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Chapter 23

Kael met them as they came out of the elevator and led them to a large, comfortable office.

“Sit down,” he said.

Regan did as she was told, which showed Caleb just how shaky she was feeling. Caleb sank down onto the black leather sofa next to her and took her hand.

“Tell me,” Regan said when Kael remained silent.

He shrugged and strode over to his desk. He picked up a small, wooden box and carried it over to them.

“Sardi sent this,” he said and handed the box to Regan.

All the color fled from her face. She bit down hard on her lip, and tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked, and they rolled down her cheek. More followed.

She didn’t move, just sat staring at the contents of the box. Caleb didn’t want to look, but he knew he had to. He held out his free hand. Regan glanced at it. She straightened her shoulders, gave one last look at the box, then placed it on his palm.

Nestled on a bed of white silk lay a severed finger.

Shock raced through him. For an age, his brain refused to accept what he was seeing. He released his breath and forced himself to think.

“Is it definitely hers?” he asked.

Regan nodded. Her expression had been haunted; now, the hatred rose up in her eyes.

“This time he dies,” she snarled.

She pulled free of his hand. Caleb didn’t try to hold her, sensing she needed to move. She leapt to her feet and paced the room, came to a halt and slammed her fist into the wall.

Caleb winced but remained silent. Catrin was her sister. He had seen how much they cared for each other, and he could only imagine what she was experiencing now. If it had been Regan’s finger lying in that box…

After a minute’s silence she turned to Kael.

“How did it get here?” she asked.

“It was left, with a note. Nobody saw who brought it.”

She held out her hand. Kael handed her a piece of paper. She read it, then came over to Caleb. She took the box from him and gave him the note. He scanned it quickly. It was brief and to the point.

“He’ll release Catrin if we meet with him tonight.”

“Or he’ll send her back in pieces.”

“So, we meet with him then.”

Regan looked at him. The hatred was still there seething beneath the surface. “I don’t want you going anywhere near him,” she said.

She still didn’t believe he could help her. Caleb stifled his disappointment. She was hurting right now, not thinking straight. He remembered back to the forest and Regan admitting she was scared—such an admission must have cost her dearly. He needed to give her space, but there was no way she was meeting Sardi alone.

“I don’t think that’s an option,” he replied. “He’s pretty specific. He won’t release her without the two of us.”

Regan opened her mouth to answer, but Kael cut in. “Why would he want the two of you?” he asked. “I can see why he wants Regan, but why you as well?”

“He wants me for the same old reason—to open the portal. He wants Caleb along because he’s a sadistic bastard.”

“And maybe as some sort of hostage for your cooperation?”

She shrugged. “I guess so.”