Page 67 of Witch's Moon
Mind you, right now, there was very little “thinking” about it. Ethan did have her where he wanted her. But not for long.
Hopefully, Catrin wouldn’t be far behind, and she would have called in the cavalry. While Regan hated to put her life in the hands of the Council, she hadn’t been able to think of an alternative.
Ethan had met her at the appointed place, and for a brief moment, she’d actually thought he was alone, as promised. Then something slammed into her from behind. She’d gone down on her knees, and before she’d had a chance to fight back, the gag was thrust between her lips and her arms wrenched behind her back and securely tied.
Of course, it was all part of her plan. Sort of.
She’d scrambled to her feet and stared at Ethan, allowing the loathing to show clearly in her eyes. And he’d laughed at her.
Bastard!
She really didn’t like being laughed at. Never had. Catrin was always telling her she took herself too seriously, but that was just the way she was. Now she forced herself to remember that her time would come.
She tried to ignore the panic rising up inside her, to push it down deep where it wouldn’t impair her judgment, but she hated to be helpless. It must have shown in her eyes, because he laughed again, then reached out and took her chin between his fingers and stared into her face. She met his golden gaze and recognized the madness lingering there.
“Hello, again,” Ethan murmured. “As arrogant as ever, I see, but at least you’ve left Caleb out of this. Was he pleased?”
She rolled her eyes. He wasn’t seriously expecting an answer, was he? She was gagged, for God’s sake.
He must have realized the stupidity of trying to have a conversation with a gagged woman. He gestured to someone behind her, and something big and strong lifted her from the ground and tossed her over a hairy shoulder.
The trip seemed endless, and all the while, her mind kept going back to Caleb. He’d said he loved her. Had he meant it? A little flame of excitement had burst into life at the words. And now, however much she told herself she didn’t want his love, the flame refused to die, warming her through the long, uncomfortable journey.
At last, her captor came to a halt. Regan wriggled, but before she could slide free, she was tossed to the hard ground. The little air that remained in her lungs exited via her nose, and she lay winded. It took her a moment to sense that something was not right. She opened her eyes and scrambled to her knees.
She was within a circle, and she could sense it depressing her magic. She’d expected something like this, but still the panic clawed at her mind.
Ethan crouched down in front of her and pulled the gag free.
Regan spat. “There was really no need for that.”
“Of course not.” He drew a knife from the sheath at his thigh. “Turn around.”
Regan scrambled around on her knees and felt him slice through the bonds at her wrists. She turned back to face him, rubbing her hands over the red rings left by the rope.
She swallowed, trying to ease the dryness in her mouth. “Could I have a drink, please.”
Ethan raised a brow at her polite request, but he turned and spoke to someone behind him, and a moment later, he was handed a bottle of water. He gave it to Regan and watched as she drank slowly. She took a deep breath and looked around her. They were standing in a clearing in the forest. At the center, a pyre had been built of freshly chopped wood, piled high.
Of course, it was Samhain—night of the bonfires, when the borders between this world and other worlds were at their thinnest. She knew it wasn’t coincidence. All around the country, anyone who believed in the old ways would be lighting fires to the dead. It was also the night when the restless dead would find a way through to this world—if they were strong enough.
A lump formed in her belly, icy cold. All her life she’d lived with the guilt of what she’d done. Firstly, her stupidity and gullibility in falling for Sardi. It was all very well saying she’d been young and naïve, but what sort of person fell in love with a demon? And not just any demon, but one of the high lord demons of Hell.
Then she had compounded her guilt by destroying the one she loved. What sort of person did that? Because shehadloved him. Even when she discovered how he meant to use her, that love hadn’t died. Was she now going to have to face her guilt all over again?
She wanted to believe it couldn’t be true, that Sardi was gone forever. Her mother had told her that was so. Had she lied? Not for the first time, she cursed her mother. Always taking the easy way out, at least as far as her daughters were concerned. No doubt, she’d thought telling her Sardi was gone would save her pain—in the short run.
She turned back to Ethan. “Do you have any clue what you are doing?” she asked.
“Of course.”
She shook her head. “You’re an ignorant man who is meddling in things beyond his comprehension.”
“I know what I’m doing. I’ve got you, haven’t I? That’s my part of the bargain.”
“And now that you’ve got me, what do you plan to do with me?”
“I hand you over tonight.” He searched her face. “So, my son is in love with you. It’s a pity—you’re going to break his heart.”
