Page 82 of Which Witch is Willing?
Heart-wrenching pain left her legs weak, but she pressed on.
When she reached the top of the hill, she gathered logs and tree limbs and created a pyre. She held Kai to her chest one last time and struggled to breathe past the crushing pain. “I love you, little buddy. Run free now and know that you’ll forever be in my heart.”
Claire squeezed her eyes shut, forcing tears down her cheeks, and she remained that way until she could catch her breath. Then she gently set his body on top of the pyre and took several steps back.
She lifted her hands, and the strength of her fire jumped to life. “Rest in peace, Kai,” she whispered.
Unbridled anger and brutal grief exploded inside her, and a massive ball of fire jumped from her hands and landed on the pyre. Brilliant flames leapt into the night sky, sending red hot sparks swirling into the air.
She stared at the wildfire that grew bigger and bigger until it was a massive wall of flames that roared in the night, screaming out her fury.
When she was beyond exhausted, she fell backward onto the grass and sobbed while the heat of the fire cradled her in its arms.
An hour later, the flames had died back. Little remained in its wake.
Claire rose and realized she hadn’t brought anything to dig up soil to cover the ashes. She looked around for something that might help and then sensed a presence behind her.
She whirled, not sure if she would find friend or foe.
Tierra approached, walking softly on the grass, the bells on the bottom of her skirt tinkling softly. “Hey,” she said.
Claire started to cry, and Tierra strode forward and wrapped her in an embrace. “I forgot a shovel,” Claire said, her breath hitching.
Tierra stepped back. “Here, let me help you with that.”
With a wave of Tierra’s hand, dirt piled onto the burned mound, suffocating the remaining smoke and burying her beloved Kia’s remains with dark, rich soil. “The circle of life,” she whispered.
Claire nodded but couldn’t speak.
They both stood silent for another few moments, and Claire allowed the softly blowing breeze to cool her cheeks.
Tierra squeezed her hand. “Aerin and Moira would have come, too, but it’s not safe for them to be out of the house right now.”
“I know,” she said softly.
She blinked wet lashes and looked to her sister as another wave of grief rolled through her. “The Standing Stones.”
They’d been destroyed, too.
Tierra gave a small smile. “They were built once a long time ago and can be built again.”
Claire attempted a smile but failed. “Let’s go home. I need to be with my family.”
Tierra nodded and linked her arm through Claire’s. “Everyone else is in the parlor. They’re discussing what we’ll do next. This vicious rampage of Lucy’s will not go unanswered.”
Claire shook her head, trying to hold back tears. “No, it won’t.”
Vengeance burned strong in Claire’s veins. Lucy would pay with her life for what she’d done. Claire had immortality now, and nothing would stop her from extinguishing Lucy’s presence from the earth.
When they arrived home, Tierra headed into the parlor, and Claire excused herself to freshen up. She needed a few minutes to gain what composure she could. She wasn’t sure she could ever find the person that she’d been before Kai’s death, but she’d cling to revenge until she found another source of strength to carry her forward.
In the bathroom, she splashed water on her face until her cheeks cooled. She opened the window, breathed several measured breaths of cool night air, and allowed sounds of the ocean to comfort her.
Then she steeled her heart.
Halfway down the stairs, she realized that the front door stood open, and everyone had congregated there. She frowned, not seeing anyone on the porch or any reason why the group talked excitedly.
Dru glanced over his shoulder as she approached. “Claire!”
