Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night

It was time to take herself out of the game—again. 'I'll go get my bag.' With her shoulders shoved back, she turned toward the door, refusing to cry.

Which was proving difficult—since she'd already fallen in love with Bowen MacRieve.

Damn that witch for pressuring me like this!

Bowe knew why she felt she had to leave. She thought herself passed over yet again. Both parents had deserted her, and then her first love had thrown her over.

And I've told her there'd never be another female for me—then my mate showed up on my doorstep.

But he hadn't made any bloody decisions, hadn't chosen Mariah over her.

Regin hissed at him and followed Mariketa, with Carrow right behind them. As Carrow passed Bowe, she said, 'Prick. You and Twice-Baked here deserve each other.'

Clasping his forehead with frustration, Bowe turned to Mariah. 'You remember Lachlain, do you no'?' he asked, as if speaking to a child. 'He and his new wife are going to sit with you for a few minutes. Everything will be fine.'

Lachlain stepped up, his arm wrapped tightly around Emma's waist. 'Aye, I'm sure you've questions—'

But Mariah seized Bowe's hand with both of hers. 'Please don't leave. I'm so confused by all this. By this place and time I've been brought to.' Tears streamed. He'd nearly forgotten how fragile she was. 'Ah, gods, please, Bowen.'

Bowe glanced from her to the doorway Mariketa had just exited. The witch was only going back to the bedroom. I'll stop her before she tries to leave.

As she stared into the dresser mirror, Mari wiped at tears with the back of her hand. She didn't have to bid the reflection to come. Knowing she would likely get just one answer, she decided to ask, 'Am I his mate or not?'

'You are.'

She gasped. Apparently Mari was his—and he still passed her over! 'Then what in the hell just happened?'

The hand breached the glass with an apple. 'Come with me.'

'Damn it, if there was ever a time to answer more than one question, it's now! Tell me how this is possible!'

'Are you ready to know the truth?' the reflection whispered.

'The truth about what?' Mari snapped.

The reflection smiled. 'About—everything.'

Mari frowned, recognizing that she finally was ready to go. I have nothing to lose. She was going to journey into that mysterious world of the mirror.

She nodded. 'I am.' Mari took the apple and set it on the dresser, then grasped the offered hand. She climbed up and through the portal, entering another dimension. Here it was soft, a place veiled in mist and sublime silence.

The reflection was gone—because Mari was the reflection now? Doubt over her action immediately suffused her. When she glanced over her shoulder, she saw Carrow and Regin rushing into the room, bewildered by what they were seeing.

Behind them... ravens gathered on the windowsill.

Ravens? Had she just gone willingly to her own doom?

As Bowe tried to disentangle Mariah, his heart felt like it sank to his gut—for the second time in minutes.

Mariketa's scent was utterly gone.

He tore away toward the bedroom, but of course, she wasn't there. 'Where the hell is she?' he bellowed at Carrow.

Eyes wide, Carrow hiked her thumb at the dresser. 'In the mirror.'

A single red apple sat beside it.

49

'Elianna?' Mari whispered when she spied her mentor waiting for her here. 'Are you... real?'

She patted her wrinkly skin with a frown. 'The last time I checked.'

Mari pinched her forehead. 'Am I real in this mirror? Or was the reflection fake?'

'Everyone's real.' Elianna chuckled. 'The reflection is merely a facet of your being. A bit like an astral projection. And before you ask—yes, you do look that diabolical when you are using strong magick.'

Somewhat reassured, Mari hugged her. As always happened, pungent scents from the powders and dried leaves in Elianna's infinite apron pockets wafted up between them. 'I missed you! I'd wondered why you weren't with Carrow holding vigil.'

'Well, don't think I wasn't watching over you.'

Mari gazed around her. This was the plane of unbroken black from her dreams. 'What is this place?'

'This is your new home. Your very own dimension.' She smiled brightly and waved her hand around. 'You can decorate it however you like.'

'Um, why would I need a new home?' Mari asked.

'Every great sorceress has her own dimension.'

'I'm not a sorceress.'

'Do you want to be?' Elianna asked in a strange tone.

'I just want to understand what is happening.'

'This is where you need to be for now,' she said. 'You're safe here from the magick of others. And no one but your family and other members of the Wiccae can ever come here—unless you expressly invite them.'

'Was I in danger?' Mari asked.

She nodded. 'Come with me.' As Elianna crossed to a cauldron, Mari followed, apprehension pricking at her. She hadn't seen witchery like this in years.

Elianna stirred the bubbling brew inside it with a staff, clearing the smoke to reveal a scene. In a dimension much like this one were two marble altars.

Mari's parents lay atop them.

Her father was on a slab of cold rock, with his fists clenched, just as Mari had dreamed. Her mother lay beside him, her beautiful face frozen in pain.

Mari bit back a cry. 'Oh, gods, what is this? Are they alive?'

'Yes, but they were struck down by a powerful sorceress. Ensorcelled by a dark power.'

'Who? Who would do this to them?'

Elianna hesitated, then finally answered, 'Häxa.'

Mari swallowed. 'She does feed off trapped souls.'

Elianna nodded, then continued, 'Your father succumbed first.'

'He didn't... he didn't just ditch us?'

'No, leaving his family nearly killed him, but he is a powerful warlock, and his destiny had always been to fight Häxa. He was ruthless in his preparation for battle. Black magicks, sinister pacts for spells of greater power. He dealt with devils and rogue wizards. Yet still he was unable to smite her.'

'And Jillian?'

'Häxa froze your mother when she went to beg for his life. Jillian knew the futility, but she couldn't live without him.'

Mari felt like she was choking. No wonder Jillian had always seemed so sad—she'd been missing her husband...

'Druid sabbatical, Elianna?' Her father lived? Her mother hadn't remained away by choice? 'How could you not tell me about this?'