The Last Witch (Incenaga Trilogy) (33 page)

Emmeline glanced out the one window near the water basin. She could
just make out the thrashing trees through the rain splattered glass. A limb broke from a nearby tree and fell to the ground with a loud crash. Emmeline jumped with surprise.

“I think you are right,” she agreed. “It’s getting much worse out there. I hope he is okay.”

“He’ll be fine. The men I sent will bring him here safely. They carried a letter with my seal on it requesting your father’s immediate release so he Volarcus guards should not give them any trouble. This weather will be the most trouble they get.”

Erick smiled at her and she found herself relaxing.
Her shoulders lifted as the burden of her father’s survival was removed. She was no longer responsible for his life or for the life of the Crown Prince.

But she was responsible for Prince Weldon’s life. She had killed Erick’s brother
. Crushing guilt slammed her shoulders back into the couch. The memory of her actions pressed down on her in full force.

“I’m so sorry for what I d
id to your brother,” she said.

Erick
looked away from the flames. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off.

“
And the King! I’ve killed his youngest son. He won't survive the heartache.”

“He will grieve
and I will too. However, my father is not as fragile as most think. His body is weak, but his spirit it strong. My father and I said our goodbyes to Weldon years ago when he decided he was no longer speaking to us. It was hard. He and my father fought like you would not believe, with words, that is. I doubt my father would ever lift a sword to one of his sons.”

“I
can’t imagine him yelling either.”

“I spoke to him after we found you near the waterfall. He said you visited him every day.”

“He was my sunshine when I was forced to stay indoors. He has quite the sense of humor, and I must say he is a little mischievous as well. He tricked me into confessing my escape route through the library.”

Erick laughed.
“Yes, he seemed quite proud of that. And he thought it was hilarious that you didn’t know who I was. He said he enjoyed hearing your tales of adventure with the gamekeeper all the while knowing you were with me.”

“He knew all along!”

Erick’s shoulders shook with unrestrained laughter. “He doesn’t miss much. I’m glad he realized it was me you were meeting; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let you go outside again. I enjoyed our explorations; it would have been a shame to miss them.”

Emmeline nodded and t
hey lapsed into a comfortable silence. Erick put his arm around her shoulder, tucking her close to his side. The storm beat against the little cabin, but the warm fire held off any chill.

“
Still, I feel awful about your brother,” Emmeline said. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness, or your love.”

“Emmeline, he was not my brother
anymore. I lost my brother the moment he and Mahlon conspired against me. You saved my life. I thank you for that. Besides, I’m the one who looked into your eyes. You are not to blame for what happened to Weldon. When I looked at you I made the choice for him to die. Your power fulfilled that choice.”

Emmeline looked down. “I suppose you own me now, right? I am your
Incenaga?”

Erick
grimaced. “About that. Incenaga, I give you your freedom.”

The invisible chain broke between them and Emmeline was surprised to feel a loss
with the break.

Erick
grimaced again. “I really hated saying that.”

“Why
?”

“B
ecause your freedom was never mine to take.”

“But now I am free to be controlled by another. I’d rather it was you who owned me.”

Erick shook his head. “No one should own you, Emmeline. I will do all in my power to keep anyone from taking your choices away. Soon others will learn of your existence, but Dolmerti will protect you.
I
will protect you.”

Emmeline nodded.

“I’m so sorry for what Weldon and Mahlon did to you. I wish I had come so much sooner.”

“You didn’t know.”
She doubted Erick knew just how brutal Mahlon had been to her and she vowed to never breathe a word of it. It would only bring him more pain for not having come to her aide sooner.

“I suspected Weldon
supported the war efforts, but I had no idea he had planned to take the throne,” Erick said.

“What caused your suspicion of Mahlon?”

“For many years, there were a handful of noblemen who didn’t do much more than demand tax relief and special treatment from the palace. It wasn’t until their numbers grew and they became bolder in their demands that I knew we had a problem. There were whispers that they had a leader, someone with high ranking in the palace, someone who was going to give them what they wanted. Mahlon had suggested to me on a number of occasions that we would gain much if we were to invade Pamizak. He was angry when I disagreed with him, but he kept his anger in check. His eyes were my only indicator that his anger was stronger than himself. When I heard the rumors that a leader had come forward, I suspected Mahlon.

“
There was little I could do until I had proof. My father still didn’t believe me. I announced that I would be on an extended trip and left. I came to this cottage and watched the movement from afar, hoping to confirm Mahlon’s involvement.

“U
ntil we went to the pub, I didn’t know which of my soldiers were supportive of Mahlon and which ones remained faithful to the crown. I thought I had all the information I needed, until Mahlon mentioned another leader. I hated deceiving you longer, but I knew I had to be the one to discover the leader.”

“I hated deceiving you too.”

“No wonder Mahlon was so confident at that meeting. I was gone and he had you under his thumb. With the last Incenaga under his control, no one could stop him.”

“I wish I weren’t an Incenaga
. I feel like a sleeping cobra waiting to strike. I’m more harm than good.”

“You are capable of more good than you know. I have spoken
at length about this with my father. He believes you will someday be able to harness your gift, that even with your hands bound, you will be able to control it. He hopes, as do I, that when that day comes, you will no longer be in danger. Your powers couldn’t be used by anyone else so there would be no reason to hunt you. And if they did, you would be able to hold your own.”

“Do you think
it’s possible?”

“I’d like to think so.
I don’t want you to live in fear or ever have to go through what Mahlon and Weldon put you through.”

“What
will happen to Mahlon?”

