A tear fell from Victoria's eye as she shook her head. "Why, Bethany?" Victoria's voice broke.

Tears collected in Justin's eyes. He hated seeing the woman he loved more than life itself in this kind of turmoil.

"Why, what?" Beth asked.

"Why are you doing this? You are wealthy already. You are married to a Maitland, just as you have always wanted. So why go through all of this?"

"My mother always told me I was too dim-witted to make it through life and marry out of my class. We were always poor. My ancestors were poor. I decided many years ago I would not have this kind of life. I want to be the richest person in the world, and having all the gold and silver here in these caves will get me that." She flipped her hand. "And just because I'm married to a Maitland doesn't mean I'm happy."

"You still want Justin, don't you?" Victoria asked.

Justin held his breath, not looking forward to hearing Bethany's answer.

"Yes, I do." Bethany lifted her chin, stubbornly.

"Even if he doesn't want you?"

"He will want me. Once I get the treasure, another curse will be put upon him so he'll love only me."

Justin cringed as bile rose in his throat. He couldn't let that happen!

"But, Bethany," Victoria said, "don't you want a man who will love you for you on his own free will?"

Justin's sister-in-law scowled. "Oh course I do, you nit-wit, but powerful men have never wanted me. Believe me, I've tried to seduce them without my magic, but it doesn't work." She growled and grasped Victoria's arm again. "Enough of this! Show me the treasure!"

Victoria shook her head. "I truly do not know about the treasure. My father found nothing in his research. Bringing me here was a waste of your time."

"Forgive me if I don't believe you." She tightened her grip, making Victoria whimper. "Your father knew something, I just know it. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice."

Justin straightened, more alert now. Apparently, so was Victoria. Her frightened expression turned to anger.

"What do you mean by that? You never met my father."

"Oh, yes I did—before I killed him."

Victoria suddenly turned into a woman possessed. She screamed and started hitting, clawing, and kicking at Bethany. Although Beth tried to fight it off, Victoria overpowered her. Justin pulled out his pistol, preparing for the moment he'd need it.

"How could you?" Victoria sobbed, plowing her fists into Bethany. "He did nothing to you! Nothing at all!"

A loud growl sprang from Beth's throat and she was able to push Victoria off her. Victoria landed on her back, and Beth straddled her, grasping Victoria's neck tightly.

"I will do whatever I want to get ahead in this life."

Victoria cried out as she tried to peel Beth's fingers away from her throat. Justin couldn't stand anymore. He rushed from his hiding spot, pointing the pistol at Bethany's head. "Release her, now!"

Bethany gasped and did as she was told. Using his foot, he pushed Bethany off Victoria. She scrambled to her feet and cuddled against his side. Protectively, he wrapped his arm around her, still keeping his steady aim on his sister-in-law.

"May God forgive me, because I can not have you hurting the woman I love."

Blood left Bethany's face as she stared wide-eyed at him. Slowly, she stood and faced him. Her gaze darted between him and Victoria, but then something caught her attention further behind them, and she offered a victorious smile.

"Think again, dear Justin."

Before he had time to look behind him, two strong arms wrapped around his body like bands of steel. Victoria cried out and fell to the ground.

As Justin struggled, he peeked over his shoulder. One of the guards apparently hadn't been knocked unconscious and now had Justin in a death grip. Bethany laughed and yanked the gun out of Justin's fingers, then pointed it at Victoria.

"What a surprising turn of events, is it not?" Bethany snickered. "Now I know one of you can tell me where the map is—or the gold and silver are located. You have three minutes to speak or Justin's lady-love is going to end up just like her father."

Justin met Victoria's frightened gaze. He tried to communicate with her without words, but he doubted she received his message. He loved her so much, and although he was used to feeling useless, he'd never experienced this kind of helplessness before, and the dejected feeling nearly had him doubling over in pain.

"Bethany, I know where the treasure is," he said.

"No, Justin," Victoria called out, tearfully. "There is no silver and gold."

His sister-in-law produced a self-confident smile. "Splendid. Morris, loosen your hold so Justin can take us to the treasure." She zeroed her focus on Justin. "And if you do anything to trick me, I'll kill the woman who means so much to you."

Just as Beth's henchman loosened his arms, another voice came from somewhere within the tunnel, further down the dark abyss.

"No!" the voice screamed.

Before anyone had time to react, Jonathan ran out of the shadows and whacked a shovel over Bethany's head. Instantly, she crumbled to the ground.

Shock vibrated through Justin as he witnessed his own brother turn into a madman.

Victoria screamed and covered her face. The guard left Justin and ran to Bethany, lifting her and cuddling her against him as he let out a mournful wail. Jonathan darted to Victoria and knelt beside her, taking her in his arms, protectively.

