Page 58 of Alice and Her Shifters (Dirty Paranormal Fairytale Haremlan 2)

“Don’t worry about them, they have been through worse,” Calvin added.

“So, where is the red witch now?” I asked while staring down the stairwell, watching for signs from any one of the sleeping guards having woken up and caught us in the act. “How do you honestly see this going?”

“Are you talking to me now?” Milo asked.

“You’re the one leading us to our deaths, so yeah. I’m talking to you,” I said, settling my attention on him. I didn’t bother to keep the edge out of my voice.

Milo filed us into a hallway off the set of stairs leading into the basement before facing me. He kept his voice low. “She’s upstairs preparing for the ritual. She will be busy for a while. With luck, we can catch her off guard, and this could be over with. From there, I will hold up my end of the bargain and get you home. Then we can go our separate ways if that is what you wish.”

“Okay, great,” I said. “But how are we going to defeat her?”

He grinned at me. “You broke through the dampeners in your cell. I’m quite sure you’ll figure it out.”

I glared at him. “I’m so glad you think this is all amusing. It took a lot of effort to do that, and I had to dig incredibly deep into my power to even reach it.”

“You still did it,” he said. “I’m impressed.”

“Yeah, well I’m afraid this situation is one that calls for more thorough planning than winging it,” I snapped.

“Keep your voice down, or it won’t make a difference what the plan is” Milo loudly whispered.

I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t allow myself to believe him. Not this time.

Aidan chuckled under his breath. “We’re all going to die.”

Calvin groaned. “Perfect.”

I sucked in a breath. “Not if I can help it.”

“We have to make it to her without tipping her off,” Milo warned. “Every wall is coated with magic.”

I shook my head. “Of course, it is. You know what? Fine. Let’s wing it.”

I stepped out of the corridor. Milo tried to reach for me, but I slipped away from him before he could touch me. He wasn’t going to stop me or stand in my way. Not anymore. If he told me we have to keep things quiet to keep Camelia off our scent, then I was going to make a loud noise. I was going to draw her out.

“Camelia! Come out, you sadistic witch!” My voice echoed through the halls of the estate.

Aidan laughed.

“Allison,” Calvin said, keeping his voice low and sounding hesitant. “What are you doing?”

“Putting an end to all of this,” I said. “Camelia! Come and face me!”

“Yeah, but… I thought we weren’t winging it?” he asked.

I ignored him, straining to hear the slightest sound of the red witch’s approach.

Steps clicked on the stone in a slow and even rhythm, echoing down from upstairs moments before she rounded a corner. She set her glimmering eyes on me.

“Well, well… look what the cat dragged in,” she said and settled her gaze on Milo. “I see you betrayed me after all.”

“Not until after he betrayed me,” I said. “And for you.”

She switched her gaze to mine and smiled. “Loyalty is such a hard thing to come by these days.”

“Enough banter,” I snapped. “I’m here to put a stop to your… whatever it is you do here.”

She laughed. “Oh my. You don’t even know what I do. That’s a shame.”

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