“Where are we going?” I asked… Travis? Yes, Travis was the person with one hand around my upper arm and the other pushing on my lower back.

“This ain’t the US penal system, sweetheart. We follow through with our sentences rather quickly.”

“What? Now? You’re going to kill me now?” Fresh panic flooded my mouth with a metallic tang. “I don’t get to say goodbye?”

His eyes, which I once found mildly attractive, reflected nothing. “Nope, but they’re letting your boyfriend go along for the show since he has that life debt and all. He can’t be executed in your stead, but it does allow him to be with you when you die.”

Oh God. Charlie was going to have to witness this? “No, I don’t want him there.” He would break for real this time.

“Sorry, cupcake. Your opinion no longer matters.”

In the end it was Travis, Hashim, Mandla, Stefan, Sarvarna, Bob, and Charlie who walked with me out into the moonless summer night. Rocco and Cory stayed behind to “protect the Seers”.

The path we took led up from the lake into acres upon acres of untamed forest. There was only enough room for two people to walk side by side, so we created a bizarre parade. I was trapped in the middle with Travis at my side, his fingers leaving bruises on my arm. The other two higher ranking Shifters sandwiched us, Mandla in front and Hashim close on our heels. Bob and Sarvarna brought up the rear while Charlie and Stefan led the way. Pieces of their conversation floated back to me. From what I could catch, Stefan was offering Charlie a spot in the Alpha Pack.

When the path finally stopped in a freshly made clearing I thought perhaps it was some elaborate and unfunny practical joke.

“That’s a guillotine,” I said eyeing the blade swinging ever so slightly above the wooden base. Where did someone buy a giant blade like that?

“Always so clever,” Sarvarna said from the tree line.

“Always so bitchy,” I replied. A slap jerked my head back, but it was worth it, especially since I knew Mandla would have a sore hand from the impact with my teeth. Plus, it snapped me out of my fog.

“You know…” I paused to spit blood out of my mouth. “This whole executing a witch thing? You’re doing it wrong. There should be a stake and fire. Or maybe some rope and a deep river. You could have even pressed me with heavy rocks and still been keeping with tradition, but a guillotine? That screams more French Revolution than Salem Witch Trials.”

A sneer doesn’t look good on anyone, but when someone of Sarvarna’s unquestionable beauty tries one on they manage to transform from the most attractive person in the room to the most beastly. “I can’t wait to watch your head roll.”

“Which is why you will not.” Stefan stepped between us, his back to me. “You’re going back to be with the others.”

“Noooo!” Sarvarna managed to turn the word into about fifteen syllables. The look she gave Stefan was one of a teenager to her father instead of a woman to her husband. “I want to watch her die.”

“Absolutely not. Life is sacred. No matter her crimes, Harper deserves to leave this world with dignity.” When she opened her mouth to say something, probably about my dignity or lack thereof, he stopped her by raising his hand. “You’re not degrading her final moments.” There was no doubt that was the final word on the matter. “Bob, please escort her back to the others.”

The Shifter didn’t looked thrilled at the idea of herding his queen back through the forest, but he followed orders, even when Sarvarna pulled out of his grasp, announcing she could walk just fine on her own. We all stood around and watched them leave, no one moving or saying anything until they were long gone. Stefan was the first to break the silence.

“I am sorry,” he said, and for some reason I believed him. “She is still young and does not understand the tragedy of a life ended. It is a kind of innocence I want her to keep a while longer.”

While I didn’t doubt his regret for the pre-death cat fight, I wasn’t so sure of Sarvarna’s innocence. My knowledge of tragedy and loss began on the day I was born, but I would bet good money I was more innocent than the chick who seduced a man at least twice her age. That slanky bitch possessed a wicked soul.

“You want to protect the young, but you’re still going to Marie Antoinette me, right?”

Stefan’s heavy hand rested on my shoulder. “To protect our young, I must.” His eyes looked curiously wet as he dropped his voice. “I honestly believe you don’t know what you are and never meant to cause harm, but I can’t risk being wrong. Sometimes individual sacrifices must be made for the well-being of many.”

My throat closed up, choking off the ability to speak. Not that I knew what I would say to that. Somehow it didn’t feel like a victory to have Stefan on my side if I was going to go ahead and die anyway.

“Charles,” Stefan said to the boy who hovered closer than any of the others, “would you like a moment to say goodbye?”

Charlie’s thank you was low-pitched and gravely as he came forward, yet there were no tears in his brilliant green eyes. His hand went around to clasp the back of my neck, pulling my forehead forward to touch his.

“Be strong, be courageous, and do not be afraid.”

“Ummm… Isn’t that a church song?”

A raise of eyebrows. “Seemed appropriate.”

“Take care of them, okay?” I didn’t need to tell him who they were. He knew me as well I knew him. “They’ll need you, not Zombie Charlie.” The forehead against mine bobbed slightly. “I need to you promise, Charlie. Promise me you won’t go all silent and disconnected again.”

“I promise.”

This time it was my forehead doing the bobbing thing.

No one interrupted as we stood there, taking warmth and comfort from each other for the last time. The thumb of Charlie’s free hand, the one not still attached to the back of my neck, traced my bottom lip. It was soon replaced by his lips. It was a soft and sweet kiss, but not one of lovers. It was two friends who existed together for so long they were woven into the fabric of each other’s very soul saying goodbye. Then I was being pulled into a hug so ferocious I couldn’t breath.

“See the tree straight ahead with a knot in it?” Nothing more than a breath against my ear. I found the gnarled trunk and nodded. “Run that way as fast as you can.”