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  Lachlan moved quickly, reaching for the knot holding one of his hands when he saw Josh jerk. The young man’s eyes went wide, and he looked down at Lachlan.

  “Josh, it’s okay.” Lachlan tried to calm him down. “I’m here, and nothing will happen to you now. Promise.”

  Josh continued to struggle. The man was on the verge of panic.

  Lachlan fumbled with the knot, but it was tight. He went to reach for his knife when a hand landed on his shoulder, and Lachlan froze in place.

  “Now why would you make a promise you can’t possibly keep, Lachlan?”

  Clara?

  Lachlan slowly turned around and was met with the realization that his ears weren’t deceiving him. The magnitude of the situation topped with the knowledge that the once-innocent face of a woman he thought he knew had in fact been nothing but a stranger.

  Clara’s wavy, brown hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail.

  Her heart-shaped face looked gnarled and haggard from evil and unfamiliar to Lachlan now. The eyes that once drew him in reflected nothing but hate. Lachlan couldn’t grasp that this was his sweet, kindhearted Clara. The young woman he would have done anything for.

  “Clara, what’s going on?” Lachlan asked.

  She laughed, and her eyes sparkled as if it were the funniest thing she had ever heard. “Well isn’t it obvious?” Clara stopped laughing and sauntered toward him. “It’s in my nature to do this since I’m a witch and all.” Once she stood right in front of Lachlan, she ran one thin finger down his cheek. He wanted to cringe away but didn’t want to give her that power. “And to be honest I get off on it.”

  Lachlan made to grab his knife, but he couldn’t move his hand.

  His eyes darted up when he heard Clara giggle. He tried moving his Garrett’s Choice

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  feet, but they were stuck to the ground as if they were in cement blocks. For the first time in many years, Lachlan started to panic.

  “I don’t understand,” he said. “I’ve seen you shift. I know you are a werewolf.” He spoke in a rush, trying to figure out what was going on. The things he’d seen, he couldn’t have imagined it. But this? This hold she had on him now, he couldn’t explain it even if he weren’t freaking out.

  “See that’s where you’re wrong.” Clara snatched the knife from its sheath where it rested on Lachlan’s belt. “For centuries witches”—

  she turned to hold the blade up to the firelight—“have been looking for ways around that annoying bitch, Mother Nature. All this good versus evil and balance in the universe is a real pain. Don’t you think?” Clara looked over her shoulder and winked at him.

  “What are you talking about?” Lachlan fought against the invisible bindings holding him in place, but it was no use.

  “Lachlan, you truly are a stupid cat, but then again maybe your precious council doesn’t keep you all as informed as you’d like or maybe they are just that far behind the times.” She turned and pointed his own knife at him.

  “As with anything time wears on. Seconds become minutes, minutes become days, days become weeks, weeks become months, months become years, and so on and so on. See it’s an endless cycle, and it was just a matter of time before evil found a way around Mother Nature’s balance of good and evil. As time wears on she’s gotten tired, and her hold on what’s right and wrong is starting to slip in certain areas.”

  “You lie,” Lachlan said between clenched teeth. The balance of good versus evil was the only thing that held good and evil on a level playing field. Without it chaos would run amuck and they would all be fucked.

  “I do not,” she snapped at him. “Evil can’t get around everything, but we found a way to shift, and if you ask me it’s a start.” Her eyes swung to Victor and Josh. She walked closer to them. Lachlan’s body 146

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  turned and followed her, but he had no control. She caused his body to move as he stood there powerless to fight it.

  Lachlan kept his face hard, not wanting to show any signs of fear.

  He kept trying to figure it out. Evil beings were always trying to find a loophole, but this just seemed unrealistic. There had to be a drawback.

  “I can tell by the contorted look on your pretty face you’re trying to figure out if I’m lying or telling the truth.” Once she reached where the men were hanging in the air, she turned back to Lachlan. “My son, Damon, should be enough proof for you.”

