Page 60 of Wicked Fate

The witches began to talk together, and I hugged the little girl tight in my arms. At least I had her.

But then she suddenly moved and whispered, “Fire, I—” Her voice was full of apprehension. “I have to go with them,” she whispered. “They’re my coven now.”

CHAPTERSEVENTEEN

My breath caught, and my heart squeezed uncomfortably. I wanted to tell this girl that she’d be safer with me, but that wasn’t true. She’d be more at risk.

She pulled away from me, and I let her drop to the ground. Her head came to just above my waist, and once again, the fierce urge to protect her came over me.

Her focus was on the other witches. Several had started walking down the road, but others stood steady and looked toward the girl, their chins raised despite the signs of their captivity—matted hair, dirty skin, and the stench of what they’d had to live in.

“I hope you understand,” she added, softer now, and looked back at me.

I crouched lower, heart pounding so loud it drowned out the rustle of branches and the shuffle of feet. “You don’t have to go.” I placed a hand on her shoulder. “You can come with us. I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”

She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that cut deep. “You already did.”

Something inside me cracked wide open. She reminded me of innocence and hope. Everything I used to be until the vampires changed me.

The witch with the swollen eye stepped forward, extending a hand to the young girl. Her expression was tired but fierce. “I’ll protect her. No matter what. I swear on the goddess.”

The girl didn’t hesitate and took the woman’s hand.

“Thank you for not leaving me there,” she whispered. “Thank you for seeing me. It’ll never be forgotten, and one day, I’ll return the debt owed.”

My eyes burned as unshed tears filled them. “You owe me nothing.” I hated the idea that, if someone helped another, there was this burden placed on the one receiving the help. Our pack never expected anything in return for our help, and it saddened me that most supernaturals felt a sense of obligation.

The little girl blew me a kiss as she joined the other witches. My knees threatened to give out, watching her walk away. I wasn’t sure how I’d connected with her so quickly and completely.

Ryker wrapped an arm around my waist, and I leaned into him. I could hear the shuffles of the others putting the witch, Bruce, and Cassi in the vehicles.

Ryker didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. He just held me as I tried to keep from breaking.

Leaves crunched in the direction of the prison.

Sun stiffened. “We’ve got incoming.”

Xander’s ears perked, his nose lifting to the breeze. A low growl rumbled in his throat.

Our time was up.

“Everyone, get in the vehicles. Now,” Ryker barked.

I spun around to see that Bruce had made it into the front passenger seat of the Accord, and Cassi was waiting in the back seat of the Mazda. The new witch had been placed in the far back of the Mazda since it was a hatchback. Reid slammed the trunk shut and hurried into the car.

The final rescued witches took off at a slow gait, staying next to the road, which would have vehicles periodically driving by. The vampires couldn’t attack without outing their kind.

Sun slid in the back of the Mazda with Reid, and Ryker and I hurried to the front. I slid behind the wheel as Briar opened the back seat of the Accord and Gage, Xander, and Kendric jumped in, still in wolf form.

Our engines roared to life just as a few vampires tore out of the tree line.

Tires squealed, and dirt shot up everywhere. I floored the gas pedal, but it wasn’t fast enough.

A body slammed into the back of the Mazda with a force that rocked the entire car. The rearview mirror showed a blur of movement as claws scraped metal.

The vampire latched onto the trunk, claws screeching as he crawled toward the rear window.

“Hold on!” I shouted, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles went white.

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