Page 104 of Dance With Death

“Move if you want me to open the door,” I snap at Holly.

She practically leaps away, and the sniffling continues as I swipe my magic and fingers across the runes. The last one fades, and I turn to Holly. “If Dashiell shows any sign of harming you, I shall slash his throat.” I raise my voice. “Did you hear that, Dashiell?”

“I would never hurt her,” he calls through the wood.

“Perhaps not consciously.” Holly’s eager eyes grow, and I open the door a crack. “Don’t make me—or either of you—regret this.”

I’ve barely finished the sentence before Holly shoves open the door and rushes into the darkened room.

Straight into Dashiell’s embrace.

I’m dumbstruck as the pair cling to each other, Holly barely fitting her arms around the tall guy’s waist as he holds her tight, his cheek against her hair.

“I missed you. Has anybody hurt you?” she asks, voice thick.

Dashiell gently pulls Holly away, holding her face as he looks down. “No. Are you safe?”

She nods, tear-filled eyes on his.

Then they kiss.

Kiss.

Not for long, because I grab the back of Holly’s jacket and pull her halfway across the cell-like room before standing between them.

“What is really happening here?” I demand, glaring at Dashiell who’s standing by a metal framed, single bed. “Who bewitched Holly?” Dash looks over my shoulder at her, his eyes soft, as if only she exists in the room. Good grief. “Who bewitched the pair of you? Is this Viktor’s doing?”

“I don't know that name. I told your father over and over.” Dashiell’s eyes remain on Holly. “Me and Holly clicked. That’s all.”

“Clicked?” I step to one side to block Holly as she moves back towards Dashiell.“You’re a criminal!”

“If I didn't care about Holly, would I have risked my life by attacking Sam that night? Risked my safety again by walking into the hospital?” He sighs at my disparaging expression. “You’re certain someone sent me to kill Holly. I was not, and I would never, ever harm the girl I love.”

“This is not logical!” I shout. “This is magic!”

“Sometimes people meet because they’re destined,” says Holly. “We were. Like you and your guys—if you’d never attended Thornwood, you would never have met them all.”

I spin around. “So, your abduction was a good thing?”

“No! But Dash… he was meant to be there. To help me.” Holly takes my hands, and I look down in horror. “Whatever happens to the others involved in my abduction, promise me nobody will hurt Dash. I’d never recover if he died.”

“Oh? When Ollie ended your relationship, you swore your heart was so broken that you’d never fall in love again, yet you recovered.”

Her eyes narrow. “This is different.”

This is a spell. But I don't bother repeating myself. For the first time ever, I understand how other people feel when I refuse to accept their point of view.

“What if you’re the one who’ll kill him?” I ask.

“That’s impossible!” she protests.

I tap the side of my head. “Someone may require Dashiell’s life to end in case he gives away vital information. You might be compelled to do that.”

“I’ll take that risk,” says Dashiell flatly. “Someone will kill me either way.”

“I won’t let anybody murder you,” Holly replies. I’d laugh at this diminutive human with her blood phobia swearing she’d protect a shifter whose hands alone are twice the size of hers, but she’s serious. “And if this goes to a human court, I won’t testify against Dashiell.”

And his wolf pack? How would she protect Dashiell against them once he’s located? The shifter is correct—he won't live to see old age.

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