  Lachlan’s mind jerked. If he hadn’t been held by an unseen force he’d probably have stumbled and fallen flat on his ass. Clara didn’t look that old, but paranormals didn’t age beyond their twenty-seventh to thirtieth year of life. They all appeared young, but Clara always seemed to have a naiveté about her. He had to give her credit, she fooled him.

  “How?” Lachlan asked. His only defense was to keep her talking and hope that Garrett and Ben found a way around the barrier keeping him caged in with Clara.

  Clara’s head jerked to the side. She stared at something he couldn’t see. Sweat trickled down from his hairline as he tried to think of a way to get his hands on her.

  “Now that’s not fair,” Clara said in a pouty voice but didn’t say it to Lachlan. He had no clue who she was speaking to. She blinked her eyes, and when she opened them again, all Lachlan could see was black. Her pretty bright-green eyes were replaced with a shiny black onyx, void of any life.

  “Clara,” Lachlan kept his voice steady as he spoke.

  Clara’s head fell back and she opened her mouth and screamed so loud, Lachlan thought his eardrums had broken. Lachlan watched as black smoke wove its way out of her mouth in a circular motion like a tornado. Then the smoke shot out in all directions, breaking through the invisible force field surrounding them.

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  Lachlan watched as Clara shook her head and took a deep breath.

  He tried again to move his hands, but it was a failed attempt.

  “What was that?” he asked.

  “Oh, that.” Clara pointed out into the distance. “A little present for your friends.” Clara held a finger up to her lips. Lachlan wanted to ask what she meant by that. His mate was out there. His heart started to beat rapidly at not knowing what was happening beyond the little bubble she held them in.

  “Now where was I? Oh how I’m able to shift and be a witch?

  That’s easy to answer. I have to drink the blood of a shifter until I drain them completely then kill them before they can heal themselves.

  I take in their life force. To get a life, you have to take a life. But the younger the shifter, the shorter the effects. A pain in the ass if you ask me.”

  “That’s impossible.” Everything in Lachlan said not to believe her strange ramblings, but he’d seen her change. He’d met Damon.

  Something was at work here.

  “Come on, Lachlan. Open your eyes. You’ve seen me shift and you see with your own eyes now that I’m holding you prisoner with my magic, and”—she held up a finger—“I’m keeping you hidden from your precious mate and those bothersome Warriors of the Light.

  I’m a full-fledged witch, my dear.”

  “I’ve met Damon. I can’t imagine him killing a fly let alone a person just so he can shift.” He had to keep talking. They had a witch with them, too. Klaus was old and powerful. If anyone could find a way around Clara’s magic, it had to be him or so he prayed.

  “You’ve hit the nail on the head with that one. I became pregnant with Damon while under the influence of a shifter’s blood. So he was given the gift of a witch as well as partial shifting abilities. He can’t shift fully, so he’s more of a freak than anything. Adding that to his caring nature makes him a disappointment to have as a child. But he is good to have around for his predictability. When I found out he came to you, I knew he’d go to you again. So being the cunning 148

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  woman that I am I told him my plans after I gave him his punishment for contacting you in the fir
st place. That boy needs to learn respect for his mother, but he did serve a purpose tonight. He told you about the missing wolves, and you did what I’d expected. You and Garrett came looking for them. Always the heroes.”

  “I’d rather be a hero than a psychopath like you.” Lachlan’s skin began to itch. His lion wanted out but whatever hold Clara had on him paralyzed his ability to shift.

  Clara clicked her tongue. “Lachlan, you should be nicer to me being as I’m the one with all the power.” She stepped toward him and ran the edge of the blade down his cheek. The motion was slow and deep, causing blood to ooze down his cheek. He clenched his eyes tight as the pain worked its way across his body and through to the rest of his nerve endings.

  When done, she took a step back. Clara brought the blade to her mouth and licked down the sharp edge, taking in Lachlan’s blood. Her eyes flashed black again as she hummed her pleasure. Lachlan just stared at her, unable to look away.

