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�I know someplace safe,� Brennan informed them.
Bev and Kate looked at one another a brief moment then quickly mounted the horses. As they rode past the village, only piles of rubble remained of the village homes. There was no sign of life. Bev looked around as they rode past.
�Where is everyone?� Bev cried out as they galloped through the abandoned village.
�They were never there,� Kate called back. �It was all an elaborate spell.�
Brennan slowed his horse in a clearing just on the other side of the woods. Kate and Bev slowed their horses as well.
�I don�t think he followed us,� Brennan remarked.
They crossed the field and entered the forest on the other side.
�He�s not so brave without his powers, is he?� Bev remarked and looked around the woods.
�He�s not taking any chances, that�s for sure,� Kate said. �When he discovers his powers have returned, he�ll be close behind.�
Bev gingerly rubs her sore buttocks as she stood in the saddle. �Maybe he�ll just give up. He has to know you�ll put a spell around us and prevent him from ever touching any of us again.�
�Don�t count on it,� Brennan remarked from his position in the lead. �He went to great lengths for what he wanted. Men like that don�t give up.�
They entered a small clearing in the woods and approached a small home and an old barn.
�You can hide here,� Brennan informed them.
�Who lives here?� Kate asked.
�No one,� Brennan replied. �This used to be my family home. They�ve been gone for years.�
All three dismounted their horses. Brennan took the horses from them. �I�ll hide the horses in the barn. You can wait inside.�
Bev watched him lead the horses to the barn. �Can we really trust him?�
Kate sighed. �We have little choice. If he was going to turn on us, he would have done it back at the castle.�
Kate woke in the small, sturdy bed at dawn�s first light. She looked to the bed alongside her. Bev slept peacefully. Kate sat up and looked around the room, ran her fingers through her hair, then stretched her sore back. Brennan was not in the cabin. Kate made a motion with her hand. Nothing happened. She frowned and got out of bed.
Kate walked out of the cabin and looked to Brennan, who sat on an old block of wood near the door with his back against the wall. He glanced at Kate then looked back to the woods.
�Sleep well?� Brennan asked.
�Far from it,� Kate replied and chuckled. �Did you sleep at all?�
Brennan shook his head. �I didn�t see the point. I betrayed Quinn. I�m going to die for my sins,� he replied. �I may as well enjoy what time I have left.�
�I�m sorry, Brennan,� Kate said softly.
Brennan looked back at her. �For what?�
�Tricking you with that fake spell,� she remarked. �I know we didn�t get off on the right foot, but I never meant to put you in any danger. It�s my fault you were forced to betray Quinn.�
Brennan stared at her a long moment in silence. A tiny smile crossed his face. �It wasn�t your �love spell� that made me betray Quinn. I followed you for weeks before he had me abduct your friend. The temptation even then was very strong. Part of Quinn�s spell was to prevent me from touching you. I think he knew the desire was strong.�
Kate appeared surprised. �You betrayed your king because you wanted me?�
�In spite of my feelings toward witches,� he remarked and smirked.
�I think Quinn set you up, Brennan. He needed a brave, loyal knight on his side when he destroyed the castle, and the only way he could do it was to trick you into thinking it was the work of a witch. The ladies of witch society told me he was the one who destroyed the kingdom.�
Brennan stared at her and appeared bewildered. �No, I saw a witch. She was the one who destroyed everyone. She tried to kill me as well.�
�That was probably Quinn�s sister I�d heard about,� Kate informed him.
�Sister?� Brennan sank into thought then appeared angered. He looked at Kate. �So he killed my king?
�Or he had his sister do it,� Kate replied.
�How long until his powers return?� Brennan asked with a cold expression.
�Not long enough for you to return to the castle,� Kate informed him. �If you go back there now, he�ll destroy you. Stay here with us. I can put a spell around you and protect you. Revenge isn�t the solution.�
�Once you and your friend return to your world, I�ll be on my own,� Brennan announced.
Kate moved closer to him and ran her hand down his arm. �You can come back with us. I�ll help you adjust to your new world.�
�You don�t understand, I have to avenge my king. It�s my sworn duty as a knight,� Brennan informed her.
�Getting yourself killed isn�t going to bring him back,� Kate informed him.
�You don�t understand, my honor is at stake,� Brennan remarked.
�No, your life is at stake,� Kate snapped. �It�s a foolish crusade and the end result will be the same. You can�t beat him.�
Brennan moved closer to her and gently touched her face. �I must go,� he said softly. Brennan kissed her quickly on the lips. �Goodbye, Kate.� Brennan walked past her and hurried for his tied horse.
Kate frowned and watched Brennan ride away from the cabin and out of sight. �Damn--� Kate turned toward the cabin, hesitated, then looked at her hand. She waved her hand. The door opened before her. She cursed softly and hurried into the cabin. �Bev!�
