“But how do we get her to come out so that we could attack her?” Thane asked. “She’s good at hiding. She did it for five years already, she could do it again. And if we let her go back into hiding we don’t stand a chance at catching her again. That will only leave Isabella’s and Hunter’s life in a mess wondering when she will strike again.”
Everyone grew quiet at his words. It was true, Maggie had the help of a powerful witch that could come up with crazy spells whenever she liked. I saw the way her eyes had lit up with excitement after I’d broken her spell. It was almost like she was happy she’d finally been faced with a real challenge. Hunter and I would always be worried that she would pull a sick trick like this again if either she or Maggie remained alive. We needed to get rid of both of them some way or the other.
“This is what we will do.” Ermanno said as he approached us. “The fight happened inside the house. Maggie isn’t sure what’s taking place inside of here. Isabella we will have to use you as bait to get her out of hiding. She’s most likely near and waiting to see the outcome of everything that she’d planned. You waking up from the spell wasn’t part of her plan and therefore we can use this to our advantage. We will announce to everyone that Hunter died and was killed by Thane. news travels fast and I’m sure Maggie would be one of the first ones to hear of it since she’ll be waiting for it. I’m sure she will try and see you then to confirm everything. We will be waiting for her and there is where we will attack.”
Austin nodded. “I actually like that plan.”
“Yeah,” James said. “This might actually work but we have to move fast. We’ve already lost a lot of time and if we want her to believe this we need to make it as believable as possible.”
“Who will do the announcements?” Marcus asked as he looked between us.
“I think it’s best that Hunter’s sister as well as some of his men do it.” Ermanno answered. “But you need to make it look like you’re mourning your brother’s death. Maggie cannot know that we are laying a trap out for her. She must have known that Isabella broke the spell so she would already think that we know she’s behind of everything. But she would risk it all if she thinks Hunter is dead. She will want to confirm it.”
Esma nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll make it believable. She must pay for everything she’s done to my brother and I will make sure that she does.”
“Alright, it’s set then.” Austin confirmed. “Esma we need to start now. Let’s go.”
Hunter’s eyes were still in shock and I watched in horror as he followed Austin and Esma out the door with my brother as well as James. I didn’t know what he was planning on doing and I had no idea how he would react when he finally saw Maggie again.
“I knew it was her from the moment I laid eyes on her.” Eden hissed as soon as everyone exited the room. “That sneaky bitch.”
I wanted to respond to her but I couldn’t. now that Hunter wasn’t in the room I was hit with something I never wanted to think of again.
“Hey,” Lucy whispered as she touched my shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“She put me under a spell. She made me hurt him.” I whispered as I felt the tears in my eyes again. Images of me stabbing Hunter flashed in my head, reminding me of what I’d done. The guilt was eating at me raw and I didn’t even know if I would ever be able to look at him the same again. I will always remember that I could have been the reason for his death. If I didn’t wake up in time I would have had to live with it for the rest of my life. That was something I wouldn’t have even able to do. Knowing that I was the reason that my mate was dead …
Lucy touched my shoulder. “It’s not your fault. These witches are extremely strong. I keep trying to tell Austin that it wasn’t his fault when he was under a spell and couldn’t recognize me sooner, just like this isn’t your fault either.”
I wiped at the tears, I truly wanted to believe her words but I couldn’t. “I should have been stronger Lucy. I should have stopped the spell sooner and I didn’t.”
“The main thing is that you did eventually stop the spell and you did it when it mattered the most. I know you may see it as your fault but it isn’t. This is all Maggie’s fault and she wants you to think like this. You can’t let her win. You need to forgive yourself and move on.” Eden pressed. “Hunter loves you and you love him. You’re both alive and you have each other. nothing else matters but that. You need to see that. Be thankful that you did wake up in time to save him. You may think that you were the one that put him in danger in the first place but that’s not true. The real threat is Maggie and it always has been. If you weren’t around she would have found someone else to do the same thing for her and that person might have gotten Hunter killed. You’re the reason he is still here today and you’re the reason he still has a chance of being happy again.”
I peered at Eden through my wet eyelashes and gave her a sad smile. Even though I didn’t think that I could ever forgive myself for what I’ve done; I knew that she was right about Hunter and I having a chance a happiness once we had each other.
Hunter was still alive and that was what should matter the most.
now I just needed to get rid of Maggie once and for all. My next aim was to make her pay. I needed to see her suffer just like Hunter had suffered because of her.
………………..
***MAGGIE***
“How could she have possibly broken free of your spells twice in one day?” I snarled.
Salem was supposed to be a powerful witch. She wasn’t the best out there but she was still extremely powerful.
“You may not like hearing this but the love Isabella has for Hunter is truly something spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like it before. The power of her love managed to break the spell.” Salem answered. “I’m both angry and impressed.”
My body shook with rage. “Because of your stupid spells we’re now in this mess!”
“If I can recall correctly, it was because of my spells that you even were able to stay hidden all of these years as well as fake your death. never forget that I’m the reason many of your plans actually worked. Without me you would be nowhere and you know it.”
I glared at her. “now everyone must know that I was behind Isabella’s disappearance. Hunter would know as well and he will come for me. I’m not prepared to fight him just yet. not when so many people are around him. I need to go back into hiding immediately.”
Salem shook her head. “We don’t know if Hunter is still alive. Do we? The last we saw was Thane attacking him. He thinks Isabella is dead, he would let anyone kill him at this time.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Hunter is too strong to die so easily.”
“Would you really be saying that after you hear the announcements?”
I tensed. “What announcements?”
She laughed. “It seems like your work was done for you by someone else. Hunter is dead. He was killed by Thane. There will be a private ceremony held for him in the forest.”
Pain pierced through my heart at her words. “You’re lying.”
She shook her head. “He’s dead Maggie. Hunter is finally dead.”
no! He couldn’t be dead! I was the one that needed to kill him, not Thane! He was mine to kill … MInE!
I needed to see him suffer and I needed him to know why. I needed him to know that he’d killed my brother.
He couldn’t be dead. There was no way that he would have died so easily.
“This can’t be true. I need to see for myself!”
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