Chapter Twenty-four (Dane’s POV) Decades before…

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"Um… will you let me down?" Saraya said close to my ear. I turned my eyes to her. "You holding me up like this doesn't quite scream 'fear this witch'!" she said through gritted teeth.

I wanted to throw my head back and laugh. She glowered at me as if she could read my mind. I smirked instead and slowly lowered her to the snow-covered ground. But I placed my hand against the small of her back, silently letting her know to stay by my side. The wolves growled, snarled and stalked forward, prowling as they spread out surrounding us. A loud cry rang from the town and then several howls. The loud animalistic cry of dominance rented the air. The witch laughed.

"Looks like you two were trying to run off. Tsk tsk tsk, I thought we made it clear there would be no desertion...." the witch said, conjuring fire and using it to create the symbol of witches, causing it to surround Saraya and me. I saw her eyes widen when neither of us flinched.

"Who are the 'we'?" Saraya asked, placing her ha