Page 25 of Witch’s Heart

We shot out into the night, racing through the courtyard. The fortress gates hadn’t yet closed for the night. I flinched as we shot beneath the wall, as the presence of Nebrine assaulted the thing inside me. creating a path. The sound of pounding hooves on cobbles filled my ears, muted only by my own racing heartbeat.

The city was quiet at this hour. We surged down the main thoroughfare. For several minutes, it seemed we were in the clear. Then I caught distant shouts as our pursuers came after us on horseback. We raced through the streets.

In front of me, a building exploded and I screamed. Another followed. Using magic was instinctive, so I worked to clear a path and protect us.

“Go right!” Herrin shouted from behind me.

I followed his orders without question. The rest of my companions were falling behind. I urged Jarrow to slow down. I would never forgive myself if anyone got caught helping me. I needed to be close enough to protect them with my magic, if necessary.

After seeing the way Gianna felt towards me, I had no doubt in my mind what would happen if they caught me. They wouldn’t merely strip me of my bond with Rixon. They would try to kill me, too. While I didn’t doubt my power was greater than theirs, I was done underestimating my enemies.

King Maddox Kozma had shackled me with Nebrine. I wasn’t sure how much Gianna had put together. I wouldn’t take that risk.

The city gates loomed before us. Guards shouted in surprise at our approach.

“Open! Open the gates!” Herrin commanded from behind me. They wouldn’t dare question the head wielder. We shot through the portcullis, right out into the wilderness and the darkness of night.

Farther behind, I could still hear the sounds of Skye’s voice urging her group on. She was relentless, which told me this had become personal. I wasn’t sure if it was because of Herrin, me, or both of us. The ground shook ahead of me and I was certain one of the witches was attempting to disturb the earth, to hamper our progress. I dodged a massive crack just as it appeared, doing my best to stitch it back together. The action cost me, slowing us down.

“They’re catching up!” Elianna cried. “We need to outrun them.”

If we didn’t do something, they would continue to pursue us all the way to the capital. There would be no sleep, no rest. I couldn’t risk our lives.

I dipped deeper into my magical reserves, using my affinity with other elements to throw obstacles into their path and push them back. Each time they tried something to stop us, I returned the favor.

The sound of our horses' hooves and heavy breathing made talking impossible. I wanted to ask Herrin what had happened. Wanted to ask him about Fiona. But part of me was too afraid to learn the truth.

Part of me already knew.

Distance melted away beneath Jarrow’s hooves. Minutes stretched into hours. Still we kept up our relentless pace.

I had plenty of magic left, but this game of cat and mouse wasn’t getting us anywhere. I needed⁠—

I felt them before I saw them. Demons. A relieved cry fell from my lips.

Part of me balked at the idea forming in my mind, but it was the only way. My companions would forgive me for it, hopefully. But I would rather have their contempt than their deaths on my hands.

“This way,” I cried, pulling us off course. Somehow, we’d instinctively set out on a path that would take us to the capital.

I led us closer to the pulsing lifeforms I felt, identifying the presence of each one. Xastors. It got easier the longer I lived with a part of them inside me.

“Tell me you have a plan, Lady Witch,” Viktor called from behind.

“Something like that,” I shouted back. “You might hate me afterward, but it’s the only way.”

“What do you have in mind, Mina?” I’d slowed Jarrow so that Herrin rode beside me.

“Something that will require a lot of explaining,” I said. “But I promise I’ll give you an explanation when there’s time. For now, I just need you to trust me.” Even in the darkness, I saw the question in his gaze.

Still, he nodded and said, “If it will keep us alive, do whatever you need.”

“Good, because there is a pack of demons coming straight for us. I need you to leave every one of them alive.”

Chapter 9

Mina

I left my companions behind, riding forward to meet the pack of Xastors head on. Their excited yips mixed with curiosity as they reached me. “Stop!” I commanded, heart pounding. I could feel eyes boring into my back. “You will not touch my companions. There is a group of witches not far behind. Attack them instead. See that they do not reach us.”