Page 116 of Bad Witch

The cliffs loomed above us, and I tilted my head back, breathing deep. Her scent was heavy now, and her pain was a visceral thing that scraped over every one of my nerve endings. She was suffering. Badly.

If Brigid’s ghost decided to cast us out like last time, before I could even get to Temp, I wasn’t sure what the fuck I was going to do. Which was the main reason we’d chosen to come in our beast forms. Maybe Brigid would think we were just animals and leave us be. But that wasn’t the only reason. I was faster like this, more agile, especially with my leg fucked up after sprinting from Pan’s realm. If I needed to get Temp out fast, this was the best way. We weaved our way up to the entrance and bounded over the threshold—then paused. Waiting.

Nothing happened. No Brigid. Scanning the caves, we walked on.

Tempest’s cry echoed from somewhere deeper, and I burst into a run. It only took a second to realize where I was going. Disease had her in Brigid’s cave, where we’d found her body.

The scent of blood and decay was thick in the air now. He was killing her. Oh fuck, he was killing her. I exploded through the entrance to the cavern, and my legs almost collapsed under me when I saw her. Tempest was barely recognizable. Her body emaciated, her skin so raw she looked as if she’d been flayed, and her breath wheezed from her, as if the next would be her last.

Her gaze slid to me, her eyes cloudy as if she was already gone. Disease stood in front of her, not looking much better. He’d spun to us, and as I leaped for him, he threw up a hand. It was like someone had punched me in the chest. My heart squeezed and my lungs filled with fluid. I shifted, as if someone had kicked the beast back and yanked my human form forward. Roman dropped beside me, exploding from hound to human form as well, but he was unconscious.

I was in agony, my arms and legs made of lead. Tempest reached for me, her mouth moving but nothing came out. With the remaining strength I had, I crawled toward her, dragging my body across the stone floor, trying to get to her.

Disease turned away, dismissing me, then he grabbed Tempest’s throat—and squeezed.

He was going to kill her in front of me, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Tempest clawed at his hands, trying to suck in desperate breaths. “T-Tempest…” Barely any sound left me, my voice nothing but a hoarse whisper.

She went limp.

“No!” I roared, tasting blood. I choked on it, unable to draw breath.

Something bright flashed to my right, moving at speed.

Brigid’s ghost. She appeared out of nowhere. Something in her hand glinted a moment before she thrust it into Disease with a shriek that shook the cave, bringing down rubble and dust. A knife, the one Tempest had given her, was buried in his back.

Disease released Temp’s throat, trying to grab for the blade, but couldn’t reach it.

Sucking in a gasping breath, Tempest lifted her head. Her gaze grew bright, filling with rage and magic before it locked on to Disease. “You can’t hurt us anymore, Dad,” she said as blood, black and foul, poured from the knife wound in the center of Disease’s back with so much force, the blade burst out, hitting the floor.

Dad? She was delirious, somewhere else. She wasn’t seeing Disease anymore, she was seeing her father.

“Feel your veins burn,” she gasped as tears slid down her face, and as more blood burst from Disease, only now from his eyes, nose, and mouth as well.

He fell forward, leaning against her.

“There is no coming back,” she cried out, shaking from exertion.

A soul-shaking scream echoed through the cavern then and two dark figures emerged from Disease. Mayhem and Annihilation, twisted and coiled, fighting to separate themselves from the now mortally wounded vessel they’d inhabited, then finally tearing away, and with furious and inhuman sounds, they flew from the caves, escaping.

Disease fell then, taking Temp with him, and they both hit the floor.

She landed on him, and immediately crawled higher, looking down at the evil fuck. “I am not weak. I never was. I am Matilda the Brave, you piece of shit, and I live to destroy evil like you.” She snatched up the knife that lay on the floor beside them and slammed it back in. She hacked at his throat, trying to remove his head.

I reached her then and covered her hand, helping her finish the job. He was dead, he was already on the way out as soon as Brigid stabbed the god killer in the back, I’d felt the illness rapidly leaving my body almost instantly, but if Tempest needed this, then she would have it. I didn’t stop until the fucker’s head rolled from his shoulders.

Grabbing a trembling Tempest, I pulled her into my arms. “I thought I’d lost you,” I said, holding her tightly to me.

She looked down at what was left of Disease’s body. “I killed him.” Her gaze sliced to me. “Mayhem and Annihilation, they were released…”

“It couldn’t be helped.” I cupped her precious face, trying to be careful of her still raw skin. “Thanks to you, the virus will be no more, and we have the weapons to fight Mayhem when he makes his move.”

Her arms slid around me, and she pressed closer. “I knew you’d come,” she choked out.

I held her tighter to me. “You are my mate, Tempest. I would have torn these cliffs down to get to you.”

She lifted her head. “I’m sorry for the way I ran off… I was scared and confused, but I don’t want to run away anymore. I want to be with you.”