  “Your blood tastes amazing.” Clara closed her eyes, and when she opened them, they had gone back to normal.

  “Clara, why are you doing this?” Lachlan pleaded. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but he was losing faith that his mate or the warriors would get to them. “Damon said you wanted Garrett dead, why? He’s been nothing but good to you. Took you in when he believed the lies you told him. Garrett cares about you.”

  “Because, cat,” Clara hissed at him. “He’s destined for great things, and we can’t have that. So he must die and the best way to do that is?”

  “To kill me first,” Lachlan whispered. His eyes fell to stare at the dirt-covered ground. It was the last thing he’d see before he died. He wasn’t ready. This couldn’t be it, but it was out of his hands. If this was the end for him, it shouldn’t be for Josh or Victor.

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  “Let them go,” Lachlan shouted as he nudged his chin in the wolves’ direction. “You have me. Please just let them go,” he begged for all he was worth. Something good had to come of all this.

  “Let them go?” Clara looked at Victor then to Josh. “And let such easy prey escape me. I can’t do that. I’m not wired for humanity. Like when Lacy begged for her life, I just laughed. Like I care if she lived or died. I needed a recharge, and she tasted so divine.” A cruel smiled twisted her face, and Lachlan couldn’t believe this was the same Clara he cared for. “And I was so hungry that night like I am now.” She turned to the young men and looked them over from head to toe.

  “Clara, please.” Lachlan could feel the sting of tears as he watched her eye the boys like they were a meal and not people, with a soul, who deserved to live.

  “I’ll tell you what, Lachlan, you choose.” She held a hand up and pointed between Victor and Josh. Josh’s eyes were wide, and his body shook. Victor was still unconscious, not knowing his life was in jeopardy. “Who lives to see another day, and who goes to meet his maker?”

  “You can’t ask that of me. It’s not fair.”

  “Okay. Then I choose.” Clara turned to Josh and held the blade up to his throat.

  “No!” Lachlan screamed.

  “Hmm, I guess it’s your lucky day,” Clara said to Josh.

  Clara blinked out of sight then appeared in front of Victor.

  Lachlan screamed as he watched her slice the knife across his throat and covered her mouth over the gushing wound. Josh’s hindered screams filled Lachlan’s ears as he struggled unsuccessfully once again to break her hold.

  Victor never moved as she drank gulp after gulp. Lachlan could hear the disgusting slurping sounds she made. Victor’s skin began to drain of all color and turned a stone white as all his life-giving blood seeped out of his body.

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  “Clara, stop! God just please stop.” Lachlan shouted at her, but she never looked his way.

  When no more blood dripped out of the wound, she gave one final lick. She looked over her shoulder, winked at Lachlan, then turned back to Victor. She placed both her hands on Victor’s head and twisted. The pop of bone and the wet sound of muscle and skin tearing apart were sickening. She wrenched Victor’s head from his body and tossed it aside like it was nothing.

  Fury like Lachlan never felt before coursed through his veins.

  Victor was young and deserved better than this. Lachlan remembered the talk he shared with Josh just that morning. Victor and Josh were in love, not mates, but a close second. And now it was gone. Victor’s body hung from his bindings. That was all that was left of the young man. His soul was gone forever.

  “No!” Lachlan roared as his shift took over. Whatever hold she had weakened with his fury. Lachlan could only partially shift, but that was enough. He felt his claws descend and his teeth lengthen. His face contorted as it grew and stretched. Fur prickled across his face and body as his muscles changed form and he stood taller than his normal height.

  With one quick shove he moved past whatever power she had over him and lunged at her. Clara still had her back to him and never saw it coming. She screamed as he bit down on her shoulder. They struggled but he never released his heavy jaw. He had it clamped down in a deadly grip.

  Clara started to shift. Her claws extended, and she reached back and grabbed Lachlan by the head. Her nails dug in deep, and he roared as the pressure seared his skin. He used his own clawed hands to pry off her hold, but she was strong. When she curled her hand inward, he threw her off him.