Justin jumped for the pistol that had fallen by Bethany's side. He cocked it and aimed it at Morris. "Now you will do as I say!"

Morris jerked his head toward Justin. A growl-like sound escaped the man's throat as he lunged at Justin. He pulled the trigger. The pistol's explosion pierced the tunnel, echoing all around them. The guard clutched his bloody chest and sank beside Bethany. Motionless.

Victoria pushed Jonathan off her and glared at him. "Why did you kill Bethany?" she sobbed. "Now your brother's curse will never be lifted."

"No need to fear, my love," Justin interrupted, pulling her up beside him. She threw her arms around his shoulders and cried in his chest. He met his brother's puzzled stare. "Let's hurry and leave. We'll explain everything when we return home."

He tightened his arm around Victoria and led the way back toward the open cave, Jonathan following behind with hurried steps. Just as they reached the cave, a woman jumped out from nowhere, stopping them all.

* * * *

Victoria lifted her head. When recognition struck her, she gasped. Standing in front of them, in a sheer white gown, Mrs. White domineered with her triumphant grin and deceiving eyes. No longer was the woman's hair wound in the housekeeper's bun and covered with a servant's cap. Instead, her long, brown hair hung down her back and over her shoulders, provocatively.

Justin's body stiffened as he pushed Victoria behind him. "Leave them alone," he said to the housekeeper. "It's me you want. Not them."

Victoria's heart sank. Another witch? Would this nightmare ever end?

Mrs. White tsked and shook her head. She slithered up to Justin, standing scandalously close. She drew a long-nailed finger across his scars. "My darling, brave, man. You cannot save them. Only I can."

"I know where the treasure is located. I'll tell you where it is, but you cannot hurt them. And you must release me from my curse."

Victoria hitched a breath, fright consuming her once again. Mrs. White was the witch who cursed Justin? Impossible!

The housekeeper tilted back her head and cackled. She waved her hands in the air. Seconds later, Justin's body rose right before Victoria and was slammed against the cave's wall. Jonathan slipped beside Victoria, and they held each other, offering a semblance of comfort in all the commotion.

Groaning, Justin struggled to stand, holding his ribs. Hatred glowed in his eyes as he stared at Mrs. White. Never had Victoria seen him like this. Not even when he had been with the pack of rabid dogs. Justin appeared as if he could shred the housekeeper apart limb from limb.

"Have you not learned your lesson yet?" The witch asked Justin. "You do not control me. I control you!" She gave him a pitiful pout. "And do you really think I plan on harming Jonathan? It's Victoria I'm after."

"Why?" Jonathan finally said, forcefully. "Why are you doing this, Mrs. White? Why have you become this...this...thing?"

A different expression crossed the other woman's face as she stepped up to Jonathan. Lovingly, she caressed his cheek. "My dear, boy. I was never able to control your father. But I will control his sons, especially my son."

Victoria choked on a gasp. "You are his mother?"

Mrs. White arched an eyebrow. "You are very intelligent, Miss Fawson." She looked back at Jonathan. "Yes, I'm his mother. Right after Jonathan was born, I was able to act as his nanny, but soon Thomas didn't want me around his son, and told me to leave. I knew I had to do something. That was when I started reading about witchcraft. Not too long after that, I knew what I must do in order to raise my son."

"That certainly explains a lot of things," Justin said as he limped toward the housekeeper. "But it doesn't explain why you cursed me. Why do you want to control me?"

Mrs. White tossed an evil glare at Justin. "Because I was supposed to be Mistress of Maitland Manor. Your father was supposed to marry me! When my daughter, Bethany, couldn't win you for her husband, I decided to charm you. After I'd overheard you dictating those letters of dismissal that day, I knew I hadn't done an adequate job making you love me. That's why I cursed you."

"Bethany is your daughter?" Victoria asked. "I read your journal and you referred to Bethany as a sister."

"We are sisters—sisters in the craft."

"But why do you want the treasure?" Justin quickly interrupted. "In the last few months you have come to me asking for the treasure map Peter Fawson gave me. Why?"

"Because my daughters put a hex over Jonathan." Mrs. White turned sad eyes to her son. "My poor son is not in his right mind. Bethany knew I controlled Justin, and she wanted the gold and silver. She told me that in order to lift the spell on Jonathan, I would have to force Justin to produce the treasure map."

Victoria's head pounded in confusion, making her headache worse. Everything made sense. But now poor Jonathan would have this spell on him forever because Bethany died before lifting it. Victoria feared his older brother would have the same fate.

"Mrs. White," Victoria implored. "Will you tell me one thing?"

"Aren't you the curious woman."

Victoria nodded. "Indeed, I am. But now I want to know if Justin really killed all those women when he was the white wolf."