Page 38 of Witch’s Heart

Rixon wiped his sword, then sheathed it, turning to me. “Mina. What is the meaning of this?!”

“You had no right⁠—”

“I had every right!” His roar was laced with the same anger I felt. “I am a wielder. I kill demons. It’s what I do.”

I let out a deranged bark of laughter. “Wielders also follow their witch’s orders—which you obviously failed to do.”

“Perhaps you should have used the bond,” he gritted out, his fist tightening around his sword’s grip. Like he needed something to squeeze. Like it was my throat he was imagining, trapped beneath his fingers.

It didn’t seem like the right time to tell him that I almost had used it. That thought grounded me. I blinked, then blinked again. This…this wasn’t me. This wasn’t us. He seemed to register my change as I pushed back the darkness lurking in me.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

“He tried to hurt you,” I said, glancing at the assassin before stalking towards him. “He tried to kill you, while I wasn’t here to protect you. He tried to take you from me.” Rixon’s furious expression didn’t waver, not even an inch. “You are mine. No one hurts what’s mine. No one, Rixon.”

A small, guttural sound of frustration tore from the back of his throat. He stepped forward, twisting his fingers into my hair until I was forced to look up at him. “I might belong to you, little witch, but this isn’t the Citadel, and that assassin was property of the crown.”

“Well, the crown didn’t get very far, did it?”

“So you thought to bring a demon into my palace?! Did anyone see⁠—?”

“What do you take me for? A fool? Of course not! I drew the circle in the hidden corridor leading to the dungeon, the one we found while mapping them out.”

“So, you’re drawing summoning circles now,” he balked. I lifted my chin in answer, daring him to say something. To tell me that kind of magic wasn’t permitted. Instead, he let out another sound of anger, loosening his grip but not releasing me. “Did you at least get information?”

“Just a name—Darius Santos. He said the male hired him, paid him to cut your throat. I believe Santos—whoever he is—has a genuine interest in seeing you dead.”

He blew out a breath, his shoulders dropping. While some of his fury fled, his irritation was still present. He released me and took several steps away, turning his back to me. When he finally spun around, he said, “I told you to come and find me, Mina. I waited all day, and you never came.”

The rest of my anger fled.

He stared at me, waiting.

I let a sultry smile cross my lips. “I suppose it’s not too late, is it?”

He looked at the assassin, then nudged the male with his foot. “I’m not fucking you next to a dead body.”

Before I could respond, he strode from the room, leaving me to gape after him.

Had he…had he just…

Was that a rejection?

I tried to make sense of it, standing in silence for several long moments. Maybe he meant that we’d go fuck somewhere else. Yes, that was it.

I spurred myself into action, lifting my heavy skirts to follow after him. His guards passed me in the corridor, no doubt going to collect the mess I’d made. I reached the end and looked around. He’d already ascended the staircase. I chased after him, only to find him entering the dining hall.

“Damn it,” I hissed under my breath. Okay, perhaps he was truly angry. Had I really messed up that badly?

I looked between the doorway, catching a glimpse of the courtiers within, and the staircase that would take me up to his chambers. My body was frozen with indecision. Hissing under my breath, I lifted my chin and strode into the dining room. The sight of the table had my steps faltering, but I recovered and continued forward. Rixon was already at the head, once reserved for his father, responding to something one of his courtiers said. When he caught sight of me, his jaw tightened but he gave a slight nod of acknowledgement and said, “Lord Haspel, move down one place, my lady witch will be joining us for dinner.”

My breath hitched with relief, not sure if it was because he was accommodating me despite being angry, or if it was because he’d called me his. Either way, I rushed to the empty chair, allowing him to scoot it in before taking his own. The rest of his courtiers took their seats and dinner was served. I ate my first course in silence, observing the others around me. The buzz of conversation and clanking cutlery filled the air.

Most of Rixon’s advisors sat nearest us, discussing business.

“I spoke with Mya today,” I quietly told him, relaying details of my visit so the others wouldn’t overhear. There were six witches stationed in the capital, and given the upheaval within the Citadel, I’d needed to see where Mya’s loyalties lay. I’d spent over an hour at King’s Mantle catching up with them. “She and the others have no intention of leaving the capital or joining with Skye. They were loyal to Fiona.”

Rixon merely grunted, acting overly interested in his second course.