Page 95 of Her Blood Revenge

‘Not enough to warrant a problem with you, My Lord General.’

‘And why would your knowing her cause a problem with us?’ I ask.

He looks between me and Bensen.

‘Speak freely, Langly.’

‘I want nothing to do with a traitorwho flees her coven,’ he insists. ‘Besides. She is dead. And a good job, too.’

‘No,’ Shaw replies, stepping closer to him. ‘She is not dead.’

‘You are looking for her?’ he says, suddenly very interested. He looks at Bensen, who nods his further approval to speak freely. ‘No one has seen her since the blood rite. But if you require our help finding her, we will oblige.’

‘And why would you do that? If we are seeking her, it is safe to assume that we mean her harm.’

‘She was never a good witch. Always too wild and unruly.’ He laughs as if relieved, looking at his friends and nudging their arms. ‘They are seeking Ashe. She will not last long with them on her trail, hey lads?’

The prick is still laughing as he faces us. We don’t react. Just watch.

‘We were told she tried to refuse the blood rite and died when she attempted to run,’ another of the men adds. ‘Trouble, that one. A complete anomaly in the coven. So unlike the earth witch women we raise here.’

‘Is that so?’ Archie asks with a forced smile. No one else can tell it is nothing but a warning of the anger he’s forming inside.

‘Yes, My Lord. I hope you do not judge the rest of us on her behaviour or her nature. Her mother and father should have just allowed her to die as an infant. A sickly little thing she was. I remember her always bawling, driving her poor parents mad with stress.’

‘You think of her as a child often, do you?’ Archie asks.

His smile falters.

‘Whateveryou plan on doing with her,’ another of them continues. ‘You will find no complaints from us. And if we can help in any way to track her down, we shall, of course, assist you. Anything to guarantee your kindness.’

I step closer, towering over the man by more than a full head.

‘What little kindness exists in me exists for one reason. And one reason alone. For my future wife. Though she may argue I have no kindness in me with recent events.’

‘Y-you are to marry?’ He glances at Bensen briefly. ‘C-congratulations.’

‘I believe you know of her.’

‘M-my Lord?’ he asks, still trying to maintain his composure.

‘I believe you and your friends here forced her to degrade herself for you. That you tormented her. Abused her.’

His eyes widen in understanding. The slow creature finally understands.

‘A-Ashe is your… your…’ he whispers, unable to complete his sentence.

‘So what do you think a monster likemewill do to men likeyou? Men who hurt arguably the only creature I have ever cared about? Men who caused irreversible pain to the only reason I have ever shown any mercy or kindness in my very long life?’

‘Whatever she has said to you is a lie,’ he garbles, trembling from head to toe. ‘A vicious lie. You cannot trust her. A liar through and through. And a traitor. A disgrace. An abomination.’

‘For the love of the gods, man,’ Bensen hisses. ‘Shut up!’

‘You call her aliar?’ I growl, my hand wrapping firmly around his throat. I lift him from the ground. ‘You dare?’

Archie laughs, dancing on the balls of his feet as his eyes start to turn into their wolfish yellow.

I pull the paedophile in close and show him my teeth.

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