Page 10 of Witch’s Heart

The remainder of the day passed uneventfully.

The Citadel loomed before us and I breathed a sigh of relief. For many long years, the Citadel had been my home. The sight of it bolstered me. It felt good to return, even if it was without a certain brooding male. I tried not to think of him, but it was impossible with the reminder before me. My anger had cooled, and in its place, I felt a deep ache. A longing to have him beside me.

“It looks the same as it did when we left,” said Anne.

“It probably looks the same as it did when it first came to be, Lady Witch.” Ronan rode beside her.

“Oh, stop,” she teased, swatting him.

I shared a look with Elianna.

The Citadel was a massive bit of architecture with white washed walls, jutting from the landscape. Its levels were circular and stacked atop each other like pancakes, growing smaller the taller it got. Almost like an upside down cone. Though, not every level was perfectly shaped, making it far more interesting to the eye. The lowest level was home to the Citadel Proper, which was really just the fancy term for its city. It was made up of multi-story homes and businesses, markets, and more.

There were stretches of farmland that surrounded the giant monstrosity, all protected by wards. Today, few people dotted the landscape. But once spring arrived, it would be teeming with activity.

As we approached the city gates, I reached for Elianna’s arm. “Thank you, both of you, for agreeing to accompany me on this journey. I know I already thanked you, but I feel the need to reiterate.”

“Think nothing of it, Mina.” Elianna’s gaze was warm and open. “I’ve longed to see the Citadel again. I’m just glad Mya approved of our coming.”

“She’s got a soft spot for you, that woman,” Anne threw over her shoulder. Probably because they all felt bad for me. Rixon had told everyone I suffered from a mental breakdown after his father’s death. I’d perpetuated the story over the past week, claiming that the pressure was just too much. That I was stressed about his decision to mix crown politics with Citadel politics. I hated lying to my friends, but I feared what would happen if they knew the truth about me.

The doors leading into the city swung open. We ventured through the portcullis and a wave of nausea struck me, sending bile creeping up my throat. The darkness inside me was growing, making the effects of Nebrine more pronounced with each use of demonic magic. What if it became too much? What if the walls that were once meant to keep me safe locked me out?

I pushed the horrid thought away.

We began our way up the winding streets. It was the middle of the day and they were bustling with activity. People went about their business running errands, buying, selling, and trading for wares, meeting with friends, and everything in between. I wondered what it would be like to be one of them. To have fewer responsibilities. To feel…normal. It made me miss my old life more than ever, but especially my family.

I’d never recovered from the trauma of losing them, my sister especially. I’d gotten better at avoiding the blame. It was hard to think of her and not feel responsible for what had happened in the barn that day.

We reached the walls surrounding the main part of the Citadel and they swept open. I swallowed, steeling my nerves as we passed beneath the arched Nebrine structure. Another wave of nausea struck, this one stronger. The sickness made me feel like an imposter. Like I didn’t deserve to be here. It didn’t matter that I’d finished top of my class. Didn’t matter that I’d saved lives. All that mattered was the thing inside me, and what I had become.

Perhaps the others would realize it too.

We came to a stop in the courtyard. Several witches stood in attendance, waiting with their wielders. If they were surprised to see that I’d been accompanied by Anne and Elianna, they didn’t show it.

“Welcome Lady Witches, Lord Wielders,” came the greeting. One of the witches stepped forward. Meredith. I recognized her from the council. “The head witch requests your presence—immediately. We will escort you to her.”

A shot of adrenaline went straight through me “Now? Before we’ve even settled?”

“That is what immediately means.”

I schooled my features. I might have been a witch but her words made me feel like I was still a witchling. I suppose Rixon’s actions had truly struck a nerve within the Citadel. There’d be no gentle treatment here.

It could have been worse.

I glanced at Elianna. “Can you send a note to Rixon? I promised him I would send word as soon as we arrived.”

“Of course.” Elianna offered me a worried smile.

I quickly dismounted.

“Glad to see Prince Jarrow in one piece,” came a voice. I recognized the stable hand who appeared beside me, breathing a sigh of relief. “Lady Witch, good to see you home.”

“Thank you, Henrick. Would you mind taking Jarrow?”

“It’s no problem.” His eyes twinkled as he scratched his salt and pepper beard, looking Jarrow over with a fond expression. “I’d be glad to.”

“Thank you.” I handed him the reins. “And have my belongings sent to my room, if you wouldn’t mind?”