. I staggered back, blinking through the pain and the stars floating in my vision when his fist sank into my stomach, forcing all the air out of my lungs.

Anger spread through my veins, dispersing the confusion from the rage on his face. We seldom saw eye to eye, but I thought we shared enough respect to solve our issues without bloodshed. Not to mention, I’d figured if we ever fought, it’d be me who threw the first punch, not his calm, collected ass.

Daniel’s fist flew again, but this time, I was ready for him. I caught it right before it broke my nose, squeezing it with all my might, even as he tried to yank it free.

“You fool! It’s all your fault!” Daniel sputtered, his eyes flashing golden. “I told you not to provoke the witches! I told you they would retaliate! Now look what you’ve done! So many of our people dead! And for what? For your vendetta? You don’t deserve to be an Alpha!”

Spitting out the blood that had gathered in my mouth, I pushed his hand away with enough force to make him step back. He bared his teeth and moved as if to attack me again, but his son grabbed him from behind. It wasn’t until James hissed ‘Look around!’ that I realized everyone stood in stunned silence, looking between the two of us.

Only a few dared draw within range, looking ready to interfere. None of them were werewolves, of course—our people knew better than to get into an Alpha’s way when they were angry. But the others… one by one, I recognized their faces.

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