Page 64 of Midwinter Night's Prince

33

THE WITCH

The emotionless zombie vamp was hardly gentler than the crazy one, but at least he didn't seem interested in murdering her.

He carried her unceremoniously thrown over his broad shoulder, through green Highland plains in the rain. They reached the edge of an old castle in ruins Blair must have passed in front of a hundred times when they drove out of town. Walking in, the vampire threw her off his shoulder, to her knees.

Blair yelled as she hit the paved flooring, scraping her knees. The next instant, she summoned her friends, hoping against all hope that her call would work despite the distance, despite Oldcrest's wards.

She tried to get up, but the brute's hand immediately closed around her still-tender throat, and he pushed her back down to her knees.

"The witch, my queen."

"Well done, Andreas. I should have sent you much sooner. Bring her closer if you please."

He dragged her across the flooring, ignoring her pleas, her screams, impassive as her skin bled all over the ground. There was no feeling in him. The boy, at least, had enjoyed her suffering. This man? Nothing.

Tears streaked her face as she looked up to his cold gray eyes. He didn't even seem to be able to see her.

Then she understood.

He was spelled to obey, nothing else.

Aveka had done to him what she was planning to do to Seth.

Over my dead body.

Andreas let go and moved away.

Blair lifted her head. She was surrounded. There must be a hundred vampires in the ruins of this hall, and lording over them all was Aveka, seated at what was left of an altar.

"Let me have a good look at you," the creature said, hopping off to stroll to her, balanced perfectly on top of her four-inch heels.

Blair recoiled at her approach, finally getting to her feet.

Aveka seemed to find it funny. "Not much to look at. Yet you’ve caused so many problems."

The bitch waved and two men grabbed Blair's arms, forcing her to advance toward Aveka.

No.No.

Spotting the hilt of a dagger at her captor's belt, she snatched the weapon, drew it, and aimed for her heart this time, taking no chances.

Before the blade could reach its destination, her hand was crushed in a steel grip.

Blair started to thrash against it, until a familiar voice said, "Don't you fucking dare. Not again."

Seth stood in front of her. Her Seth.

He was here. He'd come.

Her knees gave out. The two men at her side let go, or so she thought, before she saw both of them fall to the ground.

A casual Finn, still shirtless, held a sword sword wet with blood, and heads rolled along the stones.“Now, that was fun!” he announced.

And then there was chaos.

Her friends were too fast for her eyes, until Blair found the strength to build the usual spells she used while facing supernatural creatures: strength, protection, and celerity.

---