Page 120 of Her Blood Revenge

That, and impending doom.

Suddenly, the darkness lifts as I pass through an invisible line. The water becomes blissfully warm and crystal clear. Above, I see the ripple of a blue sky instead of the murky swamp.

Down. Down. Down.

My lungs are getting desperate for air, and I continue to fight against this drag.

I look down, expecting to see an endless depth.

Instead, I see a fucking town protected by a barrier like an orb of glass on the sea bed. Homes and roads. Trees and life!

The tugging sensation grows and I’m soaring towards it until I finally break through. I take a deep gasp, filling my lungs with much-needed air, and land face down in the dirt.

‘Owwwww…’ I groan, spitting a load of it from my mouth. ‘Just… owwwwww…’

When hands settle on my back, I sit and wrap my fingers in the mess of her hair, pulling it tightly and making her yelp. It would be her throat if I knew she wouldn’t go catatonic and suffer flashbacks.

‘It’s me!’ Pix gasps, slapping at my hand.

‘I know,’ I reply angrily, refusing to relinquish my grip. I pull her closer, enraged that she jumped. Furious that she did so, knowing I would never have allowed it. And raging that her disappearing scared me half to fucking death. I twist her hair tighter between my fingers. ‘Not. Happy.’

A vine wraps around my throat, and I’m yanked away from her. In the blink of an eye, I’m completely entangled and unable to move.

But she blinks in surprise, watching me be dragged away. I land at the feet of three women, their hands stretched out in my direction, and the stench of earth magic, air magic and water magic shrouds them all.

Witches I have never seen before. And I should have, considering their strength.

I can’t shift. My wolf is as pinned as I am.

‘Witch killer,’ the oldest of the three sneers at me. Her fist clenches, and the vines around me tighten further until my ribs threaten to snap. ‘You will do well to keep your hands to yourself. This is a place of sanctuary and peace. You are not welcome here!’ She looks at the goblins who brought us here. ‘You bring a witch killer to this coven?! Are you mad?’

The goblin grunts and waves his hands in the air as he argues his case.

‘He saved her?’ she says, listening to everyword. Fuck knows how she is understanding a single sound. ‘They all helped her to protect the earth coven, you say?’

The goblin nods, and all three of them look at me.

Her long grey hair is perfectly smooth. Her face bears the deep grooves of a long and weary life.

Crone.

The word just pops into my head at the sight of her, especially when I look at the two witches on either side of her.

An air witch of no more than fifteen stands on her left. And to her right is a water witch with a sizeable belly.

Not possible.

The Maiden. The Mother and The Crone.

Shit. This is not good. Talk about a bad omen. Seeing a sight like that is a warning. End of fucking days type shit.

Well, according to my pack, anyway. I remember telling Shaw that once, and he just looked at me like I was insane.

‘Ifyouioonooetmmmguh, I wllkllyoo,’ I warn through the vegetation over my mouth.

‘I did not catch that,’ the crone scoffs. ‘No matter. I know your vile reputation and do not desire to hear you speak.’

The vines tighten further, and I hear a groan inside as my ribs reach their literal breaking point.

---