Page 121 of What a Wolf's Heart Decides

“I don’t understand . . .”

Bard’s gaze went stark. Then he looked at a point over her shoulder. “Show her the rest.”

Haley turned. Sabine stood near the edge of the bath, her glowing eyes on Bard’s. She held his stare for a moment, then waved a hand over the water and murmured, “Ostendo.”

This time Haley knew what to expect, so she didn’t jump when the water began to swirl, and she wasn’t surprised when the watery Bard appeared in front of the house in the woods. The black-gowned Sabine stood in the doorway, but now sound emerged from her red lips.

“You ask for great power, wolf. Such magic demands an equally great price. Are you prepared to pay it?”

Haley’s stomach clenched. Knowing the outcome didn’t make the scene less difficult to watch.

The youthful Bard’s eyes flashed wolf blue, and his voice was a growl. “Get on with it, witch. You’re wasting my time.”

Sabine in the vision raised her arms, and the water rippled. The scene changed, switching to the night of Bard’s challenge. He lay on the grass, the bloody heart in his hand. The dead body of his opponent was a furry heap on the ground.

Haley looked toward the edge of the water. Sure enough, Sabine emerged in her black gown, her train dragging through the blood, tiny braids shivering down her back.

“I upheld my end of the bargain, wolf. Now you must uphold yours.”

Bard panted, his face flushed from his victory. The eerie glow still surrounded him, making his skin seem lit from within. “Wait, witch. That bastard nearly took my leg. I have to Heal my wounds.”

Sabine shook her head, her braids sliding over her shoulders. “No, wolf. Never again.”

His eyes widened, and for the first time fear leaked into his gaze.

“Gift and creed, magic and seed. That was our bargain.” Sabine lifted her arms away from her body. The glow in her eyes intensified, the amber obscuring her pupils and bleeding over the whites. “You wanted to be Alpha. Magic made it so.”

Bard squinted and angled his head away, her glow clearly blinding him.

“Magic claims your Gift.”

His face drained of color. “You can’t—”

She spoke over him, her voice booming with power. “You wanted to rule over others. Magic made it so. You will rule alone.”

The heart in Bard’s palm glowed brighter. He gasped and shook his hand but his fingers remained curled around it.

“You wanted the others to adore you. Magic made it so. Only the mirror shall reveal your flaws.”

The heart was like a ball of flame, its glow so bright it turned the night to day. Bard threw back his head and screamed.

“You wanted to usurp another. Magic made it so. Your seed dies with you.”

The heart exploded, throwing Bard backwards. His head hit the ground with a sickening thud. Blood spurted from his eye, and he clapped a hand over it.

Eyes still glowing, Sabine murmured, “Magic has a price.”

He moaned, rocking his body from side to side like a hurt child. The claw marks on his face wept blood, and his ruined leg lay twisted beneath him.

Sabine’s gaze moved over him, her expression detached and dispassionate. “Selfish boy, you will suffer greatly, serving as Alpha for all your days and without the power of your kind. Invincible yet broken. Unchallenged and alone. Thus, I will give you two boons. The first is knowledge, which I suspect means little to you now but might someday in the future. There is but one way to break this charm.”

Still writhing on the ground, Bard screamed until his voice cracked.

The witch continued speaking as if she hadn’t heard. “Love, selfish boy. Only true love and a pure heart can break this powerful of a charm.” She paused, her face expectant like she waited for him to say something. When he only screamed again, she shrugged. “The second boon is what your kind calls a Gift. Because you use yours to help others, I shall grant you that ability.” She tilted her head, her eyes on his leg. “But you can no longer heal yourself. That I claim as my own, as is my due.” As she spoke the last, her eyes glowed brighter. Her hair shone and her cheeks grew pink.

With a final glance at Bard, she turned and walked away.

Water sloshed over Haley’s bare feet, jerking her out of the past. As the present crashed back in, her head ached and her knees felt like fire.

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