Free The Seventh Witch by Shirley Damsgaard

blanked everything out except my question.
    Again I asked: Should I try and uncover the past?
    From deep within I felt the power of the mountain gather and grow inside me. I became one with the earth and sky.
    My fingers twitched and every nerve in my body seemed on alert. Eyes still closed, I let my fingers slide back into the pouch.
    Someone touched my shoulder.
    I yelled and shot to my feet, dropping the bag. The outcrop was slick, and in my haste I was dangerously close to the edge.
    With a scream, I felt myself sliding into nothingness.

Ten
    Abruptly, strong arms grabbed me from behind and hauled me away from the edge. Limp with relief, I tried to pry the arms away from around my waist, but they only tightened. No longer afraid of falling, I was suddenly afraid of whoever held me.
    Why didn’t they release me?
    I struggled and fought their grasp. Finally, the heel of my hiking boot connected with a shin.
    “Ouch!”
    The arms fell away and I spun around to confront my rescuer.
    “Damn it, Ophelia, you could be a little more grateful,” Ethan said, rubbing his shin. “If I hadn’t caught you, you’d have tumbled down the mountain.”
    Fisting my hand on my hip, I glared at him. “If you hadn’t snuck up and startled me, I wouldn’t have been so close to the edge.”
    “I called your name,” he said accusingly.
    “I didn’t hear you. I was busy,” I shot back as I marched over to where the runes lay.
    Ethan’s eyes traveled to the linen square and the abalone shell. “So I see.” His eyebrow arched. “I won’t ask what you were doing…I don’t want to know.”
    “It’s none of your business anyway,” I grumped back athim. Shoving everything in my pockets, I looked back at him. “What are you doing here?”
    I watched as his eyes scanned the mountain and valley. “I don’t like talking out in the open. There’s a safer place not far from here,” he said with a jerk of his head. “Follow me.”
    Regardless of whatever Ethan might be involved in now, I trusted him, so I did as he said and trudged down the trail leading away from the outcrop. When the path narrowed, Ethan stopped. He grabbed a pile of brush lying against the side of the mountain and began moving it to the side.
    The mouth of a small cave soon appeared.
    With a flourish, he motioned me inside and I took one step forward.
    Cold dank air from the cave eddied around me. Hesitating, I peered into its darkness. “Are there bats in here?” I asked with trepidation.
    “Wait.” Ethan stepped around me and entered the cave. A second later I saw the flicker of a lighter and the darkness vanished as he lit an old lantern. Placing it on a rock, he pulled me into the cave and rearranged the brush so it was blocking the entrance.
    My eyes scanned the small cave. Rolled blankets lay piled in the corner, and a small fire pit had been dug out in the center. A stack of wood sat next to it. He even had canned goods lined up against one jagged wall.
    “Cozy little place you have here, Ethan,” I said sarcastically, shooting him a look over my shoulder.
    “Home away from home,” he said with a chuckle. “I see you haven’t lost your sense of humor, Jensen.”
    “I haven’t lost anything,” I replied abruptly. “What in the devil are you doing here?”
    “Isn’t it obvious?” He fingered his ponytail. “I’m on assignment.” Moving to the center of the cave, he stopped in front of me. “I could ask you the same question, but I already know that answer, so I’ll ask another,” he said, cocking his head. “What did you do to Sharon Doran today?”
    My eyes widened. “Me?” I pointed to my chest. “Why do you assume that I did anything?”
    He gave a low laugh. “Something must’ve happened inside that store. She was spitting venom all the way home.” His smile faded. “She really hates you, Jensen. You’d better watch your back.”
    “I’ve already figured that one out,” I said, sinking down onto a large boulder.
    His