It couldn’t be. My Jamie was gone. Fergus had watched him hang. No way the witch let him survive. Fury contorted my attacker’s face and his muscles tensed to run me through. I jerked back and brought my knee up hard, but he twisted away. His lips curled in a dark smirk that was so Jamie, my legs buckled beneath me. His hand squeezed tighter on my throat, keeping me on my feet. Everything indicated Jamie stood before me, but his actions said otherwise. Could this creature be some reincarnated nightmare Addie had devised to torture me? If so, it was working like a charm. Cold steel pressed into my breastbone. “Where’s your magic, witch?” He shoved his face into mine and growled, “This act doesna fool me.” Act? I had no idea what he was saying, but as his hand crushed my windpipe and he lifted me into the air, I began to beg. “Jamie, please,” I croaked. “Don’t—” He cocked his head, his brows drawing together in confusion before he hardened his jaw and drew back his sword arm with fresh resolve.
