No. No.
“Karl didn’t do this. He said he didn’t hunt humans. He never—”
“Karl was hungry and past due for a feed. He confessed it was likely he would be denied access to the blood bags once he told his Elder he was leaving. He was likely desperate.”
I shook my head frantically back and forth, unwilling to believe. Unwilling to see.
It wasn’t him. It wouldn’t be him.
Luka stepped in front of me, sniffing the air. “He was definitely here. Should we follow him?”
Sorrow grabbed my heart in a fierce grip and squeezed. My breaths came fast, then faster, and then suddenly I was bundled into Luka’s arms, his scent burrowing into my nostrils as he forced us both to the ground. The earth met my bare legs, and I calmed only slightly.
I pushed away from Luka and crawled to the woman, taking note of the long traveling cloak and leather boots. My rage and agony shot through my body, one hand digging into the earth and the other fisting in the woman’s cloak.
She wasn’t dead yet! I grunted in pain as magick shot viciously through me, and a blinding white light surrounded both of us.
“Aggie!”
Luka tried to go to my side, but the light acted as a barrier, keeping him away. Awareness returned to the witch’s eyes, and she gasped as her back arched painfully off the ground. My fingers felt like they were being burned to crisps, my nails cracking and my throat on fire as I continued to scream. It was too much, and I couldn’t control it.
Then I was pushed away from the witch and into Luka’s waiting arms.
“Take her and go! The druids are coming!”
I recognized Quinn’s voice but couldn’t see anything other than the blinding white light. My hands burned in agony, and tears streamed down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably. Finding the witch and knowing it had been Karl … it had all been too much. Luka grabbed me and started running, and he didn’t stop.