Dark Heart Wolf - Haley Weir Page 0,28

you are all ready to begin. The only way to set things right is to do it together."

"You were testin' us?" Sam asked.

Itsá nodded. "Yes. The next spirit will come soon, and none of us are prepared for the darkness set to befall this world."

Mary Ann looked to Gabriel and noticed that the other shifter was quite nervous. "I have a feelin' you ain't tellin' us everythin'."

"I am starting to get the same feeling," Abigail said supportively. "What is wrong? It has to do with Charlotte, doesn't it?"

"The Wendigo Spirit was able to control her before, to use her as a puppet until she was forced to spill innocent blood. She is stronger now, but I fear the other dark spirits might look at her as a weapon."

"Is she dangerous?" Sam asked.

This time, it was Gabriel that answered. "Yes. All magic is dangerous. All magic and power have the potential to be corrupted. But I believe your friend is strong enough to resist. She knows what is at stake."

Mary Ann's head ached fiercely. She took Sam's hand and led him back through the door. "Let's go home.”

“I used to think this was my home.”

“And now?”

Sam wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked out into the cold. “Now, you’re my home, Mary.” There was no wagon for them to ride back into town. After the witches attacked, Boone sent the other cowboys on the cattle trails with the herd. The ranch hands and servants were given the choice to leave until working was safe or to remain on the property with new restrictions. Most of the workers had shown great loyalty by choosing to stay. Silver Fox Ranch was as much their home as it was to Sam, Boone, Wesley, and Jesse.

Mary Ann helped Sam saddle his mare. He climbed into position before pulling her up to ride behind him. She snuggled up to his back and soaked up the warmth that radiated from his coat. Sam held her hand as they trotted along the dirt road that led into town.

Chapter Eleven

Colorado Territory

Ethan Tate stood at the edge of the forest, staring out at the meadow as Charlotte James appeared. He knew she would come. The curiosity of witches never failed to amaze him, and Charlotte was the most curious of them all. He had the pleasure of observing her torture, of feeding off of her pain and fear as she endured nightmares and constant agony. Such beautiful, exquisite suffering. And yet she was strong, standing at the center of the frozen meadow with the garish trinkets in her hands as she set them aflame with her power.

Kaia was frightened. She should have been.

Even from where he stood, the Wendigo Spirit could feel the raw power wafting off of Charlotte. But she was not the only powerful creature present that day. No, the Skadegamutc had risen. The Wabanaki tribes feared the undead ghost witch the most. Her ability to possess the bodies of dead shamans and use their powers had inspired many tales of magical hags luring unsuspecting victims to their deaths. He sensed her presence, but she made no move to involve herself. She simply watched from the shadow’s edge.

“Do you see the harbinger?” a frail voice asked. But she was far more lethal than her sound or appearance implied.

“Charlotte has grown much stronger, as you predicted.” Ethan peered over his shoulder and saw the shrouded figure that often came to speak words of wisdom in his ear. The creature was neither light nor dark, and that was precisely the problem. No allegiance to anything but itself, the entity could turn the tides of war in any direction. Ethan was wary of her.

“Two of the mates are carrying. Soon one will give birth, and then the other.”

“Which one is the child from your visions?” he asked earnestly.

The shrouded figure stepped forward and lowered her cowl. Ebony skin and dark eyes greeted him as he stared into a youthful face. Her hair was tidy and pulled back, showing a few pale scars that marred her complexion. “You know which of the wolves will be the defiler. I believe it will be his offspring. The bloodlines are strong, yes, but the spirit of the wolf thrives within his vessel the most.”

“Sam.”

She nodded her head and pointed to the Skadegamutc. “It won’t be long now. The other side is getting restless. See to it that things move quickly.”

“I don’t take orders from you. I am a god.”

The creature cocked her head