Page 69 of Witch’s Heart

Julain spun, eyes wide. The moment his gaze landed on his fallen witch, he roared, then lunged.

I lifted my blades, meeting him with a reverberation of metal, pressing him back.

“You killed her,” he cried. “I’ll fucking destroy you.”

“Will you?” I let him press the advantage, backing up several steps. “I’m a witch, after all. I have magic. I could have already snared you and run you through.”

I hoped that he didn’t know about my skill, or that Herrin had trained me for years. It was possible that Ronan and Viktor might have mentioned it. I hoped they hadn’t.

“Well, you didn’t, so why don’t you fight me like a real opponent instead of hiding behind your tainted magic.”

“Hmm…tempting.” I pretended to think it over. “All right. No magic, just blades.”

There was nothing but pure hatred in his gaze. I wasn’t sure what his witch had been to him. A friend, a lover? Part of me hated what I’d had to do. Breaking a bond with death wasn’t a light matter, but they’d betrayed us and had been lying all along. I hated to think what might have happened if one of Trudy’s assassination attempts succeeded.

“Mya placed Rixon under your care,” I said, circling. “I bet you would have let him die.”

“We considered it,” he grunted, then lunged. I deflected his blade. “It was certainly a convenience. Then you returned, and we were forced to be more cautious.”

“And what of Mya’s other witches? Who else was working with you.”

“Like I’ll tell you anything.”

“I can make you.”

“I’ll cut out my own tongue before I give you any more information.”

“Not if I don’t allow you to⁠—”

“Mina?” I sensed rather than saw Rixon’s shadow fill the doorway before hearing his string of curses. “What the fuck is—Julian?”

“Stand down, Rixon.” I pulled on the bond, forcing him into place. “I’ve got this under control.”

Julian used this moment, hoping it was distraction enough, to lunge again. We moved through a series of blows. He didn’t show any surprise at my abilities to fight with blades, which meant he already knew. I continued to parry his attempts, letting him take the offensive, wearing him down. Sweat beaded his brow, glistening in the single light of the candle.

Even drenched in shadows, I could see him perfectly, though he could not see me as well. I was especially glad for my demonic abilities. I managed a slice to his middle, making him cry out and jump back. “Tell me who else is working with you.”

“Fuck you,” he spat, lunging. I dodged. A low growl came from the doorway.

“Fucking me is my wielder’s job,” I taunted. “And I can assure you, it is an absolute pleasure for him.”

He tried several maneuvers, leaving his side open. I saw the opportunity and plunged my blade into his shoulder. He hissed. As I jerked it free, I dove into my magic and threw it around him, freezing him into place.

His face morphed into fury.

My own fury was too close to the surface.

“You dishonorable bitch. You said no magic.”

My eyes blackened, the darkness in me taking over. I offered him a sinister smile and said, “I lied.”

Chapter 24

Rixon

Rixon tugged against the restraints of the bond holding him in place. Fucking Mina. He had to hand it to her, based on the bloodied scene before him, she had handled matters thoroughly. He’d drawn several conclusions of his own.

“Let me go,” Julian said through gritted teeth as he thrashed against Mina’s magic. She’d snared him much the way she snared demons, leaving only his face free to move. Veins bulged in Julian’s neck, his forehead dotted with sweat. Blood seeped from the shoulder wound.