Aisley crept around the side of the cottage until she came to another window. There, she was able to make out another form. She couldn’t see the man’s face, but she suspected it was Aiden.
Her gaze surveyed the area before her, waiting for Quinn or Galen to attack. Jason had told her Quinn’s power was to communicate with animals, and Galen’s was to read people’s minds.
There was a lot the Warriors could learn of Jason if Galen got ahold of her. That’s when Aisley realized Jason had no intention of letting her get captured. He planned to kill her the instant Quinn or Galen showed up.
The realization shouldn’t have surprised Aisley, but it did. She was expendable to Jason. He doubted her, and in doing so it meant her death.
One way or another.
Aisley took a deep breath and slowly released it as her mind focused, sharpened. She felt the hum of her magic and let it fill her.
If she was going to die, she was going to go out in her own way. And it wouldn’t be by Jason’s hand, if she had any say in it.
She squared her shoulders and pushed away from the cottage to walk around the second corner to the front of the house. Mindy already stood there, her hand reaching for the doorknob. Before Aisley could stop her, Mindy opened the door and walked inside.
Aisley took a step toward her and stopped. Something touched her skin. It felt as soft as a caress, tender as a kiss. And as brilliant as a summer’s day.
As swiftly as it had touched her, it was gone. Aisley had never experienced anything like it before. She didn’t know what it was, but it had been something spectacular.
She was so absorbed in what had happened that she was taken unawares when there was a shout from Mindy as Aiden and Britt ran out of the cottage.
Aisley rushed after them, but Mindy blasted her with magic from behind that sent Aisley tumbling to the ground.
“They’re mine,” Mindy said between clenched teeth and took off after them.
Aisley climbed to her feet and hurried back to Jason. “Aiden and Britt ran,” she told him between panting breaths.
Jason narrowed his cold blue eyes on her. “Why are you no’ chasing them?”
“Mindy wanted to catch them. She’s after them now.”
Jason smiled, satisfied with her answer. “Where are Galen and Quinn? Quinn wouldna leave his son for long.”
“I saw no Warriors in the cottage.” Aisley looked around, noticing for the first time a few other Druids and Dale were missing. “Where’s Dale?”
“Hunting,” was Jason’s reply.
Which meant Dale was hunting the Warriors.
“They’re here,” Jason whispered as he leaned a shoulder against one of the tall pines. “I know Galen and Quinn are near. Dale willna fail me. He’ll bring me at least one of the Warriors.”
“They’re older than Dale,” Aisley pointed out. “Which means they’re stronger. Their power will be greater since they have full control over their god.”
Jason’s head slowly swiveled to her. “Are you doubting me, cousin?”
“Merely pointing out the facts. Cousin.”
“No’ always a wise move.”
She shrugged. “If you’re looking for a reason to kill me, there’s no need. Just do it.”
“You’re still useful,” Jason said with a mocking grin. “But I doubt that’ll last too much longer.”
Aisley opened her mouth to reply when Mindy let loose a shrill scream that was cut short. Jason instantly took off running to where the sound had come from.
She was the only Druid of his coven that stayed behind. Aisley looked around and saw that she was alone. She could take a chance and run now. Jason would eventually find her, and what he’d do to her when he did would be horrendous.
“Now’s your chance,” Dale said as he walked from behind a tree.
Aisley jumped and turned to look up at him. There was a frown marring Dale’s forehead, his mouth turning down at the corners in concern. “What are you doing? I thought you were looking for Galen and Quinn?”
“They are no’ here. Something is, though.”
“A Druid?”
Dale shook his head. “I suspect another Warrior. Doona concern yourself with that. You should leave. Jason will just get you killed.”
“I know.”
“Do you want to die?”
Aisley looked away from Dale’s probing stare. “I chose this life. I’ll live—and die—with what I’ve chosen.”
“You deserve better. You deserve more.”
She forced a grin, startled by the tears that suddenly filled her eyes. “You wouldn’t say that if you knew the real me. The me before I became drough. I wasn’t a good person.”