Page 73 of Beyond the Cottage

“We’re not killing him,” Gretta said. “And we’re not giving him to the cops.” She turned to Ansel. “I need to talk to you.”

Before he could respond, she dragged him off.

“Stay where we can see you,” Philip called.

Ansel and Gretta stopped at the swamp’s edge. Crossing her arms, she asked, “Are you coming with me or not?”

He’d been so distracted by their night together, he hadn’t given any more thought to her offer. Her arguments about fighting magic had been compelling, all but convincing him she didn’t intend to turn him in.

So what was there to consider? Her offer amounted to a choice between potentially funding the repellent and…what? Never seeing her again?

If he went with her, it only meant a delay of their final separation, but what if Isobel had been right? What if he only needed time to win Gretta’s forgiveness? If there was any chance of that at all, he needed to try.

Because shehadcared for him once, he knew it. Maybe she could again?

Filled with new purpose, Ansel straightened. “I’ll go.”

Gretta’s shoulders relaxed. She hadn’t realized how tense they were until he answered.

“I need to tie up loose ends here,” he said. “It should take an hour. And I want assurances Seven and Jonas won’t be trifled with.”

Letting Jonas off the hook grated, but she had to trust he’d eventually piss of the wrong party and get his comeuppance. Gretta had bigger things on her mind.

Nodding, she dragged Ansel back to the others.

“I’m bringing Ansel to meet Nat,” she told them.

“Why?” Philip barked.

“Because he invented anti-witchcraft technology and needs an investor. Nat will be interested.”

“You intend to repay the degenerate who kidnapped you withmoney?” Brand asked. “Nat will probably toss him in prison himself.”

“Maybe, but he’ll lock him in a lab for a few years first.” When Ansel arched a brow at her, she shrugged.

“We’re not hauling him all the way home,” Philip said. “He’s dead weight at best, a liability at worst.”

“We’renot doing shit. I’ll deal with him.”

“Gretta—” Brand said.

“Stop,” she said, throwing her hand up. “I appreciate that you came for me, but I’ve made up my mind.”

All three men stood in silence.

After a moment, Philip scoffed. “Your call, pixie. We’ve wasted enough time here. But if he takes off on you, I’m not helping track him down.”

“I willnotbe leaving her,” Ansel said. “Now tell me what you did with my people.”

Brand waved his massive hand at the sky. “The pixies who could fly have been released. Philip put the nymph in a cell.” With coldness that surprised Gretta, he continued, “It’ll be good practice for where she’s going.”

“She was only my administrative assistant,” Ansel said. “You will release her immediately!”

“She’s an accessory to a crime.”

Gretta put a hand on Brand’s arm. “She never actually hurt me. I don’t want her sent to jail.”

Brand stared at her incredulously. “What the hell happened to you? Have they threatened you? Put a spell you?”

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