Page 34 of Fighting the Lies

“Emma, Scott isn’t…” The witch paused.

“Scott isn’t?” She asked.

“He isn’t able to come here.” Jessica looked down to the ground.

“What’s happened to him?” Her hands felt clammy. Had something happened to the man she loved?

“He’s locked in the dungeon at the mansion.” The corner of Jessica’s eye ticked when she answered. The witch obviously didn’t like what was happening to the male lion.

“Make sure Kas keeps him there. It’s the safest place, until this is over.”

“I will.” The confidence was back in her friend’s stance again. “But I can’t let Nuka have you this way. He’ll just use you for breeding.”

“That is other reason I called you.” She patted her stomach. “I want you to remove my womb.”

“What?” Jessica got to her feet and stumbled over to the bed to sit down. “No, I can’t do that.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

There was a pause in the conversation, thick silence filled the room.

“Won’t.”

“Jessica please. It’s the only way.”

“No it isn’t. I can bind your fertility.” Jessica offered.

“Ciaran will discover that and remove the spell. This is the only way. He can’t put a womb back in me.” Emma came over to kneel down in front of the witch. She took both her hands and squeezed them.

“I can’t either. What about when you get out of here? You won’t ever be able to have children. Scott...you’ll never be able to give him a cub.”

“And I can’t risk falling for Nuka’s child. He will use any children we have in his plans for world domination.” Emma sat back on her heels and let Jessica’s hands go. Her voice was breaking again. “Scott and I will never be. Nuka will mark me as his mate. I will forever carry his scent. If I escape this, there is no future for Scott and me.”

“There is.”

“No, there cannot be.”

“I can’t do this Emma. What you’re asking of me is too much. Let me go back to Kas and talk to him. See what he says.” Her friend was as white as a sheet. She knew as well as Emma that it was the only way.

“There isn’t time. Nuka will come for me soon. Nuka will get Ciaran to do something to me so that I conceive the first time he takes me. The baby will be protected by magic. It will not be possible to do anything, then.”

“I’ll break Ciaran’s magic. Mine is getting stronger every day. With Selene’s help we can stop it all.” This was the last-ditch attempt of someone so devoid of hope.

“Please. This is my choice. I absolve you of all blame for this. It has to happen.”

A tear tumbled down the witch’s cheek.

“There has to be another way?”

Emma shook her head. Jessica swallowed deeply.

“Stand up. This will hurt at times. I’ll try to keep it to a minimum.” They both raised to their feet. “Ciaran will not be able to tell that you ever had a womb. As far as he will know, it was taken when you were young. That should save you from any problems.”

“What about the magic as it happens? Will he not sense it?”

Jessica held her hands up together. She let her head fall back.

“Arcendum malum. Arcendum malum,

---