As if in answer, the door
burst open and Mahlon stood in the threshold, his clothing soaked and his expression livid. Erick and Emmeline jumped from the couch. The flames surged and Emmeline found herself taking on too much heat, the fire beckoning her toward it.

“You’ve doomed Dolmerti
!” Mahlon shouted at Emmeline. He raised his hand, exposing a long knife. “I will cut you through.”

Mahlon b
arged into the cottage with murder in his eyes. Emmeline thrust her hands forward and Mahlon’s eyes went wide as he flew back, his head cracking against the door frame. He stumbled to his feet and held the knife out once again. The blade shook in his unsteady grip as he took a step forward.

“You’ll have to do better than that to stop me,” he said.

“Stand back,” Erick said with a low voice. He stepped in front of Emmeline and held his palms out. “There has been enough bloodshed for one day. Don’t force my hand.”

Mahlon’s
head fell back as the small room filled with his piercing laugh. “You won’t do anything to me.” He spread his arms wide and said in a mocking tone, “I’m the King’s most trusted adviser.” He pointed a finger at Emmeline. “She killed Dolmerti’s last hope! She must be punished!”

Under Mahlon’s glare, t
he fire’s heat poured into Emmeline. She stepped out from behind Erick and held up a trembling hand. “I never wanted to kill another man, but if you come one step closer, you will be begging for death before I’m through with you.

Mahlon took a step back.

Erick snatched a metal rod from near the fireplace and held it up like a sword. “Emmeline, get behind me.”

Emmeline shook her head.

Mahlon’s brows knit together. “You disobey him?”

Erick took another step in front of Emmeline and reached his free arm behind him to pull her close to his back. Emmeline squirmed but he held firm.

“Is she unclaimed?” Mahlon said, his voice nearing a squeal.

“
Drop your weapon and if you surrender to me I might consider letting you live out your life in a merciful prison.”

“You are more of an idiot than
I thought! You willingly released her? She is worthless without a master. If you won’t use her, I will!”

“Enough!” Emmeline shouted. She
used just enough heat to force Erick’s arm down and stepped into Mahlon’s view. “No one will ever use me again!”

Mahlon laughed. “Don’t count on it, sweetheart. Even if I’m not the one controlling you, I have a feeling you won’t be free for long. It’s only a matter of time before others come looking for you, if they aren’t already.”

Emmeline shuttered.

“Dolmerti will protect her,” Erick said.

“She will die and you will have wasted the last Incenaga. I won’t leave here without her.”

Erick swung the
rod toward Mahlon, but Emmeline had heard enough. She twisted her good wrist and a flash of heat pushed Mahlon out the door and into the storm. He stumbled against the onslaught of rain before straightening to his full height.

“You’ll have to try harder than that, witch,” he shouted over the wind.

Filled with fury, Emmeline barreled out into the rain, her arms stretched in front of her. She hurled a wall of heat toward Mahlon and lifted him into the air. Holding him ten feet above the ground, she watched him squirm, his hands around his neck as she focused heat onto his throat. If she sent a little more, his airways would collapse. Just one more death. One more abuse of her power and she could put it all behind her.

Erick stood at the door.
“Emmeline! Stop!”

Emmeline’s concentration broke and Mahlon fell to ground. Afraid he might get away, s
he threw another rush of heat at him. His head slammed into a rock and he moaned. He brought his hand up to rub the back of his head as he looked at her with fear in his eyes. The rain poured harder and Emmeline raised her hands, prepared to push Mahlon so deep into the mud that he would never have a chance of digging himself out.

“Emmeline,” Erick called from the porch. “You don’t have to do this. We’ll put him in prison. We’ll make sure he suffers for what he did.”

Emmeline shook her head, a battle forging in her conscience. What if he escaped from prison? What if he never fully paid for what he had done? But would she be able to live with herself if she killed again? Still unsure, she stepped closer until she was only a breath away from him. He shrunk back and Emmeline lowered her arms. She wasn’t a murderer. 

Mahlon smirked and pulled himself to his feet. He jerked his chin toward Erick. “You’re as weak as him.”
His eyes narrowed as he watched Erick pull rope down from the porch rafters. “I won’t go easy,” he said between his teeth.

Emmeline heard Erick’s quick intake of breath just as Mahlon
raised his hand to slap her. Emmeline drew on her power to counteract his blow, but it was gone. Every flash of heat had left her. How had she not noticed? Caught off guard, Emmeline didn’t think to hide her confusion.

Mahlon dropped his arm
, recognition lighting his face. His mouth spread into a sinister smile. “What’s wrong? Feeling weak?”

Lightening cracked and the clouds released another deluge. Emmeline held her hand up against the
assault and realized instantly what he already seemed to know. The rain had smothered the fire within her. She was powerless. Mahlon crossed his hand high above his chest and brought it down hard against her cheek. She had no time to react. Her neck twisted until her body followed and she fell to her hands and knees.

“Emmeline!” Erick shouted. He jumped from the porch and ran toward her
just as Mahlon pushed her face into the mud.

Her nostrils filled with muck. She
fought against Mahlon, but his hands dug into her forehead and his knees pressed into her shoulders. He pushed her further down. Her lungs screamed for air. Just when she thought all was lost, he was suddenly off her. She clawed her way to the surface and, without looking back, scrambled to the porch. The door was still open and behind it the fire roared to life. She fell to her knees under the threshold and practically inhaled the fumes. The heat sizzled against the wetness of her skin, but she thought she had enough. She whipped around to face Mahlon.