Page 73

Finally, he got what had to be a death grip, his teeth sinking deep into Ethan’s throat. He shook him mercilessly, blood spraying across the clearing, and the watching wolves howled as the blood lust took them all.

Ethan was no longer fighting back.

“Finish it,” Regan muttered, but at the last second, Caleb released his hold, and the other wolf collapsed to the ground.

Regan held her breath, waiting to see if he would rise. His eyes were open, gleaming dull gold.

The other wolf vanished, and Caleb stood in the center of the circle. A savage bite marred the smooth muscle of his shoulder but otherwise he appeared unharmed. He stared down at his father.

Ethan raised his head slightly but collapsed back. Then the wolf was gone, and Ethan lay on the ground, an open wound at his throat that spilled his blood to the dirt beneath him.

“Caleb’s not going to do it, is he?” Catrin said from beside her.

Regan shrugged. “I don’t know.”

∞∞∞

Caleb’s whole body ached, and his shoulder burned with pain. He knew he should finish this now but couldn’t bring himself to make the final move. Did that make him weak? He didn’t care.

“Keep still,” he said to Ethan. “I’ll get help.”

“No, you won’t,” Ethan replied, his voice hoarse. “I’m finished. You won.” He smiled. “I really never thought you had it in you.”

Caleb glanced up as Regan came to kneel beside him. “Can you help him?” he asked.

“Maybe, but he’s dying, and the cost will be high.”

“The cost?”

“There is always a price for magic, and magic that overcomes death is never cheap.”

Ethan looked up at her. “Don’t do it. This is over—my choice.”

Caleb had hated his father for near enough all his life. It seemed impossible that this could be the end. He looked back at Regan, and her eyes filled with a compassion he’d never believed she could feel.

“Let him go, Caleb.”

Caleb closed his eyes briefly, and then nodded. “It finishes now.”

The light was fading from his father’s eyes. “I need to tell you something before I go.”

“Forget it.” Caleb didn’t think he could take some deathbed apology right now.

“No, you need to know this,” Ethan said. “I lied.”

Caleb frowned. “What about?”

“Your mother.”

A tremor ran through Caleb—what could be worse than the truth as he knew it?

Ethan must have seen something in his expression. “Not bad,” he said. “She’s alive. Or at least she was back then.”

Shock ripped through Caleb at the words. “What? How? You told me she died.”

“I made a deal with her. Whatever you think of me, I couldn’t take her by force, and I wanted a son. I told her I would set her free if she cooperated and gave me what I wanted.”

“And she agreed?” Caleb shook his head. “Of course she did,” he muttered. “Here I am, after all. So, what happened to her?”