Page 77 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

“I’m sorry,” she said sarcastically. “I should’ve let her capture me.”

“She could’ve died,” I said and gritted my teeth.

“What do you think is going to happen to me?” the chimera shot back.

Ryder growled.

Guilt panged in my chest. The girl had just lost her mother because of the hunt for her that me and Freya were willing participants in. Things had obviously been life and death for her for a while.

That sort of thing drove people to crazy choices.

As Ryder drove and drove and drove, heavy silence pressed on all of us, interrupted only by the steady splashing of the ocean’s waves against the boat. The chimera’s shoulder brushed mine, and I forced myself not to immediately shift away. She was unnaturally warm.

I reminded myself that this girl had just been brutally ripped from her family and taken into the custody of a guy claiming to be her mate and a handful of strangers. Though I knew I would live to regret it, considering who we planned on giving the girl to, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

She swallowed. “Elle.”

“It’s a pretty name,” Cadence offered.

I smiled at my sister, and the chimera—Elle—offered her own wobbly smile. Freya continued to sulk.

“I’m Walker,” I said, “and that’s my little sister, Cadence. The demon-cat is Arion, our pilot is Ryder, and the…” I stumbled over what to call Freya exactly, “redhead is Freya.”

“Are introductions really necessary?” Freya asked.

I sighed. “C’mon, sweetheart.”

“Why wouldn’t they be necessary?” Ryder asked without turning around.

“The plan has not changed,” Freya said, “just because yourconditionhas.”

Ryder growled. When he turned, his eyes glowed like a wolf’s.

“Maybe we should talk about this later,” I suggested.

Elle patted my leg. “Don’t trouble yourself, Walker. I know why you all came for me. I’ve known you would come my whole life.”

As that chilling sentiment set in, Freya stared daggers at where the chimera had touched me. Something burned in my chest.

Is Freya jealous?

Freya’s gaze snapped to Elle’s. “Fine. You want to play victim?” she homed in on me. “You want introductions?”

Freya held her hand out to Elle’s. “I am Freya Redfern, Heir to the Coven of Hecate, and if you harm a single hair on any of our heads, I will make it your greatest regret.”

Buildings had crumpled under less hateful stares, but Elle showed no reaction at all. She simply looked straight ahead at the endless expanse of sea.

“You’re safe now,” Ryder insisted in a gravelly voice. “No one’s taking you anywhere.”

“I’ve already been taken,” Elle muttered.

“Damn right you have,” Freya agreed.

She pulled the pendant the High Witch had given us from her pocket, and Elle gasped. As she studied the strange creature and its ruby eyes, more tears poured down her cheeks.

“My necklace,” she whispered. Her jaw clenched. “Where did you get that?”

---