Page 71 of Witch’s Heart

“Yes.”

“And her family?”

“Well, we know they can’t be trusted, that they’re traitors, so we use that to our advantage. Wait until the time is right, then take everything from them. The Nebrine mines can become property of the crown as punishment for their family’s betrayal.”

He hummed, intrigued. “And what about Weiss?”

The male whimpered at the sound of his name.

She sighed. “Regrettable situation, yes. He’s seen too much.”

“If you kill him…”

“Let’s see how long we can get away with keeping him alive. He can pen letters to his king from here.” Weiss shook his head, as if to disagree. Mina huffed. “You’d rather I just kill you?”

The male blanched but gave no more protests.

“We’ll need a way to determine if the others can be trusted,” she said.

“Fuck,” he breathed, pacing towards the cell’s exit and back.

“I hope…do you think Anne and Elianna…?”

“No. Of anyone, they seem the most trustworthy.”

Her shoulders dropped. “I hope so. I…I care about them, Rix. It would…it would hurt me if they…if they…”

“I know. Come here, Lady Witch.” He pulled her against him, only just now realizing there was a slight tremble to her. “Are you all right?” His voice was a low caress against her ear. He desperately wanted to know exactly what had happened down here, but now wasn’t the time to demand details.

“No,” she breathed. “No. I’m not fucking all right.”

His low laugh mirrored her words. “I don’t think any of us will be until this is all over.”

“Will it be? Will it ever be over?”

“I don’t know.” He really didn’t. Ever since leaving Rockfall, it seemed things had only escalated, and they kept escalating. Would they ever know a moment’s peace? Perhaps the only way to was to carve it out.

She stepped away from him, using fire to destroy the two remaining bodies.

“You going to do something about that Tharn in the corner?”

“I’ll send it back through my star.”

He hesitated, would have preferred to just kill it here and now, but he didn’t question her. It should have bothered him that she had a working star beneath his palace, that she used it to summon demons whenever she wanted. Here he was, bleeding on a fucking portal to keep them out. But these beasts were under her control. He’d seen just how well she handled them as she tortured Julian.

It will keep her safe, he reminded himself. Being able to control them. Fuck, he was tempted to request that she summon an entire army of them, retainers to keep at her disposal, if only to protect her.

What would that mean for her enemies? For Raeria’s enemies?

The thought made him shudder as he recalled the murals in the portal’s room. Depictions of armies, of demons fighting against humans. Only, what if this time, the demons were on their side? He couldn’t help but think of how easy it would be to run Carth off their lands with a host of demons in thrall.

No. Those were dangerous thoughts. He wouldn’t use Mina that way.

“Come away from here,” he said at last. “I’ll have the guards move Weiss to a more suitable cell, perhaps the one you stayed in.”

“I…” she glanced at the ambassador, a flash of regret in her gaze. “I think that would be favorable.”

She led the demon through the dungeon and into the hidden corridor beyond. He’d never seen her work a circle, so he watched now. It looked no different than when the council witches did it back at the Citadel. Knowing her power, it was no surprise that she exorcised it with ease.