Page 173 of The Black Witch

Diana’s lips pull back farther into a full-blown snarl. “I’m going deep into the woods,” she growls, her voice low, her eyes two enraged slits, “where no one can see me. Where I can strip naked without offending the verydelicatesensibilities of your mostmorally upstandingpeople. Then I willChange. And I willrun. For avery long time. Because if I stay here, I will ignore all reason, and Iwillkill him.”

Rafe nods and abruptly releases her arm. She shoots him one last vicious look before storming out.

I start to breathe again as Rafe stares off in the direction she’s exited.

“Do you think she’ll kill him?” I ask, my voice almost a whisper.

Rafe places a hand on one hip and turns to me. “No,” he says, his lips tensing. “She just needs to blow off some steam.”

“She’s right, you know. He deserves to die. He’ll probably just buy another Selkie girl to abuse.”

“Probably,” Rafe agrees. He walks over to the window that overlooks the large open field leading to the edge of the wilds. I follow and can see Diana stalking toward the wilderness at an angry pace, the late-afternoon sun sending a soft, gentle glow over everything, making her golden hair appear as if it’s on fire.

* * *

Later, after leaving the sleeping Selkie under Wynter’s care, I set out to find Andras Volya, ready to beg, if necessary, to convince him to keep our secret.

As I walk along the upstairs hallway, I hear my brother downstairs talking to someone and pause.

“Hello, Diana,” Rafe’s voice is low and wary.

For a moment there’s silence, and I feel a tremor of nervousness for my brother’s safety.

“You were right,” Diana blurts out, her voice uncharacteristically strained. “You were right about everything. Everything you said was true.”

“I’m glad you’ve calmed down,” Rafe says patiently.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I got so angry at you.”

“It’s okay, Diana. Apology accepted.”

There’s another uncomfortable silence.

“And I’m sorry I thought about tearing your arm off,” she says.

I creep to the doorway and peer through the slit where the door swings away from the wall.

Rafe stands facing Diana, his arm on the stone wall next to them. He looks down, collecting his thoughts. Then he glances back up at her, a small smile on his face. “Thank you, Diana. Thank you for not ripping my arm off.”

“It’s just that... I...I have no experience with...with this level of cruelty,” Diana explains haltingly. “I’ve just never seen anything like it.” Diana looks up at Rafe, her face distraught. “Rafe, her whole body...he must have beaten herrepeatedly...”

“I know.”

“She’s soscared. Sobroken. And her eyes...hereyes...” Diana’s voice breaks, and she begins to sob.

My brow flies up in surprise. Diana is so strong and sure, never ruffled by anything. My own sadness for the Selkie wells up inside me, hearing Diana cry so.

“Shhh...” I hear Rafe say. “Come here.”

Diana’s sobs become muffled as Rafe pulls her into a tight embrace.

“I’msosorry!” Diana cries. “I wasn’t thinking! I could have caused so much trouble! My first real test...and Ifailed!” Her words come out in a tangled rush. “I’m a disgrace to my pack!”

“Shhh, Diana...you’re not,” Rafe whispers into her hair. “They’d understand. You’re not a disgrace.”

“Yes, Iam!”

“No, you’renot. Stop. Look at me.”

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