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Her hair was long and black and in need of a good brush. Her eyes were pure black, there was no white to be seen anywhere. Her lips were as red as roses but chapped and cracking. Her skin was as white as a ghoul, making her look like a ghost. Mary’s cheeks were hollowed out, and she looked half starved. Whenever Mary shifted, her clothes changed to exactly the same ragged torn black dress that hung in shreds around her bony knees. Mary’s fingers were clawed, and her hands were thin and bony.
“I see you, Maeve,” Willow whispered, breaking into a smile. To Jase’s surprise, Mary smiled back.
“Look after her, Jase. I’ll send Lily to you to check Willow over,” Mary said and tilted her head as a goodbye.
Willow cuddled back against Jase’s shoulder as he carried her out of the tower and down the steps leading to the main castle. Clearly Vladimir had been warned because he waited at the door that led to the tower.
“Well met, Willow,” Vladimir said, studying her.
“Hi again, Valdimir,” Willow said and closed her eyes. Her arms tightened around Jase, and he wondered why. “Are you going to kill me now?” she whispered.
“What the hell?” Jase burst out, stepping backwards and ready to defend his mate.
“No, Willow, not now,” Vladimir said and shook his head at Jase.
Jase wasn’t so easily mollified, and his look clearly stated he and Vladimir would be having words later.
“I know you’re Vampire. I worked it out,” Willow murmured sleepily.
“Clever girl,” Vladimir said as Jase sent him a warning look and carried Willow away.
Vladimir followed on his heels.
???
“She is merely worn out. Willow has been through a lot the last few months,” Lily said as she stroked Willow’s brow.
“Are you sure there’s nothing worse going on?” Jase persisted.
“Yes. Are you claiming her, Jase? Because if not, let her go. We can wipe her mind and set her up in a different country with a different job,” Vladimir asked.
“Take my mate away and I’ll beat you to a pulp and raise your kid,” Jase warned.
Vladimir and Lily laughed.
“How the mighty has fallen,” Lily teased, causing Jase to scowl.
“I am happy for you,” Vladimir said sincerely. His expression changed and Jase braced. “I wonder, brother, if you’ll prove as virile as me!”
“Get out!” Jase bellowed as Vladimir laughed.
He held out an arm, Lily hooked a hand through it, and they left. Jase went back to watching over Willow.
???
“Jase! Control your mate! She’s at it again,” Rhett howled through their telepathic link.
Jase stopped lifting weights for a brief second and checked what was happening.
Rhett was ducking down corridors and heading his way, with Willow firmly on his heels.
Jase’s lips twitched as he picked up on Rhett’s desire to strangle Willow alongside his terror of her. In the fortnight that Willow had been here, she’d either charmed, frustrated, or terrorised everyone in the castle.
For the first week, she’d sat with Mary in the tower, studying their shifted forms in detail. They’d not known how to handle that, as Emmaline wasn’t anywhere near as curious. Then again, Emmaline had grown up with shifters, so they were normal to her. Not for Willow. She’d pestered them all with questions, even those who had been freed by Emmaline when she’d been taken. Although Willow had been far gentler in her questions with the previous captives.
Then she decided she needed to know more about them and had picked her subjects. Frankenstein, Invisible Man, Lamia, Loch Ness, Medusa, Rumpelstiltskin, Scylla and Swamp Creature had been her targets this week. Rhett had managed to avoid her further questioning, but it looked like she was determined to pin him down. Rhett slammed into the gym, glowered at him, and held the door shut.
Jase laughed as Willow merely pushed through the other door.
