He was instantly out of the water. Stalking naked across the short expanse of moss and flowers to my hiding spot. Catching my arm, he hauled me out. “What are you doing here?”

“You thought you had everyone fooled. But you don’t fool me. I knew you weren’t what you were pretending. You’re a witch yourself.”

“Men are not witches.” His lips twitched in annoyance as he held my elbow nearly above my head.

At such an angle it hurt my shoulder a little. I wasn’t a tiny woman, but he was far taller than me.

“You, who’ve accused so many women of being witches, is one yourself! We’ll see what happens to you when I tell the whole village!” I glared up at him. Furious he’d deceived us all for so long.

And I’d lost friends he’d accused of witchery. Friends which I’d never seen again after they were taken to the WitchFall Dungeons.

His dungeons.

“What did you do with them all? Sacrifice them to feed your power?” I accused.

He lifted a brow. “Something like that.”

He yanked me sideways two steps.

I stumbled to keep up with him. Glimpsing the wrath on his face even in the darkness.

He’s furious.

A wave of his power coursed over me and I suddenly wanted to curl into a ball. His fury was like being caught in a whirlwind.

I felt like I couldn’t breathe. He shoved me back against a tree and caught my chin.

“You think you’re a clever girl but let me be very clear. You open this pretty mouth of yours…” He trailed a thumb roughly over my lips. Dragging over the bottom one. “Not only will I have you thrown in WitchFall, but everyone you care about.”

My eyes narrowed on him. “Are you threatening me?”

“You’ve no idea.” He scoffed. “The things I’d do to one as pretty as you, would give you nightmares.”

“I know what you are! I’ll tell everyone.”

“And I’ll have your pretty friend in my dungeon by noon tomorrow.”

“You can’t.” I spat.

He’s bluffing.

“I can.” He smiled coldly.

“No!” I struggled. Trying to get footing against the roots of the tree he held me pinned to. But I couldn’t get a foothold or a grip on anything. I kept sliding along the tree trunk and could find nothing to give me enough leverage to get away from him.

“Let go of me!”

He chuckled coldly. “I don’t think you get it.”

His tone sent shivers down my spine.

I tried to scream for help. But my throat felt like it cramped closed.

“Ah. Ah.” He wiggled his finger before me. “No screaming.”

I clawed at my throat and finally landed on the wrist of the hand gripping my jaw. Forcing me against the tree.

Keeping me from escaping him.

He reached down to catch my skirt and roughly ripped it from the ribbon at my waist. Tossing the brown skirt aside to bare my creamy thigh.

I was beginning to panic. My heart thrumming in my chest.