Page 68 of Witch’s Heart

I blew out a breath. “I did warn Rixon not to underestimate you. I suppose I shouldn’t have, either. All this time and you were nothing more than a filthy traitor.”

“You don’t have proof.”

“You being here is proof enough.” I moved farther into the room, contemplating my next move. I could easily subdue her, then take her into custody, but part of me was enjoying myself. “I can’t believe Maddox wanted to marry you to his son. What was your plan, then? Marry Rixon and then poison him? Slit his throat while he slept? As if he’d ever share a bed with you.”

“Fuck you,” she hissed.

“Rixon does. Every night. Multiple times a night.” I grinned, taking another step forward. Her eyes darted over my shoulder. It was the only warning I received before the cold edge of a blade was at my throat. I froze, cursing myself as I tunneled into my well of magic, ready to⁠—

“Use your magic and I’ll slit your throat.”

I froze releasing the power that was desperate to burst forth. It couldn’t be. How…?

“Lola?!” I hissed.

A low laugh. “Surprised?”

“Yes. Super fucking surprised.” I huffed, angry with myself for my failure. “I suppose the quiet ones are the ones who surprise you.”

Her blade pressed more firmly against my throat as Julian crept around me, taking in the state of the situation. He went to Trudy and murmured, asking her if she was all right. Her shoulders straightened and she gave a brief nod.

“So, you’ve been working together,” I said. “I should have known that not all of Mya’s witches were loyal to us.” Something in my gut twisted. The betrayal hurt. My thoughts went to Anne and Elianna. Could they be…?

No, they’d fled the Citadel with me. They were loyal to me—they had to be. Regardless, I couldn’t worry about that right now.

Weiss chose that moment to make more loud cries of warning, muffled through his gag. Unfortunately for him, he went largely ignored.

“Yes, looks like you figured it all out. Not that you would have, had Miss Holland headed my advice. I told you this was a foolish mission, Trudy. Now, let’s get him and get out.”

“You think I’ll let you walk out of here?” I scoffed.

“You will, because I have a blade to your throat.” Lola’s voice was a low snarl beside my ear. I understood the precariousness of the situation. I might be a witch, but if she dragged the blade deep enough to slit my throat, I would die. We weren’t immune to everything, after all.

“Just kill her and be done with it, Lo.” Julian eyed the both of us. “We don’t have time for this.”

I barked a laugh. “Kill me, and I’ll bring this entire dungeon down around us. I’ll crush you.”

“Threats,” Lola hissed, the blade biting into my skin. I felt a thin trickle of blood where it began to cut me. “Then again, given what you are, you’d probably survive a cave-in. With whatever demon filth is lurking inside of you. Such a disgrace. A scourge on witch-kind.”

Her words made the back of my throat burn. Still, I said, “You’re the scourge. Let me guess, you’re working with Skye?” Lola made a humming sound. “Why the fuck would you align yourself with a witch-killer.”

“Skye did what she had to do, to bring witches the glory we deserve.”

“Sounds like your loyalty came cheap.”

“She never needed to buy anything from me.” Lola’s angry cry filled my ear. “She and I have been all but sisters for decades. The only reason I’m here is because I agreed to infiltrate Mya’s little cohort. I can’t wait to be free of this fucking city. Reunited with her, as she carves a rightful place for us.”

“And what place would that be?” I demanded. “Sitting on the fucking throne?”

“Enough stalling, Lo,” Julian growled, looking between us. Weiss continued to cry his warning. “Cut her throat and be done.”

“Actually, that’s not going to happen,” I said, taking a deep breath. I was done with them. “Now!” I commanded.

The shadows came alive as three snarls of glee erupted, destroying the silence. The cell descended into chaos. Two Tharns and an Akonn leapt from the shadows at my command. The blade disappeared from my throat as Lola cried out in shock, rushing to subdue all three. It was witch instinct, after all. Demons loved witch blood and mine was too contaminated to be a distraction while she was in the room. She pulled on her magic as Julian whirled around with his blade drawn, eyes wide with shock.

I freed my dual blades from my back, fists clenched on their grips to ground me. With a single, fluid lunge, I plunged one through Lola’s heart. It cleaved through skin and sinew. Her eyes widened with shock and betrayal, settling on me before she coughed up blood and they glassed over. Her hold on the demons disintegrated. I ripped my blade free and spun. Trudy was on the ground, her insides ripped open as Julian beheaded the Trong feasting upon her. The Akonn was already dead on the floor.

Julian, not realizing that his witch was no longer functioning, met the remaining Trong head on. It darted back and forth, evading his blade as torture equipment crashed around them. “Enough,” I hissed, “Stand down. Retreat,” I ordered it. It complied immediately, fading into the shadows, back where it had originally been hiding.