Page 26 of Witch’s Heart

I hoped beyond hope that they understood. If I got out of this alive, I promised to practice more. It went against everything I was as a witch, but if it meant protecting the people I cared about, it was worth it. Besides, I wasn’t sure I could call myself a witch anymore. These days, I didn’t know what I was.

Several excited barks rang out and I exhaled with relief. The Xastor’s eyes glowed an unholy red in the darkness. Saliva dripped from their jowls.

“Go. Now,” I commanded, watching for any sign of disobedience.

They took off, their snarls fading into the night.

My breaths were coming fast, turning to little puffs of air, but they began to calm. The sound of movement pulled me from my thoughts. Before Herrin could speak I said, “There’s no time. Come, we must hurry.”

“You’re right. You have some explaining to do,” he growled, spurring his horse into action.

“I know.” I didn’t look behind me, urging Jarrow into motion. I couldn’t bear to see whatever expressions my companions wore. Herrin barked an order that had the others quickening their pace.

A deep longing rose within me. I wished Rixon were here. This would be so much easier if he were. He would have my back. He always had my back, no matter what.

Regret followed that thought. I should have kissed him longer. I should have accepted the angry sex he’d offered before leaving. If we made it out of this and reached the capital, the first thing I’d do was tell him I loved him.

Dawn painted the sky before we stopped to water the horses. Plumes of moisture poured from their mouths, froth coating their bits. “We cannot stop for long,” I warned. “I do not know if the Xastors were successful, or how much time it bought us.”

“The horses need to rest,” said Elianna. “We won’t get far if they drop.”

“And I demand answers—before we go any further,” said Herrin.

I turned to find his wary gaze boring into me.

“Is there anything to eat?” Anne asked brightly and I could have hugged her for breaking the tension.

“Not much,” said Herrin, pulling his gaze from me and removing the bag he’d been carrying. He sorted through it, pulling a small journal and tossing it to me, before distributing a few wrapped bundles of rations. I looked down to find it was Ophelia’s journal. “Fiona wanted you to have that. Was one of the last things she asked me.”

“Is she…?”

“I’m not answering a single question until you tell me why you were able to control those demons,” he hissed.

“It’s a long story, and we don’t have time.”

“Then we’ll make time,” he growled. I flinched at his tone. “Now, sit.”

The others watched curiously as I followed his order. They took places a little further away. I tried not to let that hurt me. They had no reason to fear me, but I couldn’t blame them if they did.

“You can talk to them?” Elianna asked. “The demons?”

“Sort of.” I turned to Herrin and added, “For the record, I was going to tell Fiona in the morning, before the council meeting.”

His expression tightened at the mention of Fiona, but he said nothing.

Knowing there was no way around it, I told them everything. I told them how Rixon had almost died fighting a Bolrun. How I’d acted instead of thinking. How I’d seen the little blip of magic and simply pulled it to me, using it to heal him. How the magical seeds had called to me after that. How I’d continued to experiment until I utilized this new ability to close the rift. How it had changed me, coloring my hair and turning my eyes black. How it was still changing me.

Elianna’s caramel skin was pale. Anne simply sat with wide eyes and parted lips, the food ignored in her hands. Herrin’s expression was hard. The other two wielders gave nothing away.

“I…I understand if you think I’m evil and want nothing to do with me now,” I managed. “I only ask that you let me leave in peace.”

“I don’t think you’re evil,” Anne piped up.

Elianna was slower to answer. “All this time, and you’ve never done anything to harm us.”

“I would never.” I put all my honesty into that statement.

“Will it get worse?” Herrin asked, studying me.