Page 80 of Villainous Soul

“Are you not coming?” I asked.

“Donovan will handle everything,” she said. “He will rid you of this evil.”

“Can’t I come with you?” My voice cracked, and I licked my dry lips. “Please.”

“You belong to him now, pet.”

“Janice,” Donovan said. “You’re sure he will come?”

“He’ll come for her. And you’ll get rid of him. You have everything you need in the bag.”

He gave her a quick nod and shut the door.

The car drove off, and I was left on the dock with men no better than the man who first brought me here.

* * *

The boat rocked backand forth in the swells as we crossed the sound. Dorcha sat in the distance, covered by dark, ominous clouds. It was a short ten-minute ride, and by the time we reached the sheltered pier, we were drenched. A single boat was tethered to the dock. Donovan jumped out and tied off the small craft, grabbing the duffle.

“What’s in the bag,” I asked as I climbed out and wrapped my arms around myself to try and keep warm.

Donovan started up the hill. “Specialized weapons.”

My breath caught in my raw throat. “Weapons.”

“Aye, if you’re going to catch a monster, you need weapons.”

Head bent and hunched over, no more than a zombie, Cormac trailed behind us as we walked to the castle.

The door was unlocked, and Aidan was nowhere to be found when we arrived. Donovan called out his name, looking in various rooms.

“Maybe he left,” I said. “I just heard Keir mention it to him. He might not have come. I could have been wrong.” My grandmother’s words sat in the back of my mind.He will come for her. Something wasn’t right, and I had become, yet again, a pawn in someone else’s game.

“No, someone has been here and recently,” he disagreed.

“Keir has an estate manager. He stays in the caretaker’s cottage. We could check there.”

He grabbed my hand, pulling me to the couch. “You’re not going anywhere. You’ll sit here.”

“I need water.”

“You’ll get water when I say you can have it.”

There was a shuffling sound on the second floor, and a man came down the stairs.

“Niles,” I said under my breath with a sense of relief.

“Mrs. Wilson, I didn’t realize you would be visiting,” the butler said, adjusting the bow tie on his suit. “Is Mr. Wilson joining you?” His eyes brushed over Donovan and Cormac.

“Um, no.”

“Would you like me to take your luggage to your room?” he suggested. “You look tired, and perhaps your guests would like to rest.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have any luggage.”

“Oh, an impromptu trip. I’m sure I can rummage up some necessities.”

“I’m looking for my nephew Aidan O’Donnell,” Donovan interjected. “I was told he was staying here.”

---