Page 71 of His Winter Wonderland

“I don’t know how that happened. I said the spell right. It should’ve taken us to my house.”

“I’ll get us out of here.” Rhen wrapped his arms around his mate, preparing to take her away using vamp speed.

“That won’t work around here,” the one called Ember screamed from the top of the hill. “We have some wards of our own. In our circle, there’s no vamping out and no spells. If you want out, you either do as we say or die.” The woman raised her hand and waved. “Hi, sis. Long time no see.”

“Ignore her,” Rhen whispered, with his back to his mate and his eyes on their enemies.

Ember laughed at him. “She can’t ignore me. She’s my other half. We’re connected. That’s how I knew you were her mate, vampire. That’s how I knew you had problems with bloodlust. That’s how I knew it would be easy to bring the two of you together and rip the two of you apart.”

A growl rumbled through his chest. This was the witch who’d cursed him. He’d never seen her face. She’d been wearing a cloak when she cursed him. This witch had to die, today. Normally, he wasn’t for killing women. But these women meant his mate harm. His mate came first. Always.

“We’ve got a surprise for you, sis,” the Asian Goddess said, stepping to the forefront. “Well, actually, you gave us a surprise. You know Ember is great at tapping into dreams. And you practically handed us a dragon.”

Shit. Kaede had slumbered. Did they tap into his dreams? Behind him, he heard Winter whisper, “Oh, no.”

This was about to be bad. Real bad.

The Asian woman grinned and then said, “Come Kaede and bring your woman.”

Kaede stepped forward, carrying a struggling Sin. Winter gasped. Rhen had to hold his mate back.

“No, leave her with me,” The one who used to be called Jenn shouted. “I’ll take care of the pregnant witch. I’ve always wanted to be a mother.”

Damn it. They had Sin and Kaede. And Kaede was actually turning Sin over to Jenn. Rhen could tell the man was trying not to obey them from the expression on his face. Rhen had to do something. His fangs punched through his gums just as Winter jerked away from him. Facing her, Rhen reached for her.

She sidestepped him and yelled, “Let’s make a deal.”

“No,” Rhen shouted. “Winter…” He tried to go to her.

Ember called out, “Freeze.”

Rhen’s body actually froze. All he could do was watch as his mate negotiated with The Deciders.

“I know you’re obsessed with Kaede, Slith,” Winter shouted. “But, you want me more than you want him.”

Rhen couldn’t see Slith, but he could hear her.

“Continue,” Slith called out.

“You hate me for leaving. And not because of the fact that I left, but because I left and didn’t come back. You thought I would need you. You thought I would be lost without you. You hate it that I have survived this long without any of you.”

Growls filled the air. Rhen assumed they were coming from the familiars of the Goddesses. He didn’t know. But he was doing his best to break free of the spell so he could go to his mate.

“Are you trying to make me mad?” Slith asked.

“No. I’m stating facts,” Winter called out. “It’s me you want the most. And you can have me. But I’m not going down without a fight.”

“Interesting,” Slith drawled. “Tell me more.”

“You and me. For the final time.”

No, Rhen tried to shout, but he couldn’t move his lips. He’d never felt so helpless. He’d never felt so lost. He couldn’t lose his Winter. Not now. Not ever. He’d waited years to have her by his side. If he lost her, he’d die. Willingly. Because he already knew what it was like to live without her. He couldn’t go back to that. He wouldn’t go back to that.

“What are your terms?” Slith shouted.

“Free them all. Kaede. Sin. The villagers who are still alive and most importantly,” Winter faced him. “Free the man I love more than I love myself.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.

No, Kitten. Don’t do it. Not for me. I’m not worth it.