Chapter 18

Quinn lies curled on the damp floor of a cell, her abdomen a knot of pain and blood seeping through her skirt. When my shaking fingers meet the sticky crimson between her thighs, her tears have already dried, leaving only naked hatred in her stare.

“Shawn…”

I hear her hiss, nails buried deep into her palms,

“You killed my pup… you ruined everything!”

Outisde I hear footsteps, and a guard comes in, tossing a bowl of cold porridge upon the floor. “Eat. Don't starve.”

Quinn lunges, trembling, and seizes his sleeve.

“I have to see Shawn!”

With a kick he sends her reeling across the cell.

“Crazy she-wolf! Shawn is half-dead with your stab, and is still unconscious. You expect you will see him?”

Quinn sinks down, and then laughs maniacally.

“He deserves it! He deserves it!”

Three days before Shawn had entered her pen.

Still weak from the effects of the loss of the pup, she lay stretched out over the straw.

But at sight of him a faint spark of hope came to her face.

“Shawn … our pup is gone …”

He stood looking down on her, cold as stone.

“Quinn, do you know your sins?”

“Sins?”

She exclaimed and froze, then screamed,

“What sins? You killed our pup! You put me in that den of filth and that is why—”

He interrupted her with a sneer.

“If you hadn't shoved Leah into the lake you would not be here.”

“Leah! It is always Leah!”

Quinn's eyes flared.

“You only care for Leah. What am I to you?”

“You?”

Shawn leaned over and took her chin in his hand.

“A liar, a thief, who stole her deed.”

She shivered. Her world was going from her.

"Three years ago, Leah pulled me out of the fire, not you," he said, voice cold as frost. "You wore her kindness like a mask, let me believe I loved you. Now the bill comes due."

Quinn's laughter became savage.

"Reckoning? You think you are free from one?"

She pulled a sharp pin out of her hair, and with it stabbed him in the breast. "Die!"

Shawn staggered back, blood gushing out.

"Shawn!" Guards came rushing in and kicked Quinn away.

She fell upon the floor smiling at his bloody chest.

"I curse you, Shawn! You'll never have Leah! You'll die alone!"

Back in her own cell, Quinn's laugh is stopped by the guard saying: "The healer says it is up to fate as to whether Shawn wakes or not."

Moonlight is shining through the little window and dwelling on her pale face.

"No," she breathes. "He can't die. If he goes away, who will see I am going to pieces? Who will hate me?" She clutches her head, pulls at her hair, and screams: "He won't die! He can't die!"

The guard shakes his head. "She's lost her mind, completely mad."

I was sewing Jason a winter coat when Talia burst through the door.

"Leah, word has come from Belmor Town. Quinn has knifed Shawn; he is unconscious and in a bad plight."

My needle slipped.

I sat quiet a long time, then heaved a gentle sigh.

"All right. You can go."

After Talia had gone Jason entered the room, noticing the far-off expression on my face.

"Are you thinking of Shawn?" he asked, frowning.

I looked him in the eye, my emotions in a whirl.

"Jason, I—" He stepped closer and the touch of his hand was on my cheek.

"Want to go and see him?"

I blink, surprised. "You… wouldn't mind?" I take his hand, voice soft.

"I'm not going."

"Why not?"

"Because…" I look up, resolute.

"My future's here. With you."

His throat tightens, and he pulls me into a fierce embrace, so tight I can barely breathe. "Jason?" I murmur.

"Don't move," he rasps.

"Let me hold you."

I rest against him, his heartbeat steady, grounding me in a way I've never felt before.