Remi was of half a mind to call Laris back. Now the time had come, she wasn't at all certain she could go through with meeting Kalfu. The mate-bond urged her to go back to Gideon. But she couldn't. Kalfu would throw a fit and kill Gideon along with everyone inside Vârcolac Turn. Then, he'd take her anyway.

Throwing her shoulders back, Remi shored up her resolve. Between Keilynn's research skills and Memaw's knowledge, they'd find a way to defeat Kalfu. Then, Gideon would rescue her. Remi just had to buy them all a little more time.

A cloud crossed over the mostly full moon. That, along with the shading of dense towering pines, plunged the night into near-total darkness. Remi's hard-soled snow boots clunked over the wooden planks on the bridge. At its end, deep shadows coalesced to form a figure on horseback. Swallowing through a dry throat, she knew she'd find Kalfu basking within them. The night was his domain.

"It's good you've come," the evil loa intoned as Remi stepped off the bridge. The clouds shifted, and the path was illuminated in a cold half-light. Behind Kalfu's handsome features, his werewolves were lined up on horseback.

"This was my only real option," Remi told the being who'd often been compared to Satan.

A small, humorless smile lifted Kalfu's lips. "I know how painful it is to love," he said from atop his dark as midnight horse.

Remi highly doubted this loa had ever loved another more than he loved himself. If what she remembered about him was true, Kalfu was incapable of such an emotion. It was said he wanted Ayida-Weddo for his own, but that had always sounded more like him wanting to gain a possession. It wasn't love. Instead, it was likely similar to what Remi'd had with Trystan.

Squinting and cocking her head slightly to the right, Remi tried to find her ex within the body before her. But she only saw Kalfu now. Was there any bit of Trystan left, she wondered?

"You're thinking of the one who is now my cheval," Kalfu intoned. "Best to forget him. He is long gone. Nothing is left of the human."

Before Remi could respond, one of the wolves spoke. "We aren't here for the bitch." Kalfu's head turned. He pinned the redhaired werewolf with his black eyes. "You promised us, Michaels," he reminded the powerful being in a tone that wasn't as self-assured. It was disconcerting to have the loa's undivided attention.

Not taking his bone-chilling gaze from the man, Kalfu kicked his horse's sides. The animal moved forward and came to a stop beside Remi. "You will have the half-breed, Whit." Switching those black eyes to Remi, he gave her an unapologetic smile. "I may have promised I would do your mutt no harm, but I didn't promise to stop others from killing him."

As Kalfu reached down, fear for Gideon rose within Remi's breast. Hot and sharp, it spread through her chest. "Worry not," the loa said as he grasped her gloved hand in a hard hold. "You won't be alive much longer to mourn his loss."

A warm finger slipped up to Remi's bare wrist. At the contact, her free-will was overridden. The only thing she wanted in the whole world was to please Kalfu.

"Soon, I will entrap Ayida-Weddo in your body," the beautiful man above Remi continued. "You will go the way of your Trystan. Won't that be nice?"

Remi nodded. If it was what Kalfu wanted, then she wanted it as well. When his fingers bit painfully into her wrist, she nearly moaned from the pleasure.

Using his knees, Kalfu brought his purely black mount closer. "Ride with me," he commanded.

With a mighty jerk, Kalfu lifted Remi. Her shoulder nearly dislocated from its socket; the joint pulled painfully. Then, blessedly, she found instant relief when she landed in his lap. The loa didn't give her much time to find a comfortable position before he turned them about and galloped his mount down the gravel pathway which he'd come.

They headed to the main road. As they traveled toward an unknown destination, Remi reveled in Kalfu's touch. The steep, forested terrain held no interest for her. Closing her eyes, she delighted in the idea that soon they'd be together. He could do whatever he wanted to her body. Through her, he'd have everything he'd ever wanted.

Some small, distant part of Remi tried to claw to the surface. It whispered reminders of Gideon, of what she and her true love shared. But it was tiny and, therefore, easily ignored.

As they traveled the derelict, winding mountain road, they passed through abandoned villages. War's destruction hadn't touched them, yet they were deserted. Their inhabitants had simply left the manmade structures for nature to reclaim.

At the third such village, Kalfu made a left off the highway. The group of shifters followed, then stopped at various, dilapidated buildings. They tied their horses outside, then wearily entered the homes they'd claimed. Women and children came out to greet some before the house's interior swallowed them.

Alone, Remi and Kalfu climbed a hill. They passed a house by itself at its top. Then he stopped in front of the one adjacent at the very edge of town. From the light of the nearly full moon, she noted a water wheel attached to the side of the structure. It had long since stopped functioning, however.

Before Remi could inspect the place further, Kalfu shoved her from his lap. The loa retained his grip on her arm, and she dangled high within his hold. With an evil grin, he let go and allowed her to topple onto the rough, pot-holed driveway.

With the contact severed, the small, aware part of Remi came rushing to the fore. Landing on all fours, every bite of the sharp rocks cutting into her flesh stung. Fear, pain, and misery made her breath catch in her throat.

Heart pounding, Remi scrambled to her feet. Tamping down the urge to flee, she brushed her cut-up, trembling hands on her pants. If she ran, Kalfu would catch her, abuse her further.

