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Chapter Seventeen
“I don't know,” Paoli's worried voice carried loudly through the stone. “But his time is up, and he can find her anywhere.” The heavy door slid open and torchlight spilled in. “William?” Paoli's voice sounded uncertain and wary.
He peered into the small cell.
“Emily,” he gasped in surprise and rushed to her side. “How did you get in here?”
Emily tried to open her eyes at the familiar voice. “Paoli?” she asked, too confused and weak to be sure it was him.
“What happened? How did you get in here?” Paoli asked. He took her hands and pulled her to her feet but gasped when her knees gave way and she nearly collapsed. “You're so pale," he murmured, catching her around the waist to steady her. "Are you all right?”
William's emaciated-looking wolf stood and growled a warning. His heavy side pressed against Emily's hip and he bared his teeth warningly at Paoli.
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Shadow Pact Chapter Eighteen
For the next two days, William stayed with Paoli while Emily recovered from their ordeal in her own room. William spent more time asleep than awake to allow his body to fully heal. Every time he woke, he went directly to Emily's side, only to find her asleep and still pale.Her breathing was deep and even. He allowed it to reassure him. Still, each time he saw her like that, he was gripped with another wave of guilt.He'd done that to her.Paoli's attempts to bolster him only managed to make him feel worse."You're looking at it all wrong," Paoli informed him when he returned from Emily's bedside on the second evening.William gave him a questioning look; one brow raised quizzically."You've never left a victim alive, before," Paoli pointed out with a nod of approval. "That's a huge accomplishment for you, especially under the circumstances."Victim.William felt the word all the way to his soul.He'd made Emily
Shadow Pact Chapter Nineteen
Emily eased the heavy wooden door to her room open slowly and peered down the hall in both directions. She breathed a sigh of relief at finding it empty. With her heart in her throat, she slipped from the relative safety of her room and into the empty corridor.She'd awakened feeling almost back to normal, but one look in the mirror made her realize the gravity of her situation and spurred her into action.Her reflection showed her skin was nearly gray.Her eyes were sunken, as if she hadn't slept in days.But what really scared her wasn't any of that, or even the two puncture marks left behind by William's fangs. It was the bite mark that covered her shoulder; as if a huge dog had tried to take a chunk of her.She knew perfectly well what those marks were from, and it brought Lilith's decree to her mind, crystal clear. If she didn't escape this castle now, she wouldn't leave it at all.Not alive, anyway.No matter how connected she f
Shadow Pact Chapter Twenty
William woke the next evening to find Emily coated in a fine film of sweat. Confusion set in momentarily, and he sat up to notice there was enough sweat to soak the sheets around them.His heart began to hammer almost violently when the realization took hold of him.She was beginning the change.Guilt seized his gut like a physical thing.He should have told her.He'd intended to explain it all last night and clear the air between them, but he'd gotten distracted.He had no regrets about sealing his claim on her, but something nagged at his conscience, just the same.By not telling her what he'd done, he hadn't properly prepared her for what was happening now. It was his job as her mate to keep her safe and protected.Another thought clenched in his gut. If he'd told her last night, would she have rejected him?He pushed the idea away.It didn't matter.She couldn't reject him now.Not with the bond
Shadow Pact Chapter Twenty One
Emily opened her eyes and immediately closed them again with a slight groan. Light seemed to be everywhere. It was far too bright, though it wasn't sunlight. The bedrooms in the castle were all blocked against sunlight, Paoli had told her.She lay there a moment, taking in her surroundings without opening her eyes again. Sounds were everywhere. She found if she focused on too many of them, they became a dull roar in her head that seemed to press against her mind. It didn't take much effort to block them out, though.Eyes still closed, she took stock of her own body. She decided everything seemed to be in working order once she wiggled her toes, legs, and arms.A smell wafted across her nose and slowly seemed to saturate her. It was vaguely familiar and comforting. Warm and slightly musky, with just a hint of something…Her eyes snapped open and she turned her head to find William sitting beside her bed. She opened her mouth to tell him to get
Shadow Pact Chapter Twenty Two
The following evening went just as well. The committee was well pleased with Emily's transformation, and permission was granted for them to leave. William couldn't wait to have the island and the Coven with all its problems behind him.Mere hours before they were to depart for home, he and Paoli returned from making flight arrangements to find Emily missing. On the table was a simple note which read:Gone with Amber to meet Lycaon.Back soon,EmilyWilliam froze in place, his mind running to the meeting with Sekhmet and Empusa.Amber.Amber had taken sides.She'd come while he was gone and taken Emily right to Lycaon; into the hands of the man who was running a secret agenda.“Oh no,” Paoli whispered when he read the note.“How are we on weapons?” William's voice was low and menacing. He felt for Emily through their blood bond and found
Shadow Pact Chapter Twenty Three
They went straight for the plane at full speed ahead. They needed to get the hell away from the Coven.Immediately.If Lycaon had time to gather his guards, they wouldn't get away at all.A few miles separated them from the runway, but they never slowed. They hit the front door of the castle and just kept running.Emily was worn out enough when they neared the plane, she stumbled and almost went head over tail when her body began to regain human form of its own volition.William looked behind them and saw no one in pursuit, so he motioned for Paoli to halt.A quick glance told Paoli what was happening. He stood with his back to them; clearly on the lookout for enemies while one of their party was so vulnerable in the midst of a shift.It took just a few minutes for the wolf to basically melt away. Emily was left too exhausted to stand.William pulled his shirt off and threw it around her naked form. He swung her into his
Shadow Pact Chapter Twenty Four
Paoli made several calls over the next few days, trying to reach anyone in the committee, but to no avail. The only thing remotely close to helpful he learned was the committee was aware of the situation and were actively taking steps to thwart the plan. The steps did not include removing Lycaon from the Coven, and things would continue as they always had. Which translated to mean everyone was too afraid of Lycaon to stand up and do anything to stop him. Ergo, no help could be found there.William expected as much, but Paoli had really put his faith in them and was livid with their lack of action.“I cannot believe,” he complained one day. “They intend to do nothing.”Emily rolled her eyes at William in an overly dramatic, exasperated expression. They'd been cooped up in the house together for days; everyone in agreement she needed plenty of time to recuperate from her first transition; and they'd heard Paoli's 'I can't believe it'
Shadow Pact Chapter Twenty Five
“Brace yourself,” William whispered, one hand on the car's door handle.When she looked at him questioningly, he pointed through the windshield at a couple in the distance. "You're about to get your first scent of a human. Be ready," he cautioned.She rolled her eyes dramatically in response.He didn't reply.As soon as his door opened, the distant scent of humans wafted into the car and saturated them both with the sweet, siren scent of fresh blood.“Emily,” William said questioningly, watching her reaction closely.Her lip curled up to display fangs that were suddenly prominent, and her eyes became unfocused. His mind went back to the first few days after her change. Days she thankfully had no memory of. It had taken all four of them; he, Paoli, Sekhmet, and Empusa to keep her under control. Could he restrain her alone if it became necessary?"Are you sure you're ready for this?" he asked, suddenly uncertain.
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