Page 66 of Witch’s Heart

I was mere steps from rounding a corridor on the upper floors, where the palace staff was housed. My eyes darted around, frantically searching. There was nowhere to hide. I pressed my back against the wall. It took everything in me not to peek around the corner, to see who was speaking. I couldn’t risk them seeing me.

“I have everything handled,” the female whispered, none the wiser to my presence. I tried to place her voice, but it was too hushed to be distinct.

“If King Zakaria finds out about your interference⁠—”

“Then he’ll thank me for making his job easier.”

“You will put an end to this recklessness before you jeopardize our entire family.”

“And what if I don’t?!”

“Your wounded pride means little to me. You will do it because I command you to. You’re lucky he believes Reginald Weiss is behind all of this,” the male muttered, keeping his voice barely audible.

“Lucky?! I want him out of that dungeon and I intend to make it happen.”

A small gasp slipped from my lips and I immediately pressed a hand to my mouth. Had I been too loud?

The voices paused and then, “Two of the guards accepted bribes. They agreed to help me free him tonight. Both of us will flee the city and rendezvous with King Zachariah’s troops in the east.”

“Absolutely not!” came the resulting answer.

“You cannot stop me! Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. Now, stop trying to corner me like this. I have things to do.”

The sound of departing footsteps spurred me into action. I noticed a door further down the hall, back the way I’d come, and quietly rushed towards it. The knob was locked so I fed it a tendril of my magic and then slipped inside. Pressing my ear to it, I waited. Moments later, the heavy tred of steps passed by, accompanied by low, muttered curses. When the sounds faded, I popped my head out just in time to see a male’s retreating back. He was cloaked, so I couldn’t be sure of his identity.

Collecting myself, I smoothed my gown and took several deep breaths. I had half a mind to race out and chase after the female, to capture her right now, but I wanted more proof, more than just whispered words in a corridor. When I was sure it was safe, I departed and went in search of my wielder. He was, unsurprisingly, holed up in his study. He set his quill down, eyes heating at the sight of me. I was in a lavender gown, one he’d specially selected for me. It complemented my now pitch-black hair.

“Come to grant me a reprieve?”

I shut the door behind me and said, “Tell me you did not yet issue Reginald Weiss’s release.”

He frowned, blinking, then glanced down at the document on the desk. “I was just working on it.”

I walked over and found the slip of parchment, to be given to the guards. A full pardon. I lifted it and tore it in two. Rixon huffed. “Come now, Lady Witch, there is no need to be defiant. Unless that was intentional. Shall I punish you for it?” I could tell he was already thrilled by the idea.

“If you must.”

He eyed me. “We’ll get nothing more out of Weiss…unless you intend to kill him. Already, our relations with Carth are on the brink of disaster. This could be the only reason they need to invade.”

“I don’t intend to kill him. I just want you to keep him a little longer.”

Rixon sighed and leaned back, rubbing his face. He looked exhausted. “I suppose you have a reason?”

“A good reason, yes.”

“And?”

“One I’d like to keep to myself…for now. Just to be sure.”

“Very well, I will grant you your request…for a price.” He scooted his chair back and motioned to his desk.

My abdomen flooded with arousal. I darted between the gap he’d given me and the surface, littered with stacks of parchment. “Very well.”

I went to stand before him, turning my back to him, then politely lifted the heavy skirts of my gown, placing my torso flat atop the desk’s surface, careful not to shuffle too much around. The cool rush of air over my legs and my bare sex made me shiver.

“Wider,” Rixon said, using a foot to nudge both of my legs apart. My bare sex was on display for him, nearly at face level. “Perfect.”

I held my breath, heart hammering eagerly in my chest, knowing what would come next. The warm, wet stroke of his tongue had stars dancing behind my closed eyes as he licked up the length of my slit. When his teeth nipped at the little bundle of nerves at my apex, I jerked. “Careful,” he warned. “I’m going to fuck you with my tongue, and if you so much as scoot a single paper out of order, I’ll have to punish you.”