Besides, Remi had come voluntarily into the evil loa's clutches to buy Keilynn and Memaw time. She'd done it to protect Gideon and those within the fortress. If she bolted, her sacrifice would be for naught.

"Silly little slut," Kalfu admonished as he dismounted. "You shouldn't damage Ayida-Weddo's cheval with your clumsiness." Grabbing Remi by her bun, he practically dragged her up the stairs. Since his flesh didn't touch hers, she minded the pain very much, and that he was the cause.

"You're blaming me?" Remi unwisely voiced her thoughts. She may have gone to him willingly, but she'd learned from her time with Trystan that she couldn't show weakness. Yes, it would piss him off, but it helped her to keep a sense of self-worth.

Tossing her as if she were a doll, Kalfu idly watched as Remi landed against the wooden door. The force of her body hitting it caused the portal to nearly fall from its rusted hinges. It swung open as the air left her lungs. Her freshly bruised flesh throbbed as she lay unmoving on the rough porch.

"Yes," Kalfu answered dispassionately. He came up the steps and looked down at Remi's limp form. "And I intend to see you punished for making me harm Ayida-Weddo's cheval."

So saying, Kalfu gripped the hair piled at the top of Remi's scalp and pulled her to her feet. Once she was standing, he let go then pushed her through the door. It easily opened fully due to its earlier abuse.

Tripping, Remi fell forward. From her position on her hands and knees, she viewed the deeply shadowed interior. Broken, ratty furniture littered what had once served as the living room on her left. Beyond the tight entrance was a short hall that led to the kitchen. A steep set of stairs hugged the right wall before her. There was no easy avenue of escape from Kalfu's abuse.

Even in the dim light, Remi noticed layers of dust and neglect in what had once been someone's home. Chipped paint had fallen from the walls and littered the floor beneath decades of dirt. Using her imagination, she pictured that it had once been a beautiful home.

Before Remi could glimpse more, Kalfu was there. Grabbing her upper arm, he pulled her up to stand. As soon as she regained her feet, she was tossed into the living room. Landing on the couch, she cried out in pain. Its cushions and material had been removed long ago by rodents. Only splintered wood and metal springs were left.

From the arched entryway, Kalfu tsked. "There you go again, damaging my consort's mount." The evil loa came into the room and stood before Remi's prone figure. Cocking his head to the side, he declared in a sinister tone that sent dread shooting through her, "Fortunately, I know just how to punish you."

Reaching forward, Kalfu made to grab for Remi. She shrank back from his touch but was brought up short by what remained of the couch's back. Her cringe angered Kalfu. He roughly grasped her at the nape. As soon as his flesh touched hers, Remi stopped struggling. Instead, all tensed muscles melted, and she gazed up at the handsome loa with adoration.

"Why do you make me hurt you?" Kalfu asked harshly. "Do you think I like it?"

Remi frowned in thought. Which answer would please Kalfu most?

"Well?" the handsome loa purred.

"Yes," Remi finally guessed. The end of the word lifted, showing her uncertainty. She hoped it would be the answer that delighted Kalfu the most.

A small smile softened the spirit she adored's dark features. "You're probably right," he acknowledged almost kindly. "But once Ayida-Weddo is inside of you, I'll honor this body. Until then," his demeanor changed to one that would frighten all but the most devout, which Remi was. "I do need to punish you for ejecting me from this mount. And for making me track you down."

"I understand," Remi breathed. It would delight the captor of her heart to hurt her. Therefore, it pleased her.

A long, dark finger snaked between Remi's coat and neck. Pulling it to the side, Kalfu studied the healing bite on her shoulder. Releasing his hold on her neck, he freed her from the captivation of his touch.

"I see the mutt marked you." Kalfu sucked in a deep breath through his nose. "You reek of him."

Muscles tensing, Remi tried not to react. The Satan-like loa would only find gratification in her fear. Cocking his head to the side, Kalfu listened to the pounding of her heart. It was something she couldn't hide. A slow smile formed on his handsome, borrowed features.

"I know just how to punish you both for marring what is mine," Kalfu murmured darkly.

"No," Remi cried as the loa reached for her once more. She fought his hold on her coat, but it was a futile effort. All too soon, his touch erased her free will.

"That's better," Kalfu's voice deliciously rumbled through Remi. "You need not fear me," he continued. "You just need to worship me. Wouldn't you like that?"

"Yes," Remi panted. She couldn't think of anything she'd like more.

"Excellent." Kalfu moved back a step but kept his fingers on Remi's cheek. "Why don't you kneel and show me how devoted you are?"

Before she even registered Kalfu's last words, Remi's knees hit the debris-littered floor. Wood shavings and other poky things bit into them, but she paid their sting no mind. Her universe hung on whatever her loa wanted.

"Unbutton my pants, Remington," Kalfu commanded darkly. Eagerly, she did as instructed.

With his free hand, Kalfu slid his pants to his knees. Then, the fingers on Remi's cheek skated to the back of her neck. "Show me how much you adore me," Kalfu purred.

A soft, tiny voice cried out in Remi's soul. It was so minuscule that it was effortlessly swatted away.Mouth watering, she rocked forward on her knees and worshipped her loa, the holder of her heart and soul, Kalfu.