  “You stupid cat.” Clara’s voice was garbled in her half-wolf, half-human form. “I’m still stronger than you.”

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  Flickering lights behind her caught Lachlan’s attention. He could have sworn he saw beyond the lighted circle they were in. His distraction gave Clara her opening.

  She leapt forward and swiped her claws across his face. Lachlan stumbled backward but kept his arms up. He shot out his right then left fist but met nothing but empty air. She was fast and strong.

  Lachlan had never fought someone this powerful before. She had abilities he’d never seen, and he wasn’t entirely sure what all her capabilities were.

  A fist to the gut had Lachlan doubled over. He gasped for breath as he stood back up. He dodged her next punch, but she was too fast for him to reach. She laughed and taunted his efforts. Lachlan was tiring out, and he expected this was her plan all along.

  Clara jumped to his left then blinked out of sight. Lachlan shuffled his feet as he circled around. He could feel his blood run down his face to soak his shirt. Between the blood loss and him exerting all his energy, he could barely stay on his feet.

  From behind him he heard a twig snap, but before he could turn around a hard blow connected with the center of his back. The sound of bone cracking echoed in the clearing. Lachlan fell to the ground like a ton of bricks. Clara flipped him over then sat to straddle his hips. She smiled down at him.

  “You disappoint me, Lachlan.” Clara smiled. “I expected more from a Warrior of the Light.” She tsked. “I guess you warriors are a weaker lot then we originally thought.”

  Clara raised the knife in her hand high above her head. The light from the fire reflected off the long, serrated edge. The deathly intent in her eyes glowed with victory.

  Over Clara’s shoulder he could hear Josh trying to cry out. He could see the tears streaking down the young man’s face, and there wasn’t a damn thing Lachlan could do to save him. Lachlan would bet his soul that Clara would kill Josh as soon as she finished with him.

  Another young life cut short by the woman he called his friend.

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  Clara continued to talk, but Lachlan was no longer listening. To hear more of her cruel intentions didn’t matter now. He’d die before he ever got the chance to tell someone. The blow to his back snapped his spine in two. Sure, he’d heal in time, but the look in Clara’s eyes proved that time had run out.

  His head lolled to the side, and staring back at him were
Victor’s lifeless eyes where his head lay detached from his body. Victor died because Lachlan wasn’t smart or quick enough. Clara had sucked him into her game of deceit, and it cost Victor’s, and soon Josh’s, lives.

  Lachlan’s vision started to fade out. He no longer had the energy to fight or keep his eyes open. If he were going to die, the last thing he saw was not going to be the crazy bitch preparing to kill him.

  Letting his eyelids drop shut, Lachlan brought up Garrett’s image. He pictured the ruggedly handsome man who had captured his heart and given Lachlan’s life purpose after so many years of going through the motions. His time with Garrett was short but oh so sweet. Lachlan had to believe Garrett would find the strength to go on without him.

  Losing one’s mate was the hardest thing a paranormal could suffer through, but it could be done, and if what Clara said was true, Garrett was destined for great things and needed to survive.

  Succumbing to his fate, Lachlan let go of everything around him.

  His time had come to an end. The haziness of sleep dragged him under, and then there was nothing.

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  Chapter Sixteen

  “Where the fuck did he go?” Garrett yelled into his earpiece as he turned in a circle. One minute Lachlan was by his side, then the next he was gone. In the flash of an eye his mate had disappeared.

  “Garrett, where did who go?” Ben’s voice came over the airway.

  “Lachlan. We were walking together searching the area, then he just took off running. I followed, but he just disappeared. As if by mag…”

  Garrett’s words trailed off as what he just said sunk in. Klaus had warned them he felt some type of energy in the air, and now Lachlan was gone. Whatever was out here with them took Lachlan.

  The sound of feet crunching leaves and twigs grew nearer. Ben came into sight with Miles and Klaus by his sides. A pissed-off look marred the Warriors of the Light’s leader.

  “How did you let this happen?” Ben accused in a not-so-friendly tone.