Staggering to her feet, Josephine pushed her shoulders back and glared at the man in the overcoat. “You’re a fool if you think there’s anything in the world that would convince me to give it to you.” The amulet at her neck pulsated in anticipation.
The Master laughed. “Just hand it over, girl. You have no leverage here.” For emphasis, he dug the point of the knife into Henry’s flesh. It was a shallow wound, but Henry’s grunt of discomfort and the beads of blood that stained his shirt were almost enough to make Josephine lose her nerve. Steady, Jo. Stay steady.
“No amount of running and hiding will save you.” The Master’s wicked grin was back, his eyes fixed on Josephine. “I will hunt you to the ends of the earth, just like I hunted your father. Until there is nothing left but pain and death.” He spit on the ground. “Be a good girl and give me what I want.”
Mustering all of her courage, Josephine held up her hand, palm out. Magic sparked between her fingertips. “Let him go. Now.”
For the tiniest of seconds, Josephine swore she saw a flicker of panic flash in the Master’s eyes, but then it was gone.
He sneered at her and yanked Henry to his feet. “Don’t be stupid, girl. Give me the book.”
“No!” Josephine screamed, a hysterical cry rising in her throat. The magic between her fingertips crackled like lightning. “Let him go. Now.”
The Master’s responding peal of laughter, cold and cruel, boomed across the trees, hitting Josephine like a slap in the face. Then, without pause, he took the dagger and sliced it across Henry’s throat.
“No!”
It was as if time itself had stopped. Every part of her, body and soul, wailed as the light in Henry’s eyes faded, as he sank to his knees, blood gushing from his wound. No, no, no! Her cruel mind began hurling images at her: her first glimpse at Henry’s face, a stolen kiss among the trees, a dance underneath the moonlight, the feel of his fingertips tracing down her spine. I can’t survive this. What was left of her heart splintered into a thousand pieces—a thousand wounds that would never heal.
“Take care of this.” The Master flicked his hand toward Henry’s body, addressing the man who has spoken earlier. “Then bring her to me.”
“My lord?” The man with the tattoo cocked his head at Josephine, who stood unmoving. He had a peculiar look on his face, a vile hunger in his eyes that made the Master grin gleefully.
“You men have served me faithfully today,” the Master replied. “Take your pleasure; then bring her to me. Maybe then she’ll be willing to talk.” He stalked back to his horse, mounted, and urged his steed forward.
Josephine’s shattered spirit flickered a little as she caught sight of his long overcoat whipping in the wind as he rode away and disappeared into the shadows, the echo of his laughter on the breeze.
Everything inside her was broken beyond repair. It was as if she had lost all her ability to move or speak. There was nothing but silence and emptiness. She swayed and almost fell, but a rough hand gripped her by the wrist and yanked her forward.
The face in front of her was plain and covered with grime. The calculating, hungry eyes first roamed over her body, and then the hands followed.
Fight back! the tiny voice inside her head screamed at her, but it was her heart that was in control, or rather the aching hole where it had once been—nothing but silence and emptiness. Please, Jo, fight back! The man’s foul breath was hot on her skin, but she couldn’t move. The tiniest of sparks ignited between her fingertips, but quickly fizzled. Only silence and emptiness.
Over the man’s shoulders, she saw two others walk over to Henry’s body. One of them kicked at Henry’s leg. The other chuckled. As they bent down to pick him up, something inside her snapped. A roar tore from her throat as fiery rage consumed her. She threw out her hands. The magic surged from her fingertips like bolts of lightning, ripping and shredding through the man holding her and the two next to Henry.
The screams of the men mixed with the harsh wails of the horses. The ground rumbled from the stamping hooves as the panicked animals broke the formation and fled. The sky filled with crackling green light and a tangible energy as she screamed, blasting man after man, until not a single person was left standing. It was only then that the scream died on her lips. She lowered her hands.
With tears pouring down her cheeks, Josephine crawled over to Henry’s body. She called his name over and over as her fingers searched in vain for the rhythmic pulse in his neck. Desperate, she laid her head on his chest, praying the familiar beating would echo in her ears.
There was nothing but silence.
Crying bitterly, Josephine wept until her eyes began to ache, but that was nothing compared with the agony of her heart. I can’t survive this. . . . I can’t survive this. . . . I won’t survive this.
She stayed there, the dead all around her, until the warmth had faded from Henry’s skin.
The overwhelming sorrow had knocked the very breath right out of her, but she managed to pull herself to her feet. She placed a shaky hand over her heart, trying to stop the hammering pain from crushing her.
“Good-bye, Henry,” she whispered through her tears. “Good-bye, my love.”
With tears pouring down her cheeks and the orange glow of the morning sun streaming through the trees, she began to run.
Her emerald amulet hummed at her throat.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
When I opened my eyes, a familiar face was staring worriedly back at me. It took several seconds for me to realize I was back in the graveyard with Ty’s arms wrapped protectively around me.
“Lainey?” Ty whispered, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Ty,” I whispered back. Then I burst into tears.
Ty’s arms tightened around me, and I laid my head against his chest. Beneath my cheek, his heartbeat was fast, but sure. I closed my eyes and let the stable rhythm soothe me. When my tears had dried up, I pulled back, suddenly very aware of the way our bodies were pressed together. My ears burned. “I . . . uh . . .” I took a quick step back, looking down at my feet as I maneuvered out of his arms. My entire face felt like it was on fire. “I’m sorry, I—”
“Lainey?” another voice called from over Ty’s shoulder. Maggie’s pale face popped into view, and I launched myself at her.
“Oh my God, Styles. You scared the crap out of me. Are you okay?”
I pulled away and wiped my face with the back of my hand. “No, not really.”
Maggie’s arms tightened around me, and I snuck a quick glance at Ty. He had one hand resting on the back of his neck, and he looked confused.
“One minute we’re standing there talking, and the next, you disappeared.” Maggie’s eyes were wide and she was shaking. “We heard you screaming, but we couldn’t get to you. The trees . . .” She shook her head as if the words were too shocking to say.
“It’s okay, you can say it. The tree attacked me,” I said, as a hysterical giggle bubbled up in my throat. I think I’m going into shock.
“We need to get you out of here,” Ty said, reading my mind. “Think you can walk?”
I nodded and allowed Ty and Maggie to guide me back toward the parking lot.