Clara sneered, looking at Ethan."You think Anna's some saint?"
She dangled the carried creature."Know what this is? A truth spell. It forces honesty."

"If I'm not mistaken, Anna cast this on me!"
Ethan froze, then snapped,"Now you're framing Anna again!"
"You think I'd fall for the same trick twice?"
Clara laughed, bitterly triumphant. "You never believe when you should—and believe when you shouldn't. Did you really think I'd feed myself this poison just to tell you the truth?"
Ethan paused.
Clara continued, "I didn't want to cast a love spell on you. I believed our love was real—love conquers all!"

"But with Anna around, you always chose her!"
Her eyes narrowed viciously. "I had no choice but to cast a pain spell on her, but I failed—my creature died horribly."
"That's when I knew she could cast spells too."
Ethan clenched his fists, processing, then said quietly,"You still shouldn't have framed her."

"I had no choice. Her spells were stronger. Only you could hurt her."
Clara smiled suddenly."But I never expected she'd get pregnant, you know?"
She stared at Ethan. "Pregnant women can't cast spells."
"I didn't think I'd succeed. You swore you loved Anna, but in the end, you helped me."
Ethan's mind buzzed, his face stiffening.
He stared at his hands.
He had been the blade that wounded his innocent wife.
Looking at the now-strange Clara, Ethan stepped back, resolve hardening.
If he hurt Anna, he'd find her and make it right.
Not wasting time with this strange woman.
He glared coldly at Clara."I'll apologize to Anna. I'll make you pay, tenfold for every ounce of her pain."
"Ethan!"
Seeing him leave, Clara shouted, then summoned the last of her power, commanding,"Come back! Don't go for her!"
He halted mid-step, his heart pulsing. His face shifted, and—despite himself—he turned back toward her.
Sara's triumphant smile returned, confident in her spell… until Ethan staggered, then suddenly vomited a spray of foul blood.
Along with it, the spell she'd implanted burst from his throat.
"What—?!" Sara's eyes went wide with horror, but before she could react, a massive hand clamped around her neck.
Ethan's eyes burned red as he squeezed, voice razor-sharp: "I hate being controlled!"
Sara's struggles grew feeble; her vision dimmed. At the threshold of unconsciousness, he released her and cast her aside like refuse.
"I'll settle this with you later," he snarled, turning away.
Right now, there was only one person he needed to find: Anna.