Epilogue

HEATHER

I wrapped my coat around me tighter, my boots squelching in the mud on the path to the water villages. It was fucking freezing; I hated winter.

I moved quickly, the wind biting, the winter dark. The torches were scarce and flickered dangerously. We could barely keep them lit; they just kept going out. But the realm was a bitch like that.

It was our lot in life to get the raw end of the deal: the rogues, the outcasts, left for dead. It was why I had learned to numb out the emotions and any piece of trust that tried to worm its way into my cold, dead heart.

That had died the day my brother had.

Fucking bitch of a witch, Tabitha, had taken his life like it was nothing and given it to Braxton Trux. Like he deserved it. He was a fucking winter born.

I trudged through the huts that the rogues had made their home and went to the big hut nearest to lakeside stream. It flowed through and was wider than the other areas, hence the water area name. Original.

I jumped up the wooden steps and burst into the hut.

The fireplace was lit, and I went straight over to it, pulling the cowl of my cloak down.

I ignored the others in the small hut who were waiting for me to give them the information they wanted. It was risky, not looking at them or giving them the respect they demanded, but I was a rogue. I didn’t answer to them.

So they could wait until I was warm.

After a few quiet minutes, I turned to them.

Three figures in gold cloaks stared at me, their eyes white.

“Witches,” I greeted. The front one nodded at me. I moved to the teapot and put it on to boil.

“Heather…” The creepy voice echoed in the air. The witches had been here almost every day, and the way they talked still creeped me out.

I scooped sugar into my cup, then licked the spoon, turning to them.

“The winter born pulled the wolfsbane out of the lake,” I said.

The witches whispered in the air as I put my spoon back in my cup. I went over to the table they sat around and leaned on it, my hands splayed over the dark wood.

“You assured me that spell would prevent her from being able to get the wolfsbane out. ‘It will embed the roots in the lake bed. Impossible to pull up as a wolf,’ that’s the rubbish you told me,” I snarled.

The witches didn’t flinch, but they were definitely agitated. Good. I was pissed off too. The wolves were meant to be poisoned and weak for longer than a few fucking days.

They deserved it for the way they cast me out, the way they took my brother’s life. And because the rogues deserved the city after fighting for every scrap of life they could find. It was our turn.

The witches had promised me the chance to make that happen, but they had not come through.

They whispered again as I went over to the tea. I poured the boiling water and stirred with my spoon.

“She is powerful,” the witches said, as if that was a good enough excuse.

“Yes. Which is why I agreed to work with you to remove her of that power. How can I do that if you give me bullshit spells, hmm?” I asked, taking a sip.

The burn felt good going down my throat, and I kicked my chair out, sinking into it.

“The lake was a trial. To see what she could do. And to weaken her. That wolfsbane would have done that at least. Then we let her exert herself saving her precious children from the vampires. If they manage to defeat Silas, we’ll be waiting,” the witches said.

I narrowed my eyes. “Sit and wait is your big plan?” I scoffed, taking another sip.

“Not wait. Collect information. We need to know her limits before we take another shot. And we need to get that information while she is still pinning everything on the vampires,” the witches said, still sitting creepily still.

I crossed my feet at my ankles and took another sip of tea. I liked the idea of playing the stealth card for now. But only for recon. Once that vamp was dead, I wanted to have my shot. Which is exactly what I told the witches.

“Fine. You want information?” I asked, then whistled, calling in my little pet. Pathetic little thing she was, but she had a broken heart I had lied about fixing.

“Who is she?! She reeks of the city pack!” The witches’ voices echoed angrily. I ignored their hostility at bringing in someone else and smirked at my pet, holding my hand out to her.

“She is my eyes and ears inside the walls, and how we are going to get our information.” I smirked, clasping her hand in mine.

She blushed and looked at me with so much life. That wouldn’t last long once she knew what I was doing, but by then, I would already be in the city, taking back the life that was meant to be mine.

The girl held her arm around herself, her long hair running to her waist as she lowered her head, not looking at the witches. She was still so conditioned to the pack; she thought she answered to them.

Pretty little fool she was.

“Witches, meet Danika. The scorned ex-mistress of Braxton Trux. And our very own little traitor.” I grinned.

The witches gasped, looking her over as I sipped my tea.

I was going to destroy everything Braxton held dear, everything he loved, and rip his damn world apart. And the witches had promised to help me do it.

It was going to be a bloodbath, and I couldn’t fucking wait.

End of Book 3