Of a sudden,​ the man across from the Wolf King looked up as well. Black eyes locked with hers. Brekan! No! Fear swamped her. She rose and spun to flee, but her spirit felt weighted. She glanced over her shoulder. He was closing, a dark billowing shadow. Something clamped down on her arm. And she couldn’t move. His fingers burned her spirit flesh like a million searing fires. She gasped, fighting the pain, battling for release.

“I know that is you, Anaya. I can see your shade hovering above the woman you possess. Brekan’s words ripped into her head, her heart, messing with her mind. His voice so familiar, once loved, she almost weakened.

“You shall not be free until you hear what I have to say.”

“She gathered her wits. She was Anaya, Sorceress Queen. He would not better her this time. Why are you here, Brekan? The worms should have eaten you long ago?” she growled, using her mind powers.

His lips curved in a cruel smile. “Perhaps I longed to see you again.”

“Always the romantic.” She sneered. “But you fool me not. Now your true reason?”

His face darkened. “I know what you are about. I shan’t let you get away with it.”

“And how do you propose to stop me?” She threw out her free hand to point below. “With a handful of pitiful rebels?”

“I have the Wolf at my side.”

For a moment Anaya hesitated, her perfect oval face reflecting something akin to fear. “It cannot be he. He died centuries ago.”

“As I died centuries ago? You were close enough to see his face. Did it not look like him?”

Anaya stilled. It did look like the Wolf King, leader of the Second Tribe. The one who had defeated Czaten in battle all those years ago. The one who would not conform to Czaten’s rule and wishes for the perfect society. “Looks have been known to be deceiving.”

Brekan ran his gaze up and down Anaya’s slender body, encased only in a pale gown of sheer green silk. “Above all others, I should know that.”

“You were a fool to think I could really love you. I wished to learn all I could of the Old Magick, and you were the only one willing to teach me. Those other doddering fools were too set in their ways, unable to accept a woman into their order.”

“Because of you I broke with my Brothers and was condemned to banishment.”

“Did I not punish them for you later? Did I not convince Czaten to have Polanthas razed and every last one of the Brethren buried beneath it?”

“Your wickedness shall be paid for in blood one day, Anaya. Mark my words.”

“Your wickedness shall be paid for in blood one day,” she mimicked in her deepest voice. “Your threats serve only to sicken me. You are weak. You were always weak. How could you ever have thought I loved you?” She laughed shortly. “You were useful to me that was all.”

Brekan tensed against the pain in his breast. As you will be to me, he thought. But he had to be careful. If Anaya should get an inkling of his plan, all could be lost.

He breathed deeply to stay calm. He was so close to fulfilling his quest he could almost taste it. But everything had to be played out in the correct order, like a game of chance. There would be no room for mistakes this time.