The Cost of Betrayal

Chapter Forty

**** years later *****

Maura was walking through the marketplace when the pain hit her again. She looked skyward and uttered a small curse to the Fates that caused her this grief. She hadn't seen or heard from her mate in years, but because he refused to accept the rejection, they were still connected. So every time he did this, she knew it. She shook her head and sighed, pausing briefly at a fruit stand. She picked up a few of the figs and inhaled deeply. Their sweet fragrance tickled her nose, reminding her of something from her past.

The man behind the stand smiled broadly at the beautiful raven-haired woman. "Do you like them?" he asked. The tone of his voice hinted at an attempt to flirt with Maura.

Maura nodded, "Yes, how much?" she asked. Because Birsha didn't accept the rejection, she would hold firm to not cheating on him. She had to be a stronger woman.

He winked at her, "I am sure we can work something out," he replied suggestively.

Maura rolled her eyes, "I will pay whatever you charge everyone else," she responded firmly, effectively cutting off the young man's gentle attempt at flirting.

He frowned slightly, but weighed out her fruit and charged slightly less than the regular price. She noticed and let it slide, feeling complimented that he found her attractive. As she accepted the bag of figs, her necklace began to burn again. She reached up and pulled on it slightly. She hated taking it off as it was a gift from her grandmother, but the burning meant that Birsha was trying to call her to him.

"Hello, Mate," a cold voice called from behind her.

Maura froze in her tracks, she thought she had been gone long enough to come back. She had been back for almost a year now with no sign of him. She turned around, "Hello Birsha," she returned crisply. She was surprised to see him so quickly after that familiar pain.

The merchant watched the tense exchange between the couple. He had never seen this man before and he was certainly giving off some dark vibes. He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't want the woman to be hurt. "Hey sweetie, is he bothering you?" he asked.

Maura shook her head, "No."

Birsha put his hand up, silencing the merchant. Maura scowled at Birsha and flicked her wrist, undoing Birsha's spell. Birsha returned Maura's scowl with one of his own. His eyes lit with fury. The merchant watched their tense interaction. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize this beautiful lady was taken." He looked meaningfully at Birsha, "You're one lucky man."

Birsha rolled his eyes, "There's no luck about this," he turned to Maura, "We need to talk."

Maura's eyes were dark with well-hidden anger. "Fine, you have ten minutes. Right here." She stood planting her feet firmly in place and crossing her arms. "What do you want to say?"

Birsha didn't want to admit that he needed her. Especially not in front of a man that clearly found his mate attractive. He was surprised that he felt that familiar stir when he saw her. "Don't you want to come home?" he asked. He did his best to soften his eyes, but since Egan had gone and let himself be killed his son has been letting things change on the Isle. He didn't like it. He needed it back to the way it was and the only way he could think of was with her. He reached up and stroked her arm gently, causing those familiar sparks to course through both of their bodies. He had forgotten how good she feels.

Maura glared at him, "I don't have a home with you." She whispered the words so low that only Birsha heard them and they sliced through him like a hot knife. She ignored the tingle of desire that came with his touch and turned from him.

He tightened his grip on her arm. "Don't play with me," he whispered. "Let's go." He pulled her to him and they walked down a dark alley. He waved his free hand over the wall and dragged her through the portal.

Once they were on the other side of the portal, Maura was overcome with an intense feeling of dread and oppression. "Where are we?" She asked looking around, she could see a few familiar things, but she knew she wasn't in their cottage in the coven.

Birsha opened his arms, "My dear, don't you recognize this place?" He walked over to the table, "You left your dishes last time you were here." He lifted one of them and slammed it on the ground angrily. He walked over to a picture of the two of them on their wedding day. He wasn't sure why he had kept it, but he knew what to do with it now. He slammed it on the ground next to the plate. "I just moved the whole cottage to a more appropriate place."

"Where?" Maura eyed the man suspiciously.

Birsha chuckled, "Oh after you left, I found a wonderful place to work. I had a great man, a king actually, under my power. I got him to do amazing things!" Birsha chuckled at the memories of how easily he thought he had manipulated Egan. "He made this place dark," he took a step closer to Maura, "Just like you did with my heart when you thought you could reject me."

Maura stepped back from Birsha, she could feel the darkness radiating off of him in waves. Something she didn't feel while they were at the marketplace, it was as if this place fed into his evil heart.

Birsha slammed his fist into the wall, "But then he had to go and get himself killed." He spat "All in the name of love," the word fell out of his mouth as if it were poison. He stood up straight, "And I now have his son under my power."

Maura stood straighter, she wasn't going to let him hurt her, she crossed her arms over her chest, "And what does that have to do with me?"

"You were joined to me by the Fates and our ceremony sealed that. You are mine, and I will never reject you. Take back your rejection."

Maura shook her head, "No. I will not."

Birsha balled his hand into a fist, resisting the urge to punch the wall behind her. He had to think of something, "But together we can achieve great things," he implored.

Maura shook her head, "No, I'm getting out of here." She snapped her fingers and disappeared from Birsha's view.

She ended up outside the cottage, she wasn't sure where though. She rushed down the dark path, gnarled with roots and deadly plants. She paused when she caught sight of the imposing castle.

She wasn't sure how the owner would take to an unexpected visitor.

"Hello, dark lady," a small voice greeted her, causing her to jump.

"You startled me," she whispered.

"Tree is sorry, Tree didn't mean to frighten you. You should not be out here, oh no. The guards are not kind." the tiny minion said to her. He stretched out his hand, "Come with Tree, Tree will help you."

Maura smiled at the tiny creature, she could feel his kindness from him. She knew she could trust him. She walked with him into the castle.