Devil's Deal: A Dark Fantasy Romance

Swietko is still unconscious when men carry him from a hay cart they used to transport him to my cottage. I quickly clear off the mess left over after making protective pouches, and they lay him down on the table. His legs dangle over the edge, and I purse my lips, bringing a stool to support his feet.

Janek and Darobor are here, as is Waclaw. They watch me with suspicion, even Darobor, and I realize with a sinking feeling they aren’t here just to help. They will watch my every move to make sure I won’t do what Czeslawa accused me of.

Truthfully, it never even occurred to me I could not help Swietko. As soon as I saw him sobbing in the werewolf’s grip, he stopped being my enemy and became just a human being in desperate need of help.

But now that Czeslawa pointed out our enmity, I feel resentful that I have to go through such a gruesome ordeal just to save him. Because she was right. I hate Swietko. Why should I help him? But now, my own fate rides on his survival, too. There is a way out: I could say I see signs of werewolf infection spreading and admit to being wrong, but—that would be giving up.