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Listening to the one called Stede confused her. Her gaze clashed with the Teach s
once more.  You tell me why.
 Yer friend, Major Bonnet, cheated me. He filched me plunder and now I need the
body to recover it. A lurid smile crawled above the oily beard.  And ter enjoy it.
 That booty belonged to my crew and you know it, Teach!
 Shut up! Gwen yelled. She was irritated and aggravated and stunned.  All
right, I don t give a damn why you want the body. What are you doing with my
granny?
Teach shot a glance at the little old lady s spirit.  Since ye refused my very generous
offer, let s just say the old gal s my assurance ye ll perform the spell correctly.
Gwen quaked with sick fear. Her stomach felt as if it were lodged in her rib cage.
She slid off the bed and covered herself with her robe as her gaze found Granny s.
Although she d always felt her spirit near, she hadn t seen the woman who d raised her
since she was eighteen years old since Granny had withered away from cancer in
Hamilton, Tennessee.
A lump welled in Gwen s throat as a hot tear coursed down her cheek. She swatted
at it. Playing at matters of life and death was wrong and against all her Wiccan
principles. She knew she shouldn t have done it. But how could she have just let Roger
die?
Granny only gave her a sad smile.
 You ve been with me all this time, haven t you? You never left. You never crossed
over.
Granny shook her head.
Guilt jabbed Gwen hard in the gut. When Granny had died, Gwen had grieved so
desperately that Granny had never transitioned into the Light.
It was her fault her grandmother s soul was at risk.  I m sorry, Granny!
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Watchkeeper
 I couldn t leave you. You thought you needed me. Granny s eyes filled with tears.
 I did need you!
Granny gave her that melancholy smile again.  I taught you everything you needed
to know, Gwennie.
Gwen s gaze flitted to the soul collectors and then back to her grandmother.  Can
they&  She couldn t bring herself to finish her question. Can they hurt you?
Teach clapped his dirty hands together once, startling Gwen.  The witch needs
proof!
And then Gwen watched in utter horror as the soul collectors dove on her
grandmother, clawing and hissing.
Panic surged.  Stop! No!
 Stop this at once! Roger Stede ordered, stepping forward.
Teach clapped his hands again and the soul collectors slinked back but hovered
perilously over Granny, who was now cowering and nursing an angry scratch across
her cheek.
Gwen s gaze clashed with the pirate s.  What do you want me to do?
Both Granny and the man in Roger s body began arguing but Gwen kept her eyes
trained on Edward Teach.
A perverse but triumphant snarl curled his thin lips.  Do what ye must, witch, but
install me in that body this instant.
 I refuse to stand for it! Stede barked.
Gwen shot him an icy glance.  You don t have a choice.
Teach laughed.  See, Bonnet, the witch can be reasonable.
Gwen inhaled. Her gaze slid to his once more.  And neither do you.
The pirate s lips parted.  It is you who have no choice in the matter, madam.
Gwen s eyes flicked to Granny s and then back to the pirate s.  You re exactly right.
I don t have a choice. Bringing a soul back to a body is a ritual of twilight, therefore it
must be done at the precise moment of sundown or it won t work. She glanced at the
clock ticking on the mantle. It wasn t yet nine-thirty.  You have nearly twenty-four
hours to wait before I can do it.
Teach sucked in an angry breath. He whirled to face Granny.  Is that true?
Granny nodded.
The pirate mulled it over. Gwen trembled. He was pissed. Very. And the one called
Stede Bonnet stood naked and glaring at the pirate, waiting to hear to his reply.
 I suppose I have no alternative. He took a step closer to Gwen.
Her heart pounded but she forced herself to hold his ghostly gaze.  Come back at
twilight and I ll give you the body if you will release my grandmother.
A strange light flickered in his black eyes.  A gentleman s agreement, witch?
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Debra Glass
She swallowed and nodded.
 He s no gentleman! Stede interjected.
Teach snorted.  You d better not let him get away. His gaze roved over the room.
 He s escaped many sturdier holds than this.
Gwen hadn t considered that. She gnawed her bottom lip. What if Stede simply
took Roger s body and ran? He was far bigger and stronger. He could overpower her in
an instant and escape and then Granny s soul would be forever lost. Conflicting
thoughts tore at her until she wanted to scream.
Her gaze found Granny s. She clutched the robe tighter as the shadow beings
hovered closer to her grandmother. Granny was wrong. Gwen did need her and she d
never needed her more than now. Conflicting joy and pain at seeing her after all these
years made her heart ache. Gwen bit back a sob.  Leave her with me until twilight.
Please.
Teach shook his head.  You re going to be far too busy for that, witch. If I am to
wait, I will also need the treasure.
 The treasure?
 I m certain Major Bonnet can help you with that, Teach said.  He and his
manservant buried the booty. His eyes narrowed and Gwen trembled under his cruel
gaze.  The loot and the body are yer keys to the welfare of yer grandmother s soul. Do
ye understand?
Gwen nodded but her mind screamed. How was she going to keep Stede Bonnet
from taking off with Roger s body? And how on earth was she going to coerce him into [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]