“I will endeavor to make a talisman that will hopefully counteract his violent tendencies until we can find something more permanent.”
“How long will that take?”
She shrugged. “I will have to consult my grimoire. I’ve never attempted to make anything quite like it before. Hopefully, it won’t take long.”
Hopefully, Kincaid thought as Saintcrow stirred. What the hell would they do until then?
With a low groan, Saintcrow rolled over and sat up. He stared at Jake and the witch. “What are you two doing here? Where’s Kadie?”
“You don’t remember?” Jake asked.
“Remember what?” He glanced around the room, frowned when he saw what was left of the sofa, loveseat, and chair. “Did I do that?”
Jake nodded.
With a muffled oath, Saintcrow gained his feet and plowed his fingers through his hair.
“Kadie’s at my place,” Jake said, as he offered his hand to Izabela and pulled her to her feet. “You scared the crap out of her.”
“Is she all right?” Saintcrow asked anxiously. “I didn’t hurt her?”
“No, she’s fine. Worried sick about you, though. Like everybody else.”
Izabela laid her hand on Saintcrow’s arm. “I am hoping to conjure a talisman for you that will weaken Elowynne’s spell. If it works, it should help subdue these violent episodes.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then we’ll have to find a way to restrain you,” Jake said. “You’re far too powerful to be left on your own if you can’t control whatever the hell’s happening inside you.”
Saintcrow stared at him, every instinct rebelling. And then he nodded. “Thanks for coming over you two. Send Kadie home, will you?” He glanced around the room. “If she’s not afraid to come back.”
~ * ~
After a brief conversation with Jake and Izabela, Kadie went home and straight into Rylan’s arms. He held her tightly, felt her body tremble against his as she fought down her fears.
“My brave woman,” he murmured. “I would have understood if you didn’t want to come back.”
“I’ll always be here for you,” she whispered. “No matter what.”
He smiled faintly as his hand stroked up and down her back. “Why don’t you get on the phone tomorrow and order us some new furniture? I’ll call someone out to replace the windows.”
She nodded, wondering how he could imagine she was even thinking about new furniture when she was worried to death about him.
He chuckled softly then brushed his lips across hers. “We have to have something to sit on.”
“Rylan, what are we going to do about you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t even remember what happened. Did I just go berserk?”
“Pretty much. Jake said Izabela told him she was going to make you some sort of talisman that would hopefully help to calm you.”
“So she said.”
“And if that didn’t work...” Her voice broke.
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “They want to lock me up.”
Kadie grunted softly. “Is there anything or any place on earth strong enough to hold you?”