The scorching conclusion to Welcome back to Sleepy Hollow. Though Katrina Van Tassel, Ichabod Crane, and Brom Bones have begun to pull apart the bone-chilling mystery of the Headless Horseman, their journey is far from its end. As they share the enigmatic halls of Sleepy Hollow Institute, their lives become increasingly entangled. Amidst their exploration of dark desires, Kat grapples with the affections of two possessive men who hunger not just for her, but for each other. As their passions deepen, unsettling secrets within the school''s ancient coven come to light, threatening to unravel the very fabric of their existence. Each must face a profound test, with one harboring a hidden past that could shatter their newfound unity. In a suspenseful tale of desire, obsession, and the ever-lurking shadows of Sleepy Hollow, these three souls will be pushed to the brink, facing the chilling consequences of their deepest secrets and darkest cravings. Watch your head.

Autorentext

Karina Halle

Klappentext

*An Instant USA Today* Bestseller!

The scorching conclusion to Hollow, a sexy, dark reimagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.**

Welcome back to Sleepy Hollow. Though Katrina Van Tassel, Ichabod Crane, and Brom Bones have begun to pull apart the bone-chilling mystery of the Headless Horseman, their journey is far from its end. As they share the enigmatic halls of Sleepy Hollow Institute, their lives become increasingly entangled. Amidst their exploration of dark desires, Kat grapples with the affections of two possessive men who hunger not just for her, but for each other.

As their passions deepen, unsettling secrets within the school's ancient coven come to light, threatening to unravel the very fabric of their existence. Each must face a profound test, with one harboring a hidden past that could shatter their newfound unity.

In a suspenseful tale of desire, obsession, and the ever-lurking shadows of Sleepy Hollow, these three souls will be pushed to the brink, facing the chilling consequences of their deepest secrets and darkest cravings.

Watch your head.

Leseprobe
1

Crane

The ride back to Sleepy Hollow Institute is bound to be interesting.

I have Kat riding Gunpowder with me, her body snug in front of mine on the saddle as she nestles in my coat. Brom and his stallion Daredevil are in the lead. I want him where I can see him, just in case the horseman comes into possession of him again. What would happen if the Hessian in his spirit form and Brom met face-to-face? Would the ghost kill him? Or could he take over Brom completely, merging their souls until only the Hessian remained in Brom's body?

My gut churns at the thought, and Kat stiffens.

"Are you all right?" I ask Kat as she's cradled back against me. I press my lips on her neck and close my eyes to the feel of her soft skin against mine. "Cold?"

"Not with your coat," she says quietly. "I'm just exhausted. And scared." I barely hear the last part, her focus up ahead on Brom. The night is still and quiet, just the hoofbeats of our horses and the snort of their breath. Our conversation carries.

Don't be afraid, I say to Kat using the voice. I've got you no matter what happens. And as long as Brom is Brom, he's got you too.

I hope he doesn't make a liar out of me.

She doesn't answer. Instead, she leans against me, turning her face so that she looks up at me over her shoulder and meets my eyes. She's been through so much tonight. I don't know the specifics of what she did with Brom and what Brom did to her before I got there, and to be honest every time I think about it I'm tempted to reload the gun and shoot him in the other shoulder. He may remember now what happened to him, he may be the Brom that I knew, but as long as he's possessed, this isn't over.

In fact, it's only just the beginning.

I promise, I tell her. I've got a hold of you and I'm not letting go. He's not going to hurt you ever again.

The look in her eyes tells me she doesn't believe me. I want her to believe me, I need her to. I might be making promises I can't keep, but I'll die trying to be right.

I hold her tighter, leaning in to kiss her gently on the cheek. I want nothing more than to get her in my bed and make her feel safe again, erase everything that happened to her tonight, let her succumb to a gentle touch for once. I want her open and raw beneath me while I let my mouth and hands and cock bring her peace. But I don't want to impose myself when she's this vulnerable. Her heart and her body need space to heal.

Besides, when we get back to the school, I'll have to put her in Brom's room for the night where she'll be safe, and keep Brom with me in mine. If the horseman comes out through him, I foresee things turning violent between us in order to keep him in line. It should bother me that I feel my cock twitch at the thought, but it doesn't. Part of me thinks he needs real punishment. And that's something I've always been good at.

Eventually we arrive at the iron gates of the institute, and for a moment I fear they won't open for us. The emblem on them, of a snake and key, looks menacing, and the snake's eyes seem to glow red.

But then I hear the click of the lock and the gates slowly swing open.

We ride on through the wards, the cold pressure passing over us, popping our ears, and then we're in the campus. Like the outside world, it's also quiet here. All the buildings are dark except for the cathedral, faint light coming in through the stained-glass windows. We pass by the dorms, and it's then that I realize I don't want Kat in Brom's room after all.

"You're going to stay in the room next to mine," I tell Kat as we get to the stables.

"Why not Brom's?" she asks as I dismount.

I reach up and grab her waist, lifting her off the horse and placing her on the ground next to me. "Because I want you near me tonight in case the horseman's spirit shows up. He's still tied to Brom."

Brom is holding on to Daredevil, staring at us, his dark eyes unreadable.

How long will you be with us? I can't help but think. How long until he takes over?

But Brom's gaze gives no answer.

"Whose head was that anyway?" I ask him instead, gesturing to the library as I lead Gunpowder into the stable. Hours earlier the Hessian soldier strode into the library and deposited a head at my feet, as if it were an offering of some sort.

His beard bristles as he wiggles his jaw. "I'm not sure."

"The first man was Joshua Meeks," I press him. "Was this one involved with Kat as well?"

He doesn't say anything.

"There's no one else," Kat protests.

"Doesn't have to be someone you've been involved with," I say, giving her a reassuring look. "Brom's jealousy influences the horseman's actions. That's why the horseman paid me a visit and Brom did the same with you. I have no doubt the head that's in the library belongs to a man who fancied you. Isn't that right, Brom?"

He avoids my gaze, that permanent furrow shadowing his eyes. "It was a drunk man at the bonfire. He was harassing Kat." Then he looks to her and his expression is a plea. "I have no control over . . . I didn't . . ."

"I know," Kat says quietly, but she doesn't sound like she believes him.

We put the horses away and with Brom's unpredictable nature in my mind, I quickly duck into the tack room and grab a pair of reins, and straps for foreleg and hind-leg hobbling. I come out with all the leather bunched in my hands and approach Brom with an expectant look in my eyes.

"What's that for?" he asks warily, his body tensing.

"You know you can't be trusted," I tell him.

I pass the reins and hind hobbles to Kat, then stretch out the foreleg hobble until it's a loop of leather. I stop right in front of Brom and hold it above his head.

His eyes flash with resentment and he moves…