Page 63 of Bite of Passage
“What is this thing?”She palpated for a clip or way to unhook it.“It’s cutting into you.Gracious, that has to hurt.”
“It’s a cinch.”
“What’s it for?”
“Keeps people like me under control.”
“Looks painful.We have to figure out how to get this off.”She put her hands on it.Fontaine said she should know in her heart how to heal people.Maybe that extended to how to remove magical slave bands.
Waiting for answers here…waiting.She moved her fingers again.Any time now...
Instinct kicked in.She moved her fingers along the band until her fingers were on exact opposite sides of the circle.
The girl grabbed her hands.“What are you doing?”
Knowledge crashed into her head.Spooked, she jerked her hands away from the band.“I know how to get it off.But before I do, are you Mira?”
The girl leaned away from her.“No one’s called me Mira in a long time.How’d you know?”
“A woman named Serina sent me through the portal and mentioned you.”
“Serina sent you, did she?”Mira compressed her lips.The wrinkles on her forehead intensified.
Gemma nodded.“Before I remove this, promise you won’t kill Cade and me once you’re free.I’ll know if you lie.”Maybe.
“Why are you helping me?Are you sure you’re not a witch?”
“Pretty damned sure.I’ve had moments when witchy skills would’ve come in real handy, especially with those vampire brothers.They’re grumps, in case you didn’t notice.A few zaps here or there with a happy spell might’ve helped.”
Mira glanced over to Cade and back to Gemma.“I’ve been trying to escape for years.Petra won’t let me.I swear if you get this off, I will help you live as someone like you should live.”
“Let’s make a deal.We help you get out of this place and you’ll let Cade go free.”A new thought occurred to Gemma then.“I assume Skarde is around here somewhere?You’ll have to help us free him too.”
“I don’t trust him.”Mira waved Cade’s direction.“He’s got one of us imprisoned.Who’s to say?—”
“I guarantee Cade won’t mess with you.If he does, I’ll punch him in the balls—again.”
“You did not do that.Did you?”Mira whispered with the hint of a smile on her lips.“He’s blushing.You punched a punisher in the balls?If I were you, I wouldn’t trust him after you did that.You should leave him here.”
Gemma glanced to Cade.“I was pissed at him when I did it.I think we’re good now though, aren’t we?Now, let’s get this thing off and get these vampires out of here.”She twisted the sides of the band against each other and said a few words that popped into her head: “Mouldy, salach, comharra.”
An electrical jolt burned her hands, but the cinch clicked open.
They both stared in silence where it’d fallen on the floor as if it would magically fly back onto Mira’s leg.It remained off.
“I’m impressed with myself.”Gemma wiggled her fingers and massaged her hands.
Mira jumped up and stretched her leg.“It’s off.Really off!”
“How long have you been here?”
“A few years.”She glanced up, but instead of the ecstatic look Gemma expected, the witch nibbled her lip and stared at the door.
“I’m sorry you were trapped here.Do you mind taking the spell off Cade so we can leave?I need him to help me find Skarde.”
Mira’s brows fell low.“Skarde.Forget about him.You can’t get to him.Take that one and get out of here.You helped me.Please, don’t make me…” She swallowed hard and whispered, “Go.Please.Don’t make me help you with Skarde.I don’t want to see you get hurt, especially after you helped me.”
She squeezed Mira’s hand.“Leaving Skarde isn’t an option.”She glanced at Cade seeking… Well, she hoped for partnership from Cade in this.“We’re not leaving without Skarde.”
