Free Unearthed by Rachael Wade Page A

villagers don’t have: knowledge of how to create a hybrid, and original witches on our side. We could use those things as leverage, to ensure our protection and stop them from starting another war, stop them from turning everyone against each other. Isn’t that what you want?”
    I held up a hand. “Wait, what good would the knowledge of creating a hybrid do for us? It’s not like we’re creating one.”
    Gavin and Anastasia went quiet, Gavin’s head turning slightly in my direction.
    Anastasia bristled. “If we have hybrid powers, they’ll be no match for us.”
    “Oh, no way.” I stood, wiping sweaty palms on my thighs. “You’re seriously suggesting we create another hybrid?” I scoffed, looking to Gavin for some support. “You’re talking about bringing the vampire curse back temporarily to scare off these amateur witches? These villagers who are just throwing their weight around because they’re on a power trip? How is that possibly a good solution? You’re joking, right?”
    Gavin suddenly spoke, his voice calm and even. “A power trip driven by revenge, Camille.”
    I spun around to face him. “You can’t possibly be on board with this idea.”
    Anastasia quickly rose, lifting her hands up defensively. “I’m not trying to get in the middle of your realm and how you run it here, Camille. I’m only trying to point out an option. They almost hurt your daughter back there. Did you see the looks in those men’s eyes when they were restraining us? They’re angry. Bitter. That bitterness has been bottled up, and when it explodes, innocent people will get hurt. Not just us. Not just you, or your family. But many of the Amaranthians who you’ve worked so hard to protect since Gérard’s fall.”
    “Gavin,” I said slowly, “please tell me you’re with me on this.”
    He rose to join us, carefully sliding his long arms down his sides, letting his hands slip into his pants pockets. “Anastasia may have a point. I’m human, Camille. I can’t protect you or Ava like I used to. When I was running down that hill, when I heard the commotion in the street and I didn’t know what was happening, all I could think—” his throat muscles tightened and his eyes grew watery, “all I could think was, I’m not strong enough to protect you anymore. When I saw the magic those men were using, saw them fighting Anastasia, I knew. This is all going to get out of hand very quickly if we don’t figure out a way to send a message to them that we won’t be bullied. We won’t be moved by their threats. Especially not with this news, when we find out we’re days away from possibly leaving Amaranth for good. We have to keep everyone safe long enough to get out of here. These idiots are going to cause a lot of unnecessary fear and violence if we don’t do something about it.”
    My jaw dropped. “Absolutely not, Gav. Not after all this time, after all we’ve done to create a peaceful life here. Are you kidding me? Just like that, you want to throw us back into everything we fought so hard to destroy in the first place?”
    “Like Anastasia said,” he urged me softly, gripping my arms, “Gérard and Samira aren’t hybrids anymore. Gérard’s gone, and Samira is on our side, now. We have no one to fear this time. We’re not going to create an army of frozen souls, Cam. If we have just enough power to protect ourselves until this is all over—”
    “I said no . I mean it.” I glared at them both. “That’s an extreme solution, and one I’m not willing to risk when we have Ava to worry about. Not to mention the uproar it will cause when word gets out that we’ve brought back the curse. Can you imagine? If you think those people are angry now, just imagine what will happen if we do that!”
    Anastasia stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on my arm. “Okay, Camille, I’m sorry I even mentioned it. Please, just forget it. We can think of some other way. Maybe we can simply bluff about the hybrid