By evening, all the pack had assembled around the fire pit on the mountain. Samuel sat on his throne. Yseult stood to the side, wearing a white shift and an enigmatic smile.
By Yseult’s request, I stood with Brenna at the mouth of the cave, a safe distance from the pack. We would watch, and learn.
Pain. The witch had said. I knew that witches like my mother and Yseult sacrificed for magic. The sacrifice could be small—a rabbit or a dove. Or personal—like Odin, who gave his eye for wisdom. Or something else…like surrendering to an erotic beating. I wondered if the flogging had awakened Brenna’s powers.
Brenna and I waited as Samuel gave his orders to the pack. For one night, they could take Yseult and use her as they would. No maiming or death. Those were the only rules.
When Samuel fin
