Page 112 of The Spider Queen
“Ah. A Callaghan came to your aid?”
“He did.”
“Then you needn’t worry. Besides, we’re warded here.” She glanced at me. “How are you handling all of this, Poppy?”
I blinked. “Oh, you know—”
A kettle whistle drew Maggie’s attention. She hopped up, like a spry young chicken, and headed to the kitchen leaving Hunter and me alone.
“You’ve met her before?”
He nodded. “On that trip I took with my father.”
“Ah.”
“Hunter!” she called out. “I need you! I can’t reach the top tea shelf!”
Hunter threw me a smile. “Be right back.”
I gazed around the den. It would be too easy to fall asleep on the couch, which was why I had taken a seat by the fire instead.
Maggie returned carrying a tray of cookies and two mugs of tea, which she set down on the coffee table. She handed me a cup. “I sent Hunter off to bed. He looked done in.”
I nodded, reaching for a cookie to nibble on. My hours were so out of whack my body didn’t know when it was hungry. “I got to sleep a little in the car. Hunter did all the driving.”
“Not a complainer, that one.” She settled on the arm of the couch.
“No, he’s not.”
“So, Poppy, tell me something.” Her stare hardened. “Are you trying to get Hunter killed?”
Chapter 43
“Excuse me?” I breathed. “I’m not trying to get Hunter killed!”
“You’re in love with him.”
“I—”
“And he’s in love with you. Thane is…well, he’s possessive. And he won’t take his anger out on you. He’ll take it out on Hunter.”
Blood drained from my face. “You know Thane?”
“No, I don’tknowThane. It’s not like we’re friends and we sit down and have tea together.” Her gaze darkened. “I feel the essence of beings. I know the makeup of them intuitively. The Darcys, like the Callaghans and the Joneses have been in Thane’s servitude for generations. The Darcys are witches. Wefeelpower. Thaneispower.
“I met Hunter when he was sixteen. The boy had no darkness inside of him…until you.”
Her words caused the sugary cookie in my mouth taste like dust.
“That boy killed for you—to protect you—and now his soul has a dark spot on it. Over time, that dark spot will grow and overtake his heart.Youwill overtake his heart.” Her eyes blazed. “Your love for him is dangerous.”
“I didn’t plan it,” I said, feeling defensive. “But he’sHunter. How could I not fall in love with him? And Thane? I’m not Thane’s. Why does everyone think I am?”
“Foolish girl,” she snapped. “You will free Thane and his retribution will be swift and merciless—but not against you. He will want to possess you—possess every part of you. And he will not tolerate you giving your heart to someone else. And most definitely not to one of his Hunters.”
“Then I won’t free him,” I said.
She smiled, but it was condescending. “Even you cannot be that naïve.”
