Page 55 of Witch’s Ruin

“I’m sorry,” I managed, making sure to hold his gaze as I said it. Making sure he understood that I was.

He hesitated, then nodded. “You’ll tell me if you hear it again? If you see it?”

“I will.”

We entered through the palace gate. I ignored the brief but minor flare of discomfort that came with doing so. It had gotten worse, and I suspected why. It was the same reason I could do nothing to open them the other night.

We got Jarrow settled. Kam appeared, Aleck in tow, carrying a small sack of apples and a wreath of flowers. “Figured he’d be hungry after a race like that,” Aleck said. Both he and Kam had come along, to look after the king’s Lagaras. “Here you go, boy. You did win, after all.”

I reached out to stop Aleck, then hesitated. A laugh burst from my lips as Jarrow leaned his head down, allowing the wreath to be placed around his neck. “Normally, he’d try and bite your fingers off. But I think he’d rather wear the wreath.”

“He’s a vain fellow—aren’t you, Jarrow?” Kam said.

Rixon merely shook his head and went to lean against the stable wall, arms crossed, watching us. I took several apples from the sack and fed them to the victor. “You did a splendid job,” I told him in Aavix, offering more praise beyond what I’d said at the track. “You’re the bestest boy, aren’t you?” Jarrow merely snorted and peeled his lips back from his giant, blocky teeth, then snickered, searching for another apple.

It was nearly dinnertime by the time we left, heading back to Rixon’s rooms. My feet dragged along the corridor walkway. “The king’s going to be pleasant tonight, I’m sure.”

“We could always dine at the inn,” Rixon ventured. “Either way, if we decide to go hunting, we’ll be stuck outside until dawn.”

I perked up. “There’ve got to be other ways into the palace,” I mused, hating that we were stuck outside until dawn each night. “Even the Citadel had catacombs running beneath, with passages leading into the city.”

“I’m sure there are.” he drawled. “But we’d have to find them first, before we can use them.”

I turned to him, grinning. “I vote for dinner at the inn and tunnels after that.”

“Very well, Lady Witch.” We entered his chambers, and I made for the bathing chamber to prepare for a long night.

We’d been so close to a discovery last night, before we’d been interrupted. So close to finding something in those tunnels. All our marks remained, we could follow them, save time, and head straight to the ones that ran under the palace.

Goosebumps spread over my skin as I shed my clothes. I couldn’t help but feel we were on the verge of something. Like a word at the tip of my tongue, just out of reach. But that also meant something more. What would we face once we did get beneath the palace, and would it bring the answers I so desperately needed to find?

There was only one way to be certain.

Chapter 18

Rixon

Rixon began to relax, the muscles in his shoulders easing as he sipped his wine. Conversation buzzed around him, filling the inn’s dining room with a comfortable level of background noise. The present company had grown on him, just a little. He didn’t talk, but he enjoyed listening to Mina chatter away with the other witches. She sat between Anne and Elianna, both of whom she’d grown closer to since their arrival. He’d been forced to sit across from her, between their two wielders.

“And how deeply have you explored the city so far?” he found Mina asking, as she attempted to draw Lola into a conversation.

“Very little, just the areas surrounding the inn,” Lola quietly said.

“She doesn’t get out much,” Anne offered up, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, let her be,” Elianna scolded. “Not everyone is a chatty busybody eager to immerse themselves in the public eye.”

He watched Mina take note of this—saw her mind working. She’d been at it all evening, asking loaded questions that might offer clues. They both wanted to know, were the witches behind the demon increase?

When dinner ended, Mina covertly pulled Anne and Elianna aside, leading them out onto the front porch. In a hushed voice, she told them about her suspicions. Rixon watched silently, knowing all too well that she’d isolated them on purpose. Perhaps to see their reaction, or perhaps because she trusted them enough to be truthful.

“You…you think a witch could be behind this?” Anne hissed, trying to whisper. “That…that—”

“It would explain why there are demons in the city,” Elianna finished for her. “It’s a valid consideration, actually. I thought about it myself, a time or two.”

“But, why ask us? It could very well be me.” Anne lifted her brows before adding, “Wait, do you think it is me? Is that why you’ve pulled us out here?”

“Anne, will you let the woman talk? Gods! What have we discussed about listening, hmm?”