Page 25 of Witch's Rebirth
He said nothing as she approached him, but his jaw ticked with tension. I had to admit he acted the part well. With his head bowed, kneeling on the ground, clutching his ribs, he looked every bit like he didn't want to be there but had no choice.
I realized in that moment it was the first time I didn't question his true intentions. He was on our side. I knew that for a fact. I trusted him. And if Ash allowed him to enact this part of his plan, that meant my guys trusted him too.
"Or is it someone who ran out of options and has no choice left but to grovel for my mercy?" Diana walked in a slow circle around Seth, the distance between them proof that she was still being cautious. She sounded strange, and not just because of her younger appearance. The inflections in her voice were odd and jarring, like someone else was controlling her mouth.
"Well, which is it?" she screeched at his silent response.
Seth gave a convincing flinch. "A bit of both, honestly."
"Oh, please elaborate!" Diana knelt in front of him, her golden eyes so reminiscent of mine and my mother's.
"I had a feeling I made the wrong choice as I was running," Seth wheezed and paused with every breath as he spoke. He looked to be in so much pain, my fingers itched to reach out and heal him. "But I kept going because I knew the coven would never take me back. When I got to the demons' hiding place," he paused and winced, "they didn't exactly welcome me with open arms."
"Oh, poor dear." Diana feigned a look of sympathy. "What did they do to you?"
"Beat me. Starved me. Kept me tied up in the basement for days." He wasn't lying about that and my heart squeezed painfully in my chest. Fuck, I had to apologize after all this was over. I really needed to make up for how we treated him.
"And did you escape or did your benevolent captors decide to free you?"
"They turned me loose but I wouldn't call it freeing," he grimaced. "They dumped me in the woods, basically leaving me as prey to the animals out here. I reached out to you because I knew death would come for me either way. At least this way, I can die with my conscience cleared."
"I see." Diana held a finger to her chin as she contemplated his words. "And if I decide to show some compassion and let you live? What will you do then?"
My breath hitched. Ash's fingers squeezed around mine. This was going much better than we hoped.
Seth made a surprised sound and then winced, wrapping his arm even tighter around his side.
"I'll spend the rest of my miserable life serving you," he said through gritted teeth, lowering his eyes humbly. "Any guidance you seek with shadow magic, I'll be happy to advise. With your increasing blood powers and angel-kissed spells, you will be unstoppable."
"I don't need your help with shadow magic!" she cried. "I've already mastered it! Moreso than you! That's how I was able to find out about your heritage and your little hard-on for the demon whore."
Ash bristled next to me but I just rolled my eyes. Nothing this ranting, raving crazy woman said could affect me anymore.
"Of course you don't need help. My apologies." It was so weird to see Seth groveling. His shoulders bunched with tension and I wondered how hard it was for him to not lash out at her.
"How is my dear old granddaughter, anyway?" Diana's voice turned overly sweet once again. "Did the whore let you get your sad little pecker wet like your shadows hoped?"
Seth's fist clenched at his side but he quickly released it. My body flushed with heat and longing. I just wanted him to be out of there.
"No, she wouldn't have me." The emotion in his voice sounded real. "She wanted nothing to do with me."
I swallowed thickly but it did nothing to get rid of the dry lump in my throat.
"Stupid lovesick puppy. I could have told you that and saved you all this trouble," Diana chastised. "She walks the earth seducing men with her looks but she only opens her legs for those demons." My grandmother leaned in close to Seth, her smile far too wide. "I bet you want revenge on her, don't you?"
Seth paused for only half a heartbeat. "Yes. I want her to suffer like she made me suffer."
Sal and Nona, get ready,Ash commanded.It's almost showtime.
We're in position,Sal confirmed.
"Do you want her wiped off the face of the earth?" Diana asked, her eyes flashing eagerly. "To stop parading around like such a whore while innocent witches suffer?"
"Yes." Seth's jaw clenched. "More than anything."
"Good," she crooned. "This will be just the ticket." She reached into an inside shirt pocket and pulled out a small vial, the bright yellow substance inside sending everyone on edge like it was radioactive.
"Another angel's kiss?" Seth cried out in awe. "How many do you have?"
