Cursed by the Fountain of Youth

Chapter 36

Fae's heart dropped when Nick fell unconscious to the ground. She had fists of fur in her hands, but her attempts to stop a full-grown grizzly bear had been about as effective as a fly trying to stop a speeding train.

Fae held her breath as she watched the bear sniff Nick as he lay face down on the ground. Lafayette moaned and grumbled profanities.

"I'm going to kill him. I swear I will tear him limb from limb." He attempted to stagger to his feet. His face was already so swollen Fae could barely recognize him.

Fae gasped as the bear stood on its hind legs and changed right in front of her, morphing into a man.

"I'd be happy to do that for you, boss."

Fae rushed forward, covering Nick's bloody body with hers. "You stay away from him." She glared at the man-bear and then at Lafayette. He narrowed his eyes as he stepped toward her. His open hand flew. She ducked. As soon as his back was turned, she threw a punch to his kidney. Lafayette roared. Strong arms pulled her back and locked her in a vice.

She fell back into her training, dropping her weight and throwing her head back, kicking her heels up behind her. Nothing worked. This man wasn't much smaller as a man than he was as a bear, and he seemed to anticipate her every move.

Lafayette shuffled into her line of vision. "You've made a big mistake, Fontaine. And Nick will pay for your error. I have half a mind to skin him alive and feed him to Morgan. I've done much worse for less than what you both have done to me."

"You do that, and I'll destroy your precious Fountain of Youth."

"And how, pray tell me, would you do that?" Lafayette asked.

"I'll kill myself."

"Ah, a suicide threat. How juvenile and shortsighted. Well, my dear, I won't give you the chance." He looked at Hunter. "Is the well ready?"

"It's ready, but it's still filling with water. It should be full very soon—I'd say about ten minutes."

"Put her in it now." Lafayette hobbled away, obviously still in pain. "And keep her from injuring herself," he shouted over his shoulder.

Hunter kept his arms around her and carried her away. "No, let me go," she shouted as she looked back at Nick, lying there helpless. Would this be the last time she saw him alive? Tears streamed down her face. "If you don't let me go, I swear I'll kill you."

"You're full of empty threats." He smirked.

Fae did everything her training taught her as she tried to break free. He simply countered her strikes, eventually wrenching both of her arms behind her back.

"You're a feisty one, aren't you?" He hauled her down the familiar path.

She could hear rushing water just before they reached the well. When it came into view, Fae's heart sank. There was a heavy steel cover over the well. A thick padlock lay on the ground beside it. Lafayette was right. There was no way she or her ghost helpers could open this.

"Let me go," she shouted. She squirmed and flailed her legs—anything to keep him from putting her down the well.

"Stop fighting me." He grabbed a fistful of hair and yanked it back, bringing her face to face with his livid expression. "If you don't go in there peacefully, I'll return to my bear form and rip your fiancé's throat out. I swear I'll do it."

Fae immediately went limp. "Please," she whispered. "Why are you doing this?"

"Lafayette is paying me